Thursday, March 29, 2007
Turn your cup over.
I really enjoy our Family Life Staff meetings. (There was a time they were alright but somewhat frustrating because they felt superficial.) Now I look forward to hearing what Kevin, Director of Family Life at NewPointe, has to share with our team. The man cares about his relationship with Christ and takes it to heart what his role as a leader means. So much so that he spends a lot of time reading (A LOT) so that he has something to pour into us. He reminds us that "you can't give what you don't have". So that means I do more reading than I've ever done before in my life. I take it to heart that I need to seek God and strive to have a growing intimate relationship with Him. You see, it's not my husband's responsibility to grow me spiritually, or Kevin's, it's not Dwight's (our Lead Pastor at NewPointe) to be responsible for my spiritual development although they may be participants in it. Bottom line, it's my responsibility to develop an intimate relationship with God. The cup needs to be up and ready during reading of His Word, prayer time, at Family Life meetings, listening to Dwight speak, reading books, listening to a volunteer's story, through a conversation with a staff member or perhaps even with someone I meet at Wal-Mart. This is something I need to work on ...making sure my cup is turned over, ready to receive what God may be wanting to pour into me from someone else.
Part 2 Invest & Invite
The following is part 2 of the Wal-Mart story from Tammy Loos and her little daughter, Cassidy.
A quick trip to Walmart-haha! I was wheeling my buggie out of the door of Walmart and Cassidy was singing “Jesus Loves Me” again. I hear a woman calling “Hey lady! Hey lady!” My first thought was, Oh, no! I forgot to check Cassidy’s seat and under her blanket—I am accidentally stealing something! The woman rushes up to me saying she recognized Cassidy. I didn’t recognize the woman. She starts talking-very fast and excited. Her eyes are bright and happy, there was a real smile on her face; but this is the woman who was crying last time I was here. She spills her life to me again-she has a full time job with benefits & can now see a baby doctor, her neighbors have bought a new car & they gave her their old one, she went to NewPointe last week (with those same neighbors) and stayed for both services, she thinks there just might be something to this “Christian-thing” & she can’t wait until next Sunday and she can’t wait for her baby to be born.. so her baby can go to the ReignForest! By the time she was done talking, she was out of breath. Cassidy puts her little hands together and says “I pray”. The woman and I clasp our hands and before I could start a short prayer, Cassidy prays. I make out the words joy and thank you before she says a heartfelt “Amen!”. Cassidy then holds out her arms and tells the woman “Hug and kiss please!”. She asked me if it is ok and I nod my head yes, not able to say anything. We wave bye-bye and that was it. I still don’t know the woman’s name or who her neighbors are, but I guess that isn’t what is important!
What a great story of God's love coming through a little 2 year-old and her mother.
A quick trip to Walmart-haha! I was wheeling my buggie out of the door of Walmart and Cassidy was singing “Jesus Loves Me” again. I hear a woman calling “Hey lady! Hey lady!” My first thought was, Oh, no! I forgot to check Cassidy’s seat and under her blanket—I am accidentally stealing something! The woman rushes up to me saying she recognized Cassidy. I didn’t recognize the woman. She starts talking-very fast and excited. Her eyes are bright and happy, there was a real smile on her face; but this is the woman who was crying last time I was here. She spills her life to me again-she has a full time job with benefits & can now see a baby doctor, her neighbors have bought a new car & they gave her their old one, she went to NewPointe last week (with those same neighbors) and stayed for both services, she thinks there just might be something to this “Christian-thing” & she can’t wait until next Sunday and she can’t wait for her baby to be born.. so her baby can go to the ReignForest! By the time she was done talking, she was out of breath. Cassidy puts her little hands together and says “I pray”. The woman and I clasp our hands and before I could start a short prayer, Cassidy prays. I make out the words joy and thank you before she says a heartfelt “Amen!”. Cassidy then holds out her arms and tells the woman “Hug and kiss please!”. She asked me if it is ok and I nod my head yes, not able to say anything. We wave bye-bye and that was it. I still don’t know the woman’s name or who her neighbors are, but I guess that isn’t what is important!
What a great story of God's love coming through a little 2 year-old and her mother.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Volunteers - serving with the "end" in mind
In The ReignForest we want preschoolers to learn three things by the age of five: God Made Me
God Loves Me
Jesus wants to be my friend forever
We teach with the "end in mind" knowing that we have these children for a very short time and we need to make the most of the time.
We wear shirts that read "We Speak Family" on the front and "We're on the clock" on the back. Of the 8,760 hours in a year, we may have an opportunity to be with your child for approximately 40 hours. In order to accomplish the task of getting children to learn the three things we partner with parents by providing a Small Talk card each week so that they can discuss with their children what they are learning in The ReignForest. At the beginning of the month they also get a memory verse magnet which allows them to practice the verse we are learning.
Volunteers are key to making things happen in The ReignForest each week. They are as special as the preschoolers that they work with. They are people like me and you, followers of Jesus Christ who are willing to put their hands to the activities that engage children, they are willing to make a commitment to serve and care for children so moms, dads and grandparents can attend a service where they can hear a lifechanging message. They will have an opportunity to decide if they want to become followers of Jesus Christ. Consider this, could serving be the most important work of your week, your year ...even of your lifetime? Think of it - serving is a choice, is it really possible to make an eternal impact ?
You choose.
"..But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Joshua 24:15
Serving families, serving one another, serving Christ.
Invest & Invite-so easy a 2 year old can do it
This story was shared by Group Coordinator, Tammy Loos, this past Sunday as she led the huddle in The ReignForest. Thanks Tammy for your sensitivity to your surroundings and the Holy Spirit's leading. Thanks for your leadership in The ReignForest, for being an awesome mother, and living the example of a follower of Christ.
My daughter, Cassidy, was singing “Jesus Loves Me” while we were at Walmart. Two employees walked by, one woman was crying. The crying woman started to follow us down an aisle. Cassidy was still singing. The woman came up to Cassidy and asked “What makes you so happy?” Cassidy smiles really big and opens her arms and says loud and clear “Jesus!!” The woman fell to the floor. I am really scared now. The woman opens her heart and tells me: her husband left her because he doesn’t want kids and she is 4 months pregnant, he took all of their money & car, canceled her insurance, she is alone and doesn’t feel good & she wanted a better life for her baby than she had. I was at a loss for words so I just told her that she is not alone & that Jesus loves her and that we attend NewPointe Community Church where everyone is welcome and loved. She asked what I did with my baby while I was in church. I told her that we had a wonderful program for all ages of children & that Cassidy went to her room in The ReignForest and she loves it. Cassidy starts singing “Jesus Loves Me” again. The woman said she didn’t grow up in church so she didn’t think she would fit in. I told her that I didn’t grow up in church either. NewPointe was for everyone, wherever they were in their life journey. We care about a relationship with God, not what people know or don’t know or how they dress. The woman said she might try...I told her that we would pray for her. Cassidy heard the word pray and put her little hands together and said “I pray!”. I held the woman’s hand and said a simple and short prayer as if Cassidy was praying. When I was done Cassidy says a heartfelt “Amen!” The woman thanked me, told me she felt better and that she just might go to church with her neighbors she knew they go to NewPointe Communty Church.
Last week when Faye had asked me to lead huddle time I said yes & that I had a wonderful short devotion about God’s Joy. Throughout the week I prayed about what I would say and felt that I was prepared. Sunday morning, it seemed like everything was against me getting to church and I left later than I wanted. A mile down the road I realized that I forgot my name tag. I turned around & went back home, frustrated at yet another obstacle! I grabbed my name tag and underneath it was an email with a story that I had printed out earlier. I grabbed that also, not knowing why. All the way to church, I couldn’t get that email story out of my mind. As we walked into church, I saw the crying woman from Walmart entering with an older couple. I knew I was supposed to tell the story on my email and Cassidy’s story. I didn’t have a clue what I was going to say. I just knew that I wanted everyone to know the power our small children have and the influence that we have on them in the ReignForest.
The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son and daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his step faltered, his eyesight was blurred.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly man’s shaky hands and bad eyesight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon, he spilled his milk. The son and daughter-in-law became very irritated with the mess. “We must do something with Grandfather!”, said the son. “I’ve had enough of spilled food and noisy eating!” So the son and daughter-in –law set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his son gave him his food in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat all alone. The only words the couple had for him were sharp and unloving. The four-year-old watched in silence.
One evening, the father noticed the four-year-old playing with some scraps of wood. He asked the child “What are you making?” Sweetly, the small boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The child smiled and went back to his work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. The tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though n word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening, the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with his family. And for some reason, the son and daughter-in-law didn’t seem to care any longer when a fork was dropped or the milk spilled.
My daughter, Cassidy, was singing “Jesus Loves Me” while we were at Walmart. Two employees walked by, one woman was crying. The crying woman started to follow us down an aisle. Cassidy was still singing. The woman came up to Cassidy and asked “What makes you so happy?” Cassidy smiles really big and opens her arms and says loud and clear “Jesus!!” The woman fell to the floor. I am really scared now. The woman opens her heart and tells me: her husband left her because he doesn’t want kids and she is 4 months pregnant, he took all of their money & car, canceled her insurance, she is alone and doesn’t feel good & she wanted a better life for her baby than she had. I was at a loss for words so I just told her that she is not alone & that Jesus loves her and that we attend NewPointe Community Church where everyone is welcome and loved. She asked what I did with my baby while I was in church. I told her that we had a wonderful program for all ages of children & that Cassidy went to her room in The ReignForest and she loves it. Cassidy starts singing “Jesus Loves Me” again. The woman said she didn’t grow up in church so she didn’t think she would fit in. I told her that I didn’t grow up in church either. NewPointe was for everyone, wherever they were in their life journey. We care about a relationship with God, not what people know or don’t know or how they dress. The woman said she might try...I told her that we would pray for her. Cassidy heard the word pray and put her little hands together and said “I pray!”. I held the woman’s hand and said a simple and short prayer as if Cassidy was praying. When I was done Cassidy says a heartfelt “Amen!” The woman thanked me, told me she felt better and that she just might go to church with her neighbors she knew they go to NewPointe Communty Church.
Last week when Faye had asked me to lead huddle time I said yes & that I had a wonderful short devotion about God’s Joy. Throughout the week I prayed about what I would say and felt that I was prepared. Sunday morning, it seemed like everything was against me getting to church and I left later than I wanted. A mile down the road I realized that I forgot my name tag. I turned around & went back home, frustrated at yet another obstacle! I grabbed my name tag and underneath it was an email with a story that I had printed out earlier. I grabbed that also, not knowing why. All the way to church, I couldn’t get that email story out of my mind. As we walked into church, I saw the crying woman from Walmart entering with an older couple. I knew I was supposed to tell the story on my email and Cassidy’s story. I didn’t have a clue what I was going to say. I just knew that I wanted everyone to know the power our small children have and the influence that we have on them in the ReignForest.
The Wooden Bowl
A frail old man went to live with his son and daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his step faltered, his eyesight was blurred.
The family ate together at the table. But the elderly man’s shaky hands and bad eyesight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon, he spilled his milk. The son and daughter-in-law became very irritated with the mess. “We must do something with Grandfather!”, said the son. “I’ve had enough of spilled food and noisy eating!” So the son and daughter-in –law set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner.
Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his son gave him his food in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat all alone. The only words the couple had for him were sharp and unloving. The four-year-old watched in silence.
One evening, the father noticed the four-year-old playing with some scraps of wood. He asked the child “What are you making?” Sweetly, the small boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The child smiled and went back to his work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. The tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though n word was spoken, both knew what must be done. That evening, the husband took Grandfather’s hand and gently led him back to the family table.
For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with his family. And for some reason, the son and daughter-in-law didn’t seem to care any longer when a fork was dropped or the milk spilled.
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