Today on Facebook I saw a picture of two of the kids in my ministry dressed up for career day at their school. The kids were asked to dress up as what they want to be when they grow up. One of the children dressed up as a pastor, just so he could carry his Bible around school all day today. This is definitely one of those moments that is encouraging to a children's minister like me. Not because it is something that I can take credit for, but because it is something I can praise God for. God promises us that he will not forsake us, that we will not labor in vain. God promises us that fruit will come from our work, even if we never get to see it. Well this is one of those moments were we can thank God for a glimpse of seeds taking root in this little boy's heart. Seeds of truth planted by his parents, family, Sunday School teachers, children's church leaders, awana workers, and other people of influence in his life. Seeds of the truth of who God is and what he wants for us, the truth of The Gospel!
I am so grateful that God gives us these little glimpses of the seeds of faith taking root in these children's lives. It is such an encouragement to carry on planting the seeds, to keep pouring the truth into these little lives, because one day God will grow it into something amazing!
Grateful to be Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Wednesday, September 9, 2015
Beautiful in its Time
Every year when I make out my calendar for the year I fill some of the empty spaces with quotes and verses to encourage me. This week the verse in my planner was Ecclesiastes 3:11
"He has made everything beautiful in its time."
Every time I hear this verse I am reminded of the waiting portion that is implied in the verse. If you live in Indiana like me, or even any northern state, you know the long winters that we have. The seemingly endless waiting that we go through to stop seeing snow and feeling cold. Growing up I always had a marker point which I knew that spring was here and winter was finally over. Every spring there were these little blue and purple flowers that popped up in our front yard. I am pretty sure that they are weeds of some sort, but as a child I didn't care. I would look out our front door window every day searching to see if they had popped up in the yard. The excitement I felt was probably way more than it should have been but never the less it was there each year as I spotted those little flowers. After the long winter I was rewarded with a sure sign of spring. God had made the earth beautiful again just in time.
This is also true in our daily lives. Every one goes through times of long "winter" where things aren't as we would like for them to be. A time that we may refer to as suffering, or waiting. This may seem like an endless period of time, and often we may feel like giving up. But we must hold to the promise that we find in Ecclesiastes 3:11. Just like God provided a sign of winter coming to an end with the little blue flowers in my yard, he is faithful to provide us a sign as well. He has promised to make everything beautiful in its time. Any situation we face, any problem we have, any period of "winter" we go through. At just the right time God will turn it into something beautiful. We just have to hold on to the promise and wait. I know its easier than it sounds, but its true. Believe in God's promise!
Blessed to be Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
"He has made everything beautiful in its time."
Every time I hear this verse I am reminded of the waiting portion that is implied in the verse. If you live in Indiana like me, or even any northern state, you know the long winters that we have. The seemingly endless waiting that we go through to stop seeing snow and feeling cold. Growing up I always had a marker point which I knew that spring was here and winter was finally over. Every spring there were these little blue and purple flowers that popped up in our front yard. I am pretty sure that they are weeds of some sort, but as a child I didn't care. I would look out our front door window every day searching to see if they had popped up in the yard. The excitement I felt was probably way more than it should have been but never the less it was there each year as I spotted those little flowers. After the long winter I was rewarded with a sure sign of spring. God had made the earth beautiful again just in time.
This is also true in our daily lives. Every one goes through times of long "winter" where things aren't as we would like for them to be. A time that we may refer to as suffering, or waiting. This may seem like an endless period of time, and often we may feel like giving up. But we must hold to the promise that we find in Ecclesiastes 3:11. Just like God provided a sign of winter coming to an end with the little blue flowers in my yard, he is faithful to provide us a sign as well. He has promised to make everything beautiful in its time. Any situation we face, any problem we have, any period of "winter" we go through. At just the right time God will turn it into something beautiful. We just have to hold on to the promise and wait. I know its easier than it sounds, but its true. Believe in God's promise!
Blessed to be Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Running Dry
Have you ever been working outside on a hot day and you reach for your water bottle to get a bit of refreshment only to find that your bottle is empty? I have, and its a disappointing feeling. Sometimes there is even the feeling of anger that the water is gone. But we all know that there is no one to blame but ourselves, we cant blame the bottle it is an inanimate object. And the bottle cant become angry with us for being used up. The correct response would be to go and fill the bottle back up with water so that it can be used again.
Sometimes this is how we treat life. We use up the talents that we have (the water) and when we run dry or run out of steam, we get angry and upset that its gone. We get angry at the job or the ministry that we feel has sucked "the life" out of us. We blame everyone but ourselves. The truth for the water is the truth in our lives, if we do not take the time to refill what we have used, we will always run dry. The more you pour out of your time and talents the more you need to also take the time to be refilled and refreshed. God gives us equal opportunities to be refilled as he does to use our talents. We just have to be willing to be refilled and refreshed.
Don't be an angry water bottle. Use the opportunities God gives you.
Continually Growing at The Grove
Miss Megan
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Baby Burst
We have been blessed with lots of babies being born into our children's ministry. That is definitely a blessing. There is no better way that I know than growing a church from birth. But with this awesome blessing comes added responsibility. Having 30 children under the age of 2 presents the need for more workers, and especially workers who are willing to diaper, clean up, walk, and even chase the children. I do have to admit that we have a great team of workers now that give up service hours to minister to these children, and their parents. But there is always room for one more.
Many people see classes for children this small as simply childcare. But that is not the truth at all. You see these children may not be able to leave their class and tell you a full Bible story but they can let you know that they feel safe, and loved while they are at church. These children are gaining the foundation that the church is the place where they are loved, where they are safe, and where they are taken care of. And if we are honest as adults, these are the same things we want to feel about church as well.
Classes for kids this age, and even older also have another purpose. It allows the moms and dads to have time away from their kids to refresh themselves, to focus on their own spiritual growth, and to have adult conversations. In a new mom's life that can be like gold! To help mould the spiritual lives of these children we also need to be helping their parents. Another added blessing of having a baby burst is that we have lots of families that are in the same boat, going through the same phase of life together. They are able to understand and support each other in ways that the rest of us fall short. It is truly amazing how God works these things out.
Continually Growing at The Grove
Miss Megan
Many people see classes for children this small as simply childcare. But that is not the truth at all. You see these children may not be able to leave their class and tell you a full Bible story but they can let you know that they feel safe, and loved while they are at church. These children are gaining the foundation that the church is the place where they are loved, where they are safe, and where they are taken care of. And if we are honest as adults, these are the same things we want to feel about church as well.
Classes for kids this age, and even older also have another purpose. It allows the moms and dads to have time away from their kids to refresh themselves, to focus on their own spiritual growth, and to have adult conversations. In a new mom's life that can be like gold! To help mould the spiritual lives of these children we also need to be helping their parents. Another added blessing of having a baby burst is that we have lots of families that are in the same boat, going through the same phase of life together. They are able to understand and support each other in ways that the rest of us fall short. It is truly amazing how God works these things out.
Continually Growing at The Grove
Miss Megan
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Getting Bogged Down
In ministry it is often easy to get bogged down by all of the things you have going on. In those really busy times, all too often we can become discouraged that we cant get everything done or if we can get it done it wont be good enough. And it is in those times that what would normally be criticism that rolls off your back, now seems like a weight that is dragging you under. I know I have personally had those times in my life and ministry.
One way that I try to combat being bogged down by the weight of criticism and busyness is to keep scripture up around me. One such scripture is Romans 8:31 which says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" This reminds me that I have God on my side and that he will fight along side me against anything that I face. And he is the almighty creator of the universe so nothing can stand against his power.
Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we have an almighty God on our side, that we aren't really alone in it all, and that He is willing to fight for us.
Continually Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
One way that I try to combat being bogged down by the weight of criticism and busyness is to keep scripture up around me. One such scripture is Romans 8:31 which says, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" This reminds me that I have God on my side and that he will fight along side me against anything that I face. And he is the almighty creator of the universe so nothing can stand against his power.
Sometimes we all need to be reminded that we have an almighty God on our side, that we aren't really alone in it all, and that He is willing to fight for us.
Continually Growing at The Grove!
Miss Megan
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Kids Camp
This time last week we were hauling our first load of supplies out to Rainbow Christian Camp in Converse, to our camp site for the next few days. Coming right off the end of a week long missions trip, I was a bit tired but more than that I was excited for the days ahead. I love camp! I love the opportunities that come from camp. We have the opportunity to build relationships with the kids present and to disciple them. I once heard that change comes through relationships. That is something that I try to pass on to the leaders at camp so that through the relationships they build with the kids, real life change will happen.
We had an awesome week with about 75 kids and 25 adults in attendance. Brad Merchant taught the kids on Psalm 23. Each child heard how God is their shepherd, always with them providing for their needs, protecting them, and even saving them and offering them eternal life.
I know that only a week has passed and probably just now are we all caught up on the lost sleep, but I am ready to do it all over again!
We had an awesome week with about 75 kids and 25 adults in attendance. Brad Merchant taught the kids on Psalm 23. Each child heard how God is their shepherd, always with them providing for their needs, protecting them, and even saving them and offering them eternal life.
I know that only a week has passed and probably just now are we all caught up on the lost sleep, but I am ready to do it all over again!
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Teaching Little Hearts
This week I have the privilege of teaching the preschoolers during VBS in Davis City, Iowa. Most of the kids in this community do not go to church anywhere because there are not a whole lot of Bible teaching churches in the area, in fact in the two towns we are visiting, there are only 3. I am so blessed to be able to introduce these little hearts to my savior! This week they have been learning that God should be the guide of their life and that they can trust him to lead them in what is right and what is best for them. It is my prayer that I am able to plant seeds of faith in the hearts of these precious little ones. I am so glad I am able to be used by God to teach this amazing group of kids.
Our verse for this week is "God will help me know what to do". Isaiah 30:21 (paraphrased)
Our verse for this week is "God will help me know what to do". Isaiah 30:21 (paraphrased)
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