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Kids Happenings October 2017

My family as been going through some new, exciting, and even stressful/worrisome transitions these past months.  In August, my husband and I drove our oldest daughter, Ashtyn to college.  This was an exciting time for her and an overwhelming time for her mother...  I know many parents experience this very season in the life of parenting but “WOW” this is all kinds of emotions and transition in our family.

In addition to sending Ashtyn to college, Sydnie (our youngest) started her junior year in high school and a few short weeks later she started driving herself from point A to point B without me or my husband sitting in the car with her.  Again this is a season in parenting that adds new emotions.  We have “been there, done that” with Ashtyn but it’s still the same emotions all over again.  “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1.  Even though we feel we are still in a season of transition with our girls, we are thankful for God’s    timing and word to keep us grounded knowing He is in control.

Our Children’s Ministry started a new transition of it’s own on August 13th.  A new season per say…  our children had new teachers, classrooms and even a new schedule to add to their Kids Worship Experience.   This new “season” has had it’s ups and downs, but our teachers and worship leaders have persevered.  We know that this new season will have it’s challenges but we are doing God’s work and are in His will and He will not allow us to fail in this calling.  Galatians 6:9 “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

The season that our children’s ministry is in right now was put into perspective for me this past Sunday when I had the pleasure of seeing one of our 4 year old's during lunch. I asked him if he liked singing and dancing in Kids Worship. He answered in the best childlike way… jumping up and down in the booth at the restaurant, with a smile like no other, he starts to sing “My God is so big and so strong and so mighty”. He was doing all the motions to the chorus and singing as loud as his sweet little voice could.  Of course there were people looking his way probably thinking “get control of your kid”.  But God was in control of him...  in that moment I was so thankful that our teachers and leaders did not give up and trusted God’s timing during the season.  This little one was excited to sing loudly and praise our God in the middle of a restaurant.  I pray our church goes through transitions and seasons knowing God is in control and trusting in Him and His timing with our whole heart. For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.

I pray that we all will go forward in the seasons of life with a faith like no other.  Even when things seem worrisome or stressful, know that we are doing the work of God and He is in control and will not allow us to fail.  Trust in His timing and if you feel led… sing and dance, praising our Lord in the booth of a restaurant.
Thank you for allowing me to love on your kiddos.
God Bless,
April

Spiritual Development October 2017

Knowing the Will of God

How would you define the phrase, “the will of God”? In the broadest sense, God’s will is  expressed in all the commands and principles of Scripture.  Specifically, the Bible says that God’s will includes that followers of Christ would be saved (1 Tim. 2:4,   2 Peter 3:9), Spirit-filled (Eph. 5:17-18), sanctified (1 Thess. 4:3-8), submissive (1 Peter 2:13-15), and content in suffering (1 Peter 3:17). Pastor Kevin DeYoung offers this definition of God’s will from his book Just Do Something: “God’s will for our lives is much simpler than the conventional approach. The will of God for our lives is that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. The most important decision we face is the daily decision to live for Christ and die to self.”

Acknowledging God’s will affirms His sovereignty over all aspects of life. We live and    function only because God wills it. Living according to the will of God could be identified as a test of genuine saving faith. True Christians are characterized as “doing the will of God from the heart” (Eph. 6:6). On the other hand, a constant disregard for or lack of interest in God’s will is a mark of self-centeredness and pride in your life.  Disregarding the will of God is the same as  saying, "I am in charge of my life. I know what is best.” or “Things are working out pretty well for me right now.  I don’t really want to mess it up by changing it.” A follower of Jesus will diligently seek to live according to God’s desires.  “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6)
Many of the questions that people have about whether specific events or choices are part of God’s will can be answered by knowing and applying biblical wisdom. Therefore, it is very important that Christians rely on the words that God has given us.  Consider your own spiritual habits.  How much time per week do you spend hearing God’s Word preached/taught? Reading God’s Word? Studying God’s Word? Memorizing God’s Word? Meditating on God’s Word? All of these disciplines are ways that God reveals his will specifically to us.  The good news about this is that God’s will is not hidden from us. It is revealed to us in the Bible. He has already revealed what should be the primary direction of our lives, namely that we seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.