Showing posts with label Ministry. Show all posts

Monday, November 4, 2013

10 Great Thanksgiving Books for Children

10 GREAT THANKSGIVING BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Friday, November 1, 2013

Reading God's Word? Where do I start?

Do you ever have a hard time trying to figure out where to start when reading your Bible? Old Testament? New Testament? Sometimes it can just be too overwhelming, then you get frustrated and find something else to do.

Most people, including myself, know they should (and want) to read God’s Word. They understand that it is God’s message to them and He expects them to read it. However, for various reasons, many find this duty an intimidating task. It's like a mountain they fear they cannot climb, or even just want to hear other people talk about what is like on the top rather than climb it themselves. The Bible seems so big. They do not understand how it is organized. The vocabulary and grammar may be difficult. Many people just give up and never read the Bible—or at least never read it through.

Here are a few ways to make reading/studying your Bible a little less overwhelming:

A Bible Reading Plan takes into account the great number of people who do not have a strong background in the word of God. This plan gives you a stepping-stone so that you do not have to read straight through every word of scripture the first time. It starts you with the basics. After you feel comfortable at this level, then you can go on to the entire Bible. There are various reading plans as follows.

Bible in a Year-Read the entire Bible in one year using chapters from the Old Testament, New Testament and the Book of Psalms.
Straight Through the Bible-Read the entire Bible in one year, from Genesis to Revelation.
Different Topics-Each day of the week, you'll be reading from a different section of the Bible.
New Testament and Old Testament-Read the whole Bible, with something from both Testaments each day.
The Story of the Bible-A chronologically arranged reading of the story of the Bible.
New Testament, Psalms & Proverbs-Get the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs in one year.

A Bible Study can guide you through a lesson

References: http://www.learnthebible.org/bible-reading-plan-for-beginners.html

Monday, May 27, 2013

Worship notes for kiddos

The following site has designed a great sermon/worship notes sheet. Click below to print.
mmmcrafts: worship notes for kiddos

Thursday, October 25, 2012

31 Days of Prayer for Children

31 Days of Prayer for Children

You can click on the title or picture to take you to the PDF file to print it out.

7 Lies That Keep Parents From Praying

This info was adapted from http://sojournkids.com/

Most of what I’m sharing here has been born out of intense personal experience. I’ve wrestled with these doubts. And over and over again I find myself believing these lies about prayer. I am not writing as one who has “figured out” prayer. Deitrich Bonhoeffer has said, “True teachers in prayer can only help by directing to the one who must Himself help us pray.” So, this is not going to be 12 secrets to a great prayer life, or a clever acronym to help you remember how to pray “the right way.” It is not about heaping guilt on ourselves in regards to how much we “should” pray. It is not even about tricks to help us pray more, although I will share some tools that may be helpful. I just want to expose the lies of our hearts that keep us from communing with God, and hopefully point you to Jesus, who is the only one who can help us find the grace that is prayer.

Lie #1

1. God is indifferent to my prayers. We may sometimes ask, ”Why should I pray since God already knows what he’s going to do? What difference does it make?” This is a temptation to be cynical about prayer. Some people say, “Prayer doesn’t change anything. It just changes you.” Have you heard this objection? Have you ever thought this? In Matthew 7:7-11, Jesus teaches us that we should ask. If we as parents give our children good gifts, “how much more will our Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” Jesus doesn’t just command us to believe this truth, he gives us a logical argument for praying with faith.
In the section on prayer in his book Bible Doctrine (158-159), Wayne Grudem deals with the tension of knowing God is sovereign, and yet reading verses that indicate our prayers are effective. He concludes that while God does not need us to tell him what we need (Jesus says in Matthew 6:8 that he knows what we need before we ask), prayer does allow us as creatures to be involved in activities that are eternally important. Even though we can’t explain exactly how it works, it is clear that in prayer we participate in God’s sovereign will.
The way this works is a mystery. Sometimes difficult to accept because we want to understand how it works! Paul Miller describes the mysterious nature of prayer. He says, “We try to figure out the mystery, it will elude us. Some things disappear when you try to capture or observe them-the most precious things in life can’t be proven or observed directly.” He goes on to describe this using the example of a child with autism. Many of you may know that we have a daughter who is profoundly affected by autism. One of the defining characteristics of autism is that children with autism often struggle to make eye contact with people. Instead, they sometimes look at people out of the corners of their eyes. The theory is that because of the way they process sensory input, it is too overwhelming for them to look directly at people. Prayer is similar. Miller says, “It is too overwhelming for us to look at prayer directly. We must look at it sideways, out of the corners of our eyes.”
The response to our cynicism is believing that we can pray with expectation, even though we don’t fully understand how it all works.
Psalm 34 speaks to this lie that God is indifferent to our prayers. It describes how we can pray with the expectation that God will be responsive:

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.
⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.
⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
⁸ Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
⁹ Fear the LORD, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
¹⁰ The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
Psalm 34:4-10

Lie #2

2. God is impersonal and distant. He isn’t close to me. We may sometimes ask, “What’s the difference between praying and just hoping for things? Does God really care?” Or we might say, “I’m afraid that God won’t answer, and if he doesn’t, I’m afraid that I won’t believe any more.” In some ways, these questions represent the obstacle that is behind all of the obstacles to prayer–doubt and unbelief. We struggle to believe that God is good, personal, and intimate. And if (when) we can’t believe these things, we won’t come to Him.
But the good news is that God has come to us in Jesus. The fact that God has sent His son Jesus Christ to earth, to live among us, and to die for us is a demonstration of God’s intimate, personal love. In the midst of the apostle Paul’s instructions to men in the church to “lift up holy hands” in prayer for the government (1 Timothy 2:1-6), we read a surprising summary of the gospel. Verses 5-6 say, “There is one God, and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus who gave himself as a ransom for all men” This is why we pray. This is how we can have faith that God is near. He has already drawn near to us in Jesus.
The response to doubting that God is near is believing we can pray with confidence in our Father’s intimate love, because he has demonstrated this love on the cross.
A Psalm that is helpful to pray when we believe that God is impersonal is Psalm 139. It describes God’s intimate knowledge of us and love for us:

¹ You have searched me, LORD,
and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

Psalm 139:1-10

Lie #3

As I’ve been studying prayer, I’ve come across several resources that are really helpful. You’ll find quotes from each of these books highlighted as part of this series:

Here is the third of seven obstacles:
3. The Culture of Secularism. What I mean by this is the belief that there is a disconnect between “God’s world” and the “real world.” We might ask, ”Can I talk to God about everything? Should I just pray about important things or spiritual things?” Honestly, I would guess that most of the time, people wouldn’t even ask these questions, because they don’t consider praying about everyday matters. That is because, in our culture, we inherently think there is a disconnect between God’s world and the real world. This mentality comes from the Enlightenment. Since that period in history, people in the West have thought of the “sacred/spiritual” world and the “secular/everyday life” world as two separate things.
But the Bible speaks against this division. In the Scriptures, all of life is spiritual. But it is hard for us to believe this. Jared usually comes into the church early on Sundays, and I drive in a little later with the girls for the 11:15 service. Sometimes we’re running late, and I hope against hope that I don’t have to park a mile away from the building and treck across Germantown with our three daughters. One week, we were running late and it was raining. However, a car pulled out of a spot on the street near the building just as we were approaching. I said to myself, “That was lucky.” Then, I thought, “No, that was God’s grace.”
When we think about what a secular/sacred division looks like, we often think it looks like the people who go to church only on Easter and Christmas. But we are susceptible to this mentality! How many of us pray about finding a parking place when we are running late? Or for our child’s behavior before we drop them off at SojournKids? Or when we lose our keys? We can pray about everything, because all of life belongs to God. All of life is spiritual.
But it just seems really unspiritual! Really spiritual people don’t pray for things like that! We concentrate on praying for lost souls and God’s glory. Bonhoeffer points out that this kind of thinking stems from a desire to be more spiritual than God Himself, who instructs us to pray for the necessities of physical life and visible evidences of His gracious gifts in all areas of our lives. Just think about how Jesus instructs us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.”
The response to living in a culture of secularism is believing that God is involved in every aspect of our lives, and we can pray about anything.
When we are tempted to divide the spriritual world from the “real” world we should be reminded that all of the world belongs to God as we see in Psalm 104:

¹⁰ He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
¹¹ They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
¹² The birds of the sky nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.
¹³ He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the land is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
¹⁴ He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for people to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
¹⁵ wine that gladdens human hearts,
oil to make their faces shine,
and bread that sustains their hearts.

Psalm 104:10-15

Lie #4

Before continuing with the seven lies that keep us from praying, I thought it would be helpful to review a few tools that aid us in prayer:

Notecards: In his book, A Praying Life, Paul Miller highlights notecards and journals. Miller dates his cards and places a person’s name at the top. Then, below he can put down a Scripture passage or bullet points that he is praying for the person. I’ve found that the “Notes” app on an iPhone works just as well.

Journals: Prayer is interconnected with every aspect of your life, because all of your life is part of God’s story. Miller says, “Learning to pray is almost identical to maturing over a lifetime. What does it feel like to grow up? It is a thousand feelings on a thousand different days. That is what learning to pray feels like…it isn’t something you accomplish in a year. It is a journey of a lifetime.” Sometimes journaling or just making notes of our prayers can open our eyes to God’s hand in this journey, especially over longer periods of time.

A Prayer Calendar like this one can guide us to pray for aspects of our kids’ character that we might not otherwise think about.

Praying Blessings. For each of the lies that keep us from prayer, I’ve provided model prayers from the Psalms. The psalms can provide a model for praying blessings over our children as well. David Michael’s A Father’s Guide for Blessing His Children outlines how to turn psalms into blessing prayers.

Here is the fourth of seven lies that keep parents from praying. At this point in the list, I’m transitioning from lies we believe about God to lies we believe about ourselves.
4. I need to protect myself. We might say, “I don’t know how or what to pray for. What if I pray something that is not God’s will? I’m afraid to pray for what I really want.”
Why are we afraid to be honest with God about our true desires? We are really trying to protect ourselves from realization that we are not in control; from the realization that we are not holy; from the realization that we are not powerful. If we could control God and make him answer the way we want, praying would be easy, but when I am willing to pray even for my selfish desires, I confess that I am out of control. This means we can pray for our children honestly–for their good health, for their academic/athletic success, for their repentance and salvation. God is the one who ultimately decides what he will give. But, nevertheless, he wants us to ask and believe that he gives good gifts to us, because we are his children.
The response to a desire for self-protection is believing that we can pray with childlike faith because we have a good Father who knows what is best for us.
When we are struggling to be honest with God, we can trust in our Father’s goodness and confess that we are dependent on Him for everything. Psalm 103 is an example of what this looks like:

¹ Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
¹⁴ for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:1-6, 13-14

Lie #5

5. “I feel burdened to pray, but it feels obligatory. I know that I should pray, but I don’t want to.” Basically, when I pray I feel holy. When I don’t, I feel guilty. The root issue of this lie is the idea of works righteousness. Praying more makes me a better Christian, and, on the other side, when I don’t have long prayer times, I feel guilt from not “doing” enough. Both perspectives view prayer as a good work and not a means of grace; as something we do for God; something that pleases Him.
Consider the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18:9-18. If our prayers are the prayers of the pharisee (good works done to earn God’s favor), then they will become drudgery. But, if we enter into prayer expecting to receive from God, then we will pray like the tax collector. And we will RECEIVE mercy and grace in our time of need. (Hebrews 4:16). In fact, Romans 8:26 says that we really do not even know what to pray, but the
Spirit intercedes for us.
Sometimes we focus too much on the prayer itself instead of God. Our goal is to experience God, and prayer is the means by which we get to know Him. When we fail to pray, we are really forfeiting the grace we could be experiencing and withholding that from ourselves.We don’t pray to gain favor for better results with our children. We pray because, when we do, we recognize that we can not control their hearts, only God is able to do that. And in those moments we find rest from our futile efforts and worries.
The response to thinking our prayers make us holy is believing that we always pray imperfectly as sinners who can approach God in Jesus’ name.
When we are tempted to think of prayer as an obligation or when we feel guilty for not praying enough, we can pray Psalm 51 and remember that we are sinners who can boldly approach the throne of grace because our high priest, Jesus, has made a way for us.

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.

Psalm 51:1-4

Lie #6

6. Self-Reliance. While we might not say it, deep down we often think “I don’t need to pray, because I can handle it.” When we do pray, often we are essentially praying, ”Lord, please bless my efforts.” We are thinking of ourselves as God. We have our lives under control. Paul Miller writes, “If you are not praying, then you are quietly confident that time, money, and talent are all you need in life.” Is this convicting? What does this look like in your life?
For me, when my child is disobeying I brainstorm some way to manipulate better behavior. Then, at the end of the day I pray, “God, help this to teach her to stop doing that.” Really, that prayer is just an afterthought because I think I know how to solve this problem! But, in reality, we are really desperate for God. Colossians 1:16-17 says, “Christ is before all things and in him all things hold together.” Things don’t depend on us. They depend on him.
The response to self-reliance is believing that we can let go of our anxieties in prayer, because God is the one in control, not us.
When we are tempted to believe we have what it takes to do life on our own, we can be reminded of our complete dependence on God for all things, and pray Psalm 131:

¹ My heart is not proud, LORD,
my eyes are not haughty;
I do not concern myself with great matters
or things too wonderful for me.
² But I have calmed and quieted myself,
I am like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child I am content.

³ Israel, put your hope in the LORD
both now and forevermore.

Psalm 131

Lie #7

7. “I don’t have time to pray, because I have so much to do.” “My thoughts are so busy that I can’t focus.” This is the lie of busyness. We say we’re too busy, but what we are really saying is… “I am made for this world only. I’m not an eternal creature with a heavenly perspective.”
If we love people we are going to be busy. We see this in Jesus’s life! There is a really helpful quote in this section of Paul Miller’s book that says “Prayer doesn’t offer us a less busy life. It offers us a less busy heart.” By praying, we can experience God and His peace in the midst of our busy lives.
How can we have a heavenly perspective when we are living in this world? We can pray for love as we go to discipline our children. We can pray for a wisdom when we have no idea how to respond to an attitude of disrespect. We can pray for peace when we are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of our children! Colossians 3:1 says, “If you have been raised with Christ, set your affections on things above. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”
This world seems so real to us! But it is passing away. It is not true reality for us. We should not be consumed by the things of this life because we have died to this world, and our identity, our lives, are hidden with Christ in God.
The response to busyness is believing you pray as one who is not of this world.
When we are tempted to believe that the things of this world are more pressing and important than eternal matters, we can pray this Psalm which keeps an eternal perspective on our journey through life:

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Psalm 23

The good news is, there is forgiveness when we repent of these lies and believe truths. And as we wrestle through these doubts, God is gracious to draw near to us in the midst of them.

All credit is due to http://sojournkids.com/
SojournKids is the children’s ministry of Sojourn Community Church in Louisville, KY.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Trick-or-Treating Safety- A MUST READ!!!!

If you would like to avoid reading all the following safety rules/tips for trick-or-treating; then it's simple just come and join us for a night of fun, for the whole family!!!!

Heavenly Harvest is a wonderful alternative for children/families on Halloween night. With tons of free food, fun games, awesome inflatables and lots of candy for everyone!!!!!

Please review the following safety tips before taking your children trick-or-treating:

Costumes should be made of flame resistant light-colored fabric or have reflective qualities. They should be short enough so as not to interfere with walking or become entangled in bicycle chains. Use facial makeup rather than masks so children can see easily.

Children should carry flashlights and not use candles or torches. Before leaving the home, children should discuss the proposed route, time of return, and companions. An adult should always accompany younger children. It is advisable to visit the homes of persons you know or local familiar neighborhoods, stopping at well-lit houses only. As a general rule, children should avoid entering homes or apartments and always travel with a companion.

Children should avoid busy streets, always use sidewalks, and follow all traffic rules and regulations. Motorists should avoid all unnecessary travel on Halloween evening, and when driving they should drive slowly and be alert to small children crossing streets. Many accidents occur when motorists are backing vehicles out of driveways, unaware of the presence of small children.

Halloween treats should be saved until children return home where adults can examine all items closely. Treats that are unwrapped, or show signs of having been opened, should not be eaten. Fruit should be sliced into small pieces and checked for foreign objects. Keep small pieces of candy away from infants and very small children, as they can easily become lodged in the throat and cause choking.

Persons receiving trick-or-treaters should keep a light on and pick up obstacles that could cause a child to trip and become injured. Jack-o-lanterns should be kept clear of doorsteps and landings. Consider the possibility of using flashlights instead of candles to light Jack-o-lanterns. Keep dogs and other pets away from doors so children will not become frightened.

Also important to note, some pets may suffer stress from the extra foot traffic on Halloween, constant ringing of door bells and door-knocking, or simply the fear of a costumed child. (Trick-or-treating can even scare your dog! You wouldn't want that to happen now would you?)

How do you know on halloween if the person giving your child(ren) candy is a "REAL" scary person!?!?!?

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Sharing the Real Meaning of Christmas with Your Children

The Real Meaning of Christmas

With so much advertising and emphasis on presents, programs, and parties, take some time to teach your children about the real meaning of Christmas. It's so easy to get distracted by the celebration that one discussion or Christmas program isn't enough to help your children catch the meaning and significance of what Christmas is really all about. Here are some suggestions.

Have a daily or weekly reminder of the Christmas story. Use an advent calendar or read through the Christmas story in the next few weeks.

Tell children what the first Christmas was really like. Did you know that a manger is a cow's eating dish? How far is it from Nazareth to Bethlehem anyway? That would be like walking all the way from our home to _____. What was an Inn like? What were the shepherds doing out with the sheep at night? Did you know that the Bible doesn't say that there were three wise men? Maybe there were ten. Help children think about the story differently than they have before.
Write to a missionary family and find out how they are celebrating Christmas. Talk to your children about how cultures have different traditions but the real meaning of Christmas is the same.
And talk about God's gift of salvation. Why did God start Christmas in the first place? How does his gift change who we are? Keep in mind that this may be time that your child dedicates himself or herself to the Lord in a new and special way.

Christmas is a special time where memories are created that last a lifetime. Take some time to plan your Christmas season carefully to make sure the things you do and say have lasting value.

What have you done with your kids to emphasize the real meaning of Christmas? Comment below your ideas.

If this tip you can sign up at www.biblicalparenting.org.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

UPDATE: Praying for Baby Henry!

Please Pray for Baby Henry!

To all my prayer warrior friends out there. Please pray for baby Henry. He is a sweet angel of God born on May 17th to the wonderful Johnson Family. He was placed on an ECMO that bypasses his heart and lungs, allowing his body to rest. Please keep this sweet baby and family in your prayers!

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. James 5:14-15

If you are a believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.... then you are the church!

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UPDATES: All updates are per Amber and Steven via Facebook.

April 3, 2011:

"Henry is dropping weight as he should. He's getting back to his birth weight where they want him to be. We're pretty sure that he still has a pleural effusion on the right. The surgeon keeps bringing up placing a chest tube in to drain the fluid collection but his clotting factors are off not to mention that his chest x ray is still "whited out" and they're unable to get a lot of information from it at this point. The other option is waiting through the weekend to see if the dialysis will help drain off the fluid without intervention. We hope we can go without the chest tube but if that is what Henry needs to improve then we're all for it.

His sweet little ear looks better today. Still really red and inflamed but better. The nurse has gone through great lengths to keep any pressure off of it today. She actually made a hole for it in the foam support under his head to keep anything from rubbing against it. She also made a sign that says "Don't Forget... Ear on bedrest." to remind the evening and night nurses to try and keep him off of it. She also told me that she heard noises in his chest which is a huge improvement from last week. :)" -Amber

April 2, 2011:

"Thank you for taking the time to check in on Henry and us. We covet your prayers and ask that you continue to pray for Henry's healing and for our strength during such a difficult time. We will update his site as much as possible so please continue to check in on our sweet boy."-Amber & Steven

To learn more about Henry click Link below.

"Henry has had an o.k. day. He is back on dialysis which will help reduce his swelling that has started from the ECMO change out. He's already getting pretty swollen so hopefully the dialysis will help him shed the fluid pretty quickly. We're praying that this is not going to be as big of a set back as last week's equipment change out. They were unable to get a good look at his lungs on the x ray today because of the swelling so we're unable to really see if his pleural effusion has resolved or if he has any more air in his lungs. He's possibly getting a pressure sore on his left ear because he's had to lay on it so much. So we're praying for more signs of progress tomorrow!

On a lighter note, we've been told that Henry has quite a temper. Apparently he got so mad that he tensed up until he turned blue and made his ECMO cut off. Fortunately, we were not there to witness his temper tantrum but had arrived shortly after. His nurse was still slightly frazzled but laughing at how mad he had gotten and said that she had never had a baby turn their on pump off. She actually had to chart "the fit".
Lilah got to visit Henry today. She brought him a beautiful card that her and her classmates made for him. I'll try to remember to take a picture of it and post it tomorrow. It really is a sweet card and all of her friends drew smiley faces in it. If you know Lilah, you know she loves smiley faces so I'm pretty sure that was her idea.. She also told me that her friends prayed for Henry before making the card. God really has blessed us with such sweet and caring people in our lives."- Amber

April 1, 2011:

"Today Henry is down another half pound. He's a little dehydrated but that may help off set some of the fluid accumulation from equipment change scheduled later today. He will have his ECMO machine changed again, apparently this is something that needs to be done every 7 to 10 days. Of course, this will require more blood products which in turn causes more fluid retention. He is still on dialysis so this will hopefully help keep him from getting super puffy. He still has fluid around his right lung. They were talking about putting a chest tube in for that but they are going to hold off until we get through the circuit change and give him time to adjust to that. On a POSITIVE note, his chest xray showed a little air in both of his lungs.:) Praise God for the good news and pray for a smooth transition with his new equipment.

WOOHOO!!!! The ECMO swap is over. Henry was off of bypass for approximately 2 minutes but his oxygen levels stayed good. His BP dropped a bit but was fine as soon as he got back on the ECMO. Steven and I are waiting to go back and love on him some more."-Amber

May 31, 2011:

"Henry weighed 8 pounds and 5 ounces this morning. He's still got a little bit of fluid around his lungs that is being a little stubborn. Pray that it goes away soon. They are hearing more breathe sounds today. His ventilator is picking up on them now. The x-rays from this morning even showed some air in his smaller lung. Praise God. They are going to have to change out the ECMO and dialysis machines soon. No set date or time as of yet, they're just keeping a close watch on them."-Steven

May 30, 2011:

"PROGRESS!!!!! Henry is down to 8lb15oz. Just a couple of more pounds to go then on to the next step. Thanking God for another easy day for Henry, progress and the hope that it brings. Keep praying! Happy Memorial Day!!!!!! Henry got some flags to fly in honor of all who fight for our freedom. Check out the wings he's borrowing. My Pawpaw got these on his 21st birthday while serving our country in WWII. They were with him through each of the 51 missions that he flew. My uncle is letting Henry borrow them to bring him luck through a pretty tough battle. ♥ "-Amber

May 29, 2011:

Seeing a little progress today. Henry has dropped some fluid weight. Praise God! Pray for him to continue to tolerate the fluid loss. We've also been informed that they may have to change out the ECMO device again. They are prepared to do so but this could cause Henry to need more blood products which can set him back again. Thanking God for another good day!

May 27, 2011:

"They are going to put Henry on dialysis this afternoon. This is to help him shed that fluid weight that he put on earlier this week. His kidneys are fine!!! He's peeing a lot but the volume of blood products that he received earlier in the week has proven to be a bit of a task for him. We are very hopeful and grateful that we have this option. There are some risks with the dialysis as with anything else but we really feel like the benefits out wiegh them. Please pray for the dialysis to work, for Henry and the ECMO equipment to tolerate the change, and for Henry's kidneys to continue to work properly once they take him off the dialysis. This verse made me think.: "I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given to me -- the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.- Acts 20:24"- Amber

May 26, 2011:

"Hanging out with Steven during the 2-4 break. Henry is having a good day. He's up on his weight because of all of the extra blood products but he's not had to have as many transfusions today. Praise God! They have changed his diuretic in hopes to get more fluid off. Lots of pee! Still a long way to go to get him back to his slim and trim self."-Amber

"I just called to check in on Henry. His nurse said that he had a great night. He's still having to receive more blood products because of the equipment swap the other day which is normal. He's more swollen today because of the extra platelets. At this point he's just receiving faster than he can remove the extra from his body." -Amber

May 25, 2011:

"Enjoying a noneventful day with my sweet boy. He's a puffy baby from our set back yesterday and the increase in blood products he's had to receive but he's holding strong. He's handsome as usual and I just wiped him down and brushed his hair.
Henry had a good day today. They are starting to up his lasix to help get off his fluid weight. They are trying to reduce his sedatives so that he will be more alert. This will allow for more movement and activity which could help his body eliminate the fluid. Lilah had a very good visit with him." -Amber

"Henry had a better night last night. No events. He is puffy again as expected, but having a good day. Just needs to get busy making lots of wet diapers." -Steven

May 24, 2011:

"Had a setback with the ECMO machine last night. Part of it ruptured due to a clot and had to be replaced. Henry is okay but had to get more blood products because of it. Pray that it doesn't cause his weight to drastically go up. So there's another small problem with the ECMO pump. They're going to replace the entire unit around 3 PM. They'll have the new pump primed and by his bed, so swapping it out should only take a few minutes. The downside is that they'll have to give him more blood products. He's already starting to puff back up a bit" -Steven

"Waiting to check on Henry. His ECMO equipment is being replaced because it wasn't working properly. This puts him several steps back in recovery. Praying that he tolerates the swap and that the nurses and doctors can get his clotting factors and blood pressure back to the desired levels so that we can start back on the lasix and reduce his fluid weight. Poor puffy baby.
Thanks for the immediate prayers!!!! Henry tolerated the swap well! He's going to have to get a lot more blood products to help with his blood pressure because it dropped with the change. That was expected. Receiving the blood products causes fluid retention. Now it is time to play catch up with the lasix. God love him. Waiting with Steven Johnson to go back and check on him." -Amber

May 22, 2011:

"We had a good long visit with Henry today. He's starting to lose some of his fluid weight that he has gained from being on ECMO. That is a sign of progress!!!! Lilah got to come and visit for a while and she is an awesome big sister. She even remembered to bring him some clean booties. I love my sweet babies and I thank God for watching over us." -Amber

"Hanging out during the 2-4 break. Waiting for Lilah. Henry is having a good day today. He was 6 pounds and 14 ounces when he was born. His body weight nearly doubled after they put him on ECMO due to all the blood products and fluids they had to give him. Now he's down to 10 pounds. Finally some progress. It might be really small in the large scope of things, but it's progress none the less and I thank God for it." -Steven

May 19, 2011:

" would like to thank everyone for all the prayers for Henry and for all of the inquiries. I am sorry that I have been unable to respond. It has been hectic and we're exhausted. Keep praying for Henry. He has a long road ahead but he's holding his own. Prayer works and God still heals!!!!! Thanks for the love peeps!"- Amber

May 18, 2011:

"I wanted to let you guys know that Henry had to be placed on ECMO last night. ECMO bypasses his heart and lungs, allowing his body to rest. He showed signs of improvement after being placed on ECMO. They'll start trying to reduce his dependence on it after a few weeks. Amber is recovering as expected. She'll feel better after she gets to see him, which should be sometime this morning." - Steven

May 17, 2011: HAPPY BIRTHDAY HENRY!

"Henry is here! He weighs 6 pounds and 14 ounces and is 19.25 inches long. Amber is good. Henry is getting for his first road trip from UAB to Children's Hospital. Praise the Lord"-Steven

Friday, March 25, 2011

Family Easter Ideas

Here are some way the celebrate Easter with the family. I found them at: First Baptist Dallas easter ideas

Celebrate Easter with your family ... here are some ideas!

These Scripture readings, fun activities, and discussion points will help your family focus on the most pivotal Christian truth: Christ died and rose to save us from sin!

1. Buy an Easter lily for your home. The lily symbolizes new life because something so strikingly fragrant and beautiful grows from a lifeless-looking bulb.
2. Paint a spring mural. Put up a wall-sized piece of paper, tape newspaper to the floor, dress your child in old clothes and get out the paints! Even if it's not greening up outside, you can start springtime indoors.
3. Take a "new life walk" outdoors, searching out tiny shoots, sprouting buds on trees and eggs in birds' nests.
4. Explain the word redemption, using the dictionary definition as well as the Christian doctrine (hints: "recovering ownership" and "restoring value=").
5. Bring springtime indoors. Buy potted crocuses, daffodils or tulips for your home.
6. Help your child understand why Jesus was called "the Lamb of God" (his role as the unblemished sacrifice: Ex. 12:21-24; John 1:29; 1 Cor. 5:7-8). With your child, make a lamb. Glue cotton balls to a small paper plate, then add pink and black construction-paper eyes, ears, muzzle, nose and hooves.
7. Read or summarize Exodus 12:1-42 to give an older child a context for the Passover celebration that Jesus observed the last week before his death. Explain Christ's death as the ultimate sacrifice for sin and discuss the significance of God giving up his firstborn Son.
8. Fill a clay pot with soil and grass seeds. Your kids will be able to watch the swift growth of the grass shoots. Look up 2 Corinthians 5:17. As a symbol of a "new creation," make butterflies using a large piece of wrapping tissue scrunched and secured in the middle with a clothespin.
9. Define resurrection for your kids. Have an older child undertake a "Bible hunt" to identify people who died and were raised to life. In every case, Who did the resurrecting?
10. Buy inexpensive packets of summer flowers, place each packet in a separate envelope, then decorate the envelopes with pictures of the full-grown flowers. School-age children can write the flower name on the envelope. Offer these as Easter gifts for friends or neighbors who enjoy gardening.
11. Make this a gift-giving season. The gift of Immanuel, which we celebrate at Christmas, finds its ultimate expression in Christ's sacrifice. Homemade gifts, such as cookies or cross-shaped paper bookmarks, are best.
12. Create simple spring animal puppets using paper lunch sacks with construction-paper faces glued to the bottom panel. Then have a family puppet show!
13. Find an old muffin tin and fill the cups with soil. Help your child plant a different type of flower seed in each compartment. As the plants begin to come up, thin out the growth by removing weaker sprouts so two or three healthy flowers grow in each cup.
14. Read Matthew 26:1-16, 47-56. Talk about your child's experiences of betrayal or disappointment in friendships. Imagine Jesus' personal hurt at Judas's treachery and the subsequent desertion of Christ's closest allies.
15. Define atonement, helping your kids understand the ideas of making amends or repaying a debt that is owed.
16. Read Isaiah 53:2-8. Depending on the maturity and readiness of your child, describe Jesus' sufferings on the cross.
17. Explain the word alleluia, which comes from a Greek translation of a Hebrew phrase meaning "Praise the Lord"—a call to worship.
18. In Greece, Christians celebrate Easter with a festive outdoor banquet. On the first warm-enough day, eat lunch together outdoors.
19. Explain repentance in terms of understanding God's holiness and seeing yourself through his eyes. Emphasize God's loving desire to redeem sinners.
20. The idea of new clothes for Easter comes from the Easter Sunday tradition of some churches to bring in new members or to baptize new believers dressed in white. Just for fun, make an Easter bonnet by decorating a paper plate with silk or paper flowers. Two slits on opposite sides of the plate allow a ribbon to pass through so you can tie it underneath your child's chin.
21. Act out the "parade" of Palm Sunday as a family. Have family members take turns putting themselves in the place of Jesus, receiving a royal welcome but knowing that the crowd's intentions would change in less than a week. Note: the word hosanna translates "save us, we beseech thee."
22. Make hot cross buns—small, spicy, sweet buns that are a traditional Easter treat.
23. Clean house! Jewish families typically cleaned before the Passover celebration.
24. Discuss Jesus' experiences in the garden of Gethsemane in Matthew 26:36-46. Then read his prayer for all believers—including your family—in John 17:20-26.
25. The name Good Friday probably evolved from the phrase "God's Friday." Talk about why the day Christ died is ultimately very good—the best—because we all need a Savior.
26. Get a clearer idea of the miracle of the tomb rock rolling away by finding a large rock and trying to roll it yourselves. Note that only an act of God could put the guards to sleep and move such a big stone.
27. Practice the traditional Easter greeting: "Christ is risen!" and the reply: "He is risen indeed!"

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Helping Children Learn the Ten Commandments(and parents too)

A friend (Roxanne) told me about a way to quickly memorize the Ten Commandments. It gives you a visual to put with each commandment to help you remember them. We used this last night in TeamKID at church and it amazed me how fast the kids committed the Commandments to memory. As well as helped me too. If something works I like to share it. So here it is...

The picture was found by a Google search at goodmessenger.org

Monday, February 21, 2011

A Child's Ten Commandments to Parents

I am not the best mom, but I try. I know that everyday is a new learning experience for me as a parent. Sometimes I come across things that stir my heart and open my eyes and I want to share it with others. Sunday night I heard "A Child's Ten Commandments to Parents" in the Bible study I am attending entitled Value-Packed Parenting by Kevin Leman.

A Child's Ten Commandments to Parentsby Dr. Kevin Leman

As presented on the realFamilies TV Show with Dr. Kevin Leman
and Dr. Jay Passavant, here are ten ways to better parenting,
and of course better kids.

1. My hands are small; please don't expect perfection whenever I make a bed,
draw a picture or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that
I can keep up with you.

2. My eyes have not seen the world as yours have; please let me explore safely. Don't restrict me unnecessarily.

3. Housework will always be there. I'm only little for a short time, please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world and do so willingly.

4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to my needs. Don't nag me all
day long. (You wouldn't want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness). Treat me as you would like to be treated.

5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by and disciplining me in a loving manner.

6. I need your encouragement to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.

7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I'll be prepared to make the kinds of decisions that life requires of me.

8. Please don't do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn't quite measure up to your expectations. I know it's hard, but please don't try to compare me to my brother or sister.

9. Please don't be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids need vacations from parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it's a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.

10. Please take me to church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.

Dr. Kevin Leman is an internationally known psychologist, humorist, best-selling author, TV personality and speaker. Dr. Leman is probably best known for his Birth Order Book.

Monday, February 14, 2011

A Valentine Just For You!

“My lover is mine, and I am his.”
Song of Solomon 2:16 (NLT)

While I spent the last few months thinking a lot about Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s, greeting card writers likely spent it focused on today – Valentine’s Day.

Valentine’s Day is the second-biggest card-buying holiday besides Christmas. More than 200 million Valentine cards will be exchanged today.

Have you ever watched somebody pick out a greeting card? Growing up, my family owned a chain of Hallmark stores where I worked as a sales clerk. The occasional customer would breeze in, look at two or three cards and then head to my cash register. However, most would spend 15 or 20 minutes reading through cards, searching for the just right expression of their love.

You may or may not receive a paper Valentine today, one from a greeting card company, or one hand-made of red and pink construction paper stuck together with paste. But I know you and I are both the recipient of the best Valentine ever – one that shines like rubies, one that is bright white and blood red.

In Christ, God sent us the ultimate Valentine. “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life” (John 3:16, MSG).

“Whole” and “lasting” – two things we seek but rarely find in this world. Sweet friend, long after the paper Valentine cards exchanged today are discarded or forgotten, God’s love for you endures.

Jesus is God’s demonstration of His eternal love for us. Not only that, Jesus taught us how to live and love each other. He experienced criticism and rejection – and yet gathered strength from God to turn the other cheek. He showed love to all around Him, regardless of class, status or nationality. He prayed for His friends and His enemies. He even suffered crucifixion in order to save us from our sin.

Jesus is God’s perfect expression of love. His life and death are God saying to you and me, “Be Mine.”

Yes, God loves us so much that He gave us His most valuable gift – Himself. And after Jesus rose from the grave and ascended back to heaven, God sent His Spirit to remain with us. As God shares Himself with us through His Son and His Spirit, He says to us, “You are my beloved.”

Hearing that is better than any sentiment a card-writer could pen. God Himself, given for you and me, demonstrates the ultimate expression of love. Like melt-in-your-mouth chocolates from a heart-shaped satin box, He invites us to taste and see that He is good and His love endures forever.

It’s time to open your Valentine. Close your eyes and hear Him whispering to you today, “Be Mine.”

Dear Lord, thank You for first loving me, and for showing me what love truly is. I’m so grateful You invited me to be Yours. Like a bouquet of exquisite roses in a simple earthen vase, I treasure Your presence in this “jar of clay.” May others see You displayed in me this Valentine’s. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflections:
Do I realize the great extent of God’s love for me?

What does it look like to “Be God’s?”

Power Verses:
John 15:12-13, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (NIV)

1 John 3:16a, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” (NIV)

Romans 5:5, “And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” (NLT)

If you liked this devotion and would like the read more, go to http://devotions.proverbs31.org/

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Giving Instructions

Giving Instructions

The word "instruction" comes from the words "in" and "structure" and basically means "to put structure into." When someone comes on the scene and gives instructions, that person brings structure to the situation and helps people know what to do. Dad or Mom sees the need to clean up around the house or get ready to go out and begins giving instructions to move the family in a positive direction.

The parent adds the structure needed at the moment to make family life work. Unfortunately, because of the well-worn relationship between parent and child, kids may react with resistance. At that point parents often become more intense in their instruction or just give up. What was meant to be a move toward order and structure has turned relationships into chaos.

Remember that you're not giving instructions just to make your life easier. You're bringing the much-needed structure into the situation. If you don't provide the structure, who will? Of course, the way you give instructions affects the strength of your relationships with others, but don't let resistance keep you from your job. Without instruction, family life falls apart.

"But they don't appreciate me," is an excuse parents sometimes tell themselves that motivates them to want to give up. The fact is, that whether they appreciate you or not, they need you! So, continue to work on your own attitude and frustration level, but hang in there and keep giving the much-needed structure to your family.

Proverbs 19:16 says, "He who obeys instructions guards his life."

What are some things that your family in the instruction giving process?

This parenting tip comes from the book, Good and Angry, Exchanging Frustration for Character In You and Your Kids, by Dr. Scott Turansky and Joanne Miller, RN, BSN.

If you'd like to continue to receive tips yourself, you can sign up at http://www.biblicalparenting.org/.

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

A Night In Bethlehem

A Night in Bethlehem

On Saturday Night, December 11, and Sunday Night December 12, from 5-7 p.m., the Fellowship hall of FBC Foley will go back in time over two thousand years ago as it is transformed into the town of Bethlehem during the time of our Savior’s Birth. This experience will be a great opportunity to bring your family to hear the story of our Saviors birth being told through sight, smell, sound, touch, and taste. This Hands on, walk–thru Holy land experience will take us on a journey through the town of Bethlehem as it might have resembled during the night of our Savior’s birth. Your Journey will begin at the census table and through the Market place as we become part of live scenes; visit various shops such as the Spice Shop, Carpenter’s Shop, Weaver’s Shop, Stonemason’s Shop, Bakery, and the fruit market, before making your final stop through the Bethlehem Inn that leads you on a walk to the live nativity scene. Angels and Shepherds will help guide you on your journey and you may run into a beggar or two along the way. Be sure to be counted at the census table otherwise the Roman Guards check the census records for your name. Celebrate Jesus this season and bring your family to witness the greatest story ever told. Make sure you do not miss this year’s presentation of “A Night in Bethlehem.”

Monday, November 8, 2010

5 Ways Churches Can Serve Public Schools– Without Breaking the Law

All information from http://www.ministry-to-children.com/ .

Here in Arizona our school system is in dire financial need and our teachers could really use some encouragement.

As a church staff we are looking for opportunities to help our local schools and let our teachers know they are appreciated. With that in mind I thought I would share 5 ways that we are partnering with our local school to help.
#1. Meeting with key leaders at school and asking the question: How can we help? We were pleasantly surprised at the cordial reception in our initial meeting and came away with some very practical steps we can take. Our church in now the official community partner with the Elementary School located closest to our campus.
#2. Offer to cater lunch or breakfast for the school staff. Who doesn’t love the idea of good food prepared by someone else. My grandmother always said that food tasted better when someone else did the work. This is a simple way to say “Thank You” to teachers for their hard work.
#3. Provide staff and materials to start an extracurricular club. Today I am meeting with school staff to plan the details for launching a “Speed Stacks” club. We use Speed Stacks as a fun activity at church and we have all the necessary equipment to start a club. Think outside the box. What do you have at your church that could be used to offer extracurricular activities for students?
#4. Help with facility repair and improvements. With the budget cutting that seems to be universal in education facility repair and improvements can be a vital need. Do you have volunteers with skills that could benefit your local school? Create a team that is willing to give of their time and talent to bless the school.
#5. Tutor a student. Many schools are short staffed in the classroom and we can help provide one-on-one instruction to students who desperately need help. Find out which adults in your church have the skills and the personality to help a child.
These are just a few of the ways that the church can make an impact at school. Start now brainstorming ways that your church could help at school. Don’t wait for families to come to your facility. Get out into the community and serve.

by Guest Writer on Friday 5 November 2010

in Children's Ministry Ideas

This guest post was contributed by Keith Tusing from CM Buzz. Submit your articles to Tony@Ministry-To-Children.com

For more great ideas in Children's Ministry, visit http://www.ministry-to-children.com/ .

Thanks Tony for all your hard work and dedication to your Ministry-To-Children website.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Update on Bonnie Clair! GOD IS SO GOOD!

Today our church and community came together to help raise money for the procedure that Bonnie Clair needs that is not covered by insurance. The procedure alone is an estimated $15,000.00 dollars.

At the end of the night, after all the hard work was complete, God provided an estimated total of......

$17,066.25 !!!!!!

WOW! GOD IS SO GOOD! May the Lord receive all the glory! And guess what there is still donations that have not been counted in to this total! Please continue to keep Bonnie Clair and the Tuckers in your prayers.

Baking for Bonnie

This morning I got up, checked on my son, fixed a cup of coffee then proceeded in my time with the Lord. Soon after I began to make my way to the kitchen to start some baking. I want to go ahead and say the reason I am baking is not because I'm good at it or even that what I'm baking will even turn out to what it's supposed to be. But I am baking for a Bake Sale to help Bonnie today.

Have you ever met someone who changes your life in just a small amount of time? People who seem to change the world with such small actions as helping others or just praising our Lord with all they have. Or maybe those who, you know for a fact, that God has placed them on the earth to turn hearts to Him? This describes Bonnie Clair Tucker completely. Bonnie is so special to our family. When God was impressing on our hearts it was time to move on to a new ministry, He used Bonnie to touch our hearts to confirm that we we're in His Will. God has used her and other children to continually prove to us that we are right where we need to be.

To learn more about Bonnie and the special life God has blessed us with, go to this site: Support and Prayer for Bonnie Clair .