Finances

Sunday’s message talked about finances.  If you missed it, go listen to it here!

Matt’s been blogging about things that you should also check out dealing with $.

One resource that I have used in the past is mvelopes.  It is a computer based “envelopes” system for all of those people out there (like me) that don’t like to carry cash in envelopes and do everything online.  There’s an annual fee, but if it helps you stay organized (and you have to account for every $ you spend and claim it as entertainment/food/house, etc.)  It doesn’t let you just ignore the extra spending that can add up quickly =)

Want the mvelopes advice without the price?  They have a blog that they update here.

Last Few Sundays…

The last few Sundays I’ve heard (and been able to see a bit for myself) how much the 1st-5th graders are connecting with what God has to say in the Bible.  The awesome leaders we have in the room prepare and pray for these kids every week.  It’s amazing to see the kids sharing real life fears and learning to give them to God.  The Sunday before last we had kids writing down fears like their parents’ relationships or fear of dying in a fire.  Real fears that only God can help with.

Yesterday they talked about sharing the story of Jesus with others.  One of our volunteers shared with me how every week the lessons that he’s sharing with the kids deal directly with his personal life as well as seem to parallel what they’re studying in their small group.  How big and awesome is our God!  God uses these lessons to touch and speak to kids of all ages =)

3rd Anniversary!

It’s Paul and I’s 3rd Anniversary today!  What a fast (and admittedly slow and scary at times) 3 years!

Thank you Paul for your awesome heart for me, and others!  You have the heart of a servant and I learn daily from you.  I thank God for you!

(By the way, Paul doesn’t FB/email/tweet/or check my blog so if anyone wants to let him know that I bragged him up on here, go ahead!  =0)

Blog Much? More Links

Jim Wideman’s Keeping Life Simple “series” posted just this week.

Blog Much? Part 2

Another two from my list….

Henry Zonio’s Elemental Children’s Ministry Blog Be Involved in your community.

and a disturbing blog from Matt McKee Live about what kids are searching for online.  (See Dec. 19th)

Blog much?

I haven’t been blogging much lately, but I have been reading blogs.  I sometimes find myself so overwhelmed with thoughts and ideas that I just can’t put them down.

Over the next few days I’d like to share a few posts I found either fun or interesting from the blogs I read (also listed on the left).

To begin here’s a fav. from Sarah Thompson who leads kids in Australia.New Zeeland =)

The Ask.

Have you been keeping up with Paul’s blog? How ’bout Matt or Mark’s blogs?  (All on my blogroll to the left).  They’re all talking about the numbers of people coming to connect with God on Sundays. Most of these people are your friends and neighbors you’ve been praying for and investing in. It’s an exciting time! With all of the excitement and increase in numbers comes the increased amount of volunteers needed to provide a fun, safe environment for kids to connect with God. Did you know that many families decide if they’re coming back to church the next Sunday by what their kids thought of their hour in JK? By serving you’re not only affecting the kids’ lives and hearts for eternity, you’re providing that hour for the parents to do the same listening to the message!

(A little side note – I just replaced 6 ! with periods.  Do all people who work with kids use so many?!!)

Here’s the ask -

• If you’re not serving – challenge yourself to serve.
• If you’re volunteering somewhere – ask if you can step it up – volunteer twice a month or ask to take on a bit of admin to open up some time for other things.

With the quality of Journey Kids we desire for our (and your kids) we would love to see parents step in as extra hands.  It’s an amazing hour you can spend connecting with your kids and others’.  Passing out snack and high-fiving kids may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to the kids.  They know when you care and YOU can be used by God to make a big difference!

Fill out a connect card on Sunday to volunteer in kids/coffee bar/check-in/hosting/maintenance/admin.

As we look to the possibility of a 3rd service in the near future, we want you on our team to jump into that challenge prepared!

Fear/Anxiety

Sunday Paul spoke about being honest with what we struggle with, find someone to help keep you accountable, pray, look up Bible verses and more.

I thought I’d share a bit about myself (some of you may already know this).  I struggle with fear and anxiety.  Yep, the woman who all of you thought handled a brain tumor with such faith – it wasn’t me.  It was God giving me that faith and peace.  You’d think being 4 months after surgery I would have moved on.  It’s frustrating to feel like you come far and then you wonder how you come back to that same place feeling like you’ll never get out of it.

I don’t fear everything – however I do have a twinge of anxiety wondering if we’ll make it to vacation and back safely. What-if’s cross my mind and I can immediately be frozen in fear.  What if Eliana chokes on something and I can’t get it out?  What if the immunization I got her makes her sick? This is not what God calls us to – a life of fear.  How do  I deal with this?  I pray with my husband about this, share with my friend in TN and pray.  I have a book I like to look through called Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore.  Beth takes verses from the Bible and uses them in prayers to God.  Each section deals with different things – overcoming food addictions / depression / pride / unbelief / sexual sins / addictions and more.  Of course you can look in the back of most Bibles and search for key words, I just like that it’s all in one place.

I like sharing with my friend in TN because she has known me for awhile as well as understands fear from a female perspective.  Paul knows  I struggle with it and can easily give me a list and prayers to “fix it”.  As a woman it’s easier sometimes to share our goofy fears to another woman as long as the person on the other end doesn’t let us live in that.  Becki will let me talk and then remind me of what God says about it.

Although my sin isn’t as outward and evident as some other sins are, it’s just as paralyzing and frustrating.  If you didn’t get a chance to hear the message, go online at www.thejourneycc.com and listen.

Each Day I Choose

I love this poem. I gave Paul a card with it before we got married. Then we had it at our wedding. I thought is was a good thought to leave with you as we start this New Year…..

Each Day I Choose – By Max Lucado

It’s quiet. It’s early. My coffee is hot. The sky is still black. The
world is still asleep. The day is coming.

In a few moments, the day will arrive. It will roar down the track with
the rising of the sun. The stillness of the dawn will be exchanged for
the noise of the day. The calm of solitude will be replaced by the
pounding of the human race. The refuge of the early morning will be
invaded by decisions to be made and deadlines to be met.

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