For everything has the potential of calling forth in us (me) a more loving response to our (my) life forever with God. Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening life in me.
"God who loves us creates us and wants to share life with us forever. Our love response takes shape in our praise and honor and service of the God of our life.
All the things in this world are also created because of God’s love and they become a context of gifts, presented to us so that we can know God more easily and make a return of love more readily.
As a result, we show reverence for all the gifts of creation and collaborate with God in using them so that by being good stewards we develop as loving persons in our care for God’s world and its development. But if we abuse any of these gifts of creation or, on the contrary, take them as the center of our lives, we break our relationship with God and hinder our growth as loving persons.
In everyday life, then, we must hold ourselves in balance before all created gifts insofar as we have a choice and are not bound by some responsibility. We should not fix our desires on health or sickness, wealth or poverty, success or failure, a long life or a short one. For everything has the potential of calling forth in me a more loving response to my life forever with God.
My only desire and my one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to God’s deepening life in me."
Taken from Ignatius'Spiritual Exercises from in
Draw me into Your Friendship: The Spiritual Exercises, page 27
I am often challenged by this statement that . . . everything has the potential of calling forth in me a more loving response to God.
I don’t always feel like some of my life circumstances call me forward. On the surface I see little of what I would call God, however, God is teaching me to be patient. Circumstances are not always what they appear to be on the surface. I am learning what faith is – faith in a loving, personal Creator, who made me – yes, Lori Ann Mero Tate - in his image to reflect who he is. A loving God who calls me and invites me to walk along side him and be part of his Kingdom work and in the process be changed myself.
There are lots of things I don’t know – why my friends have cancer; how to be a good mom; how God created the world; how to be a supportive wife or a good spiritual director; to be a great kids ministry leader; how to handle elderly parents and young children, but the ONE thing I do KNOW is I want choose what better leads to God’s deepening life in me. . . .
So I try to keep things simple by looking at each of day through those lenses – what leads me to a deeper life in Christ? What draws me away from Him?
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Role of Shepherds
For those of you wondering, "What's a shepherd, anyway?", here's some basics!
A shepherd's main job is to build relationships with the kids through consistency. Talk with them. Learn their names, their likes and dislikes, outside activities, family situations, etc. Find out about their thoughts, and their relationship with Jesus. Ask questions that challenge them to think about God and the world and loving other people. This type of knowledge and familiarity between shepherd and kid doesn't come through an interview, or one conversation. It's built over time, with trust. It's an investment into a child's life, to help guide them into a relationship with Jesus.
But that doesn't mean that shepherds have to have all the answers. Kids ask tons of questions (as I'm sure all of you know...) but it's ok to answer with, "wow! what a great question! I guess we'll have to think about that one", or "I guess we'll have to save that one to ask Jesus when we get to heaven!", or re-pose the question to the entire class for discussion.
Occasionally, a shepherd will have to remind a kid to sit still or to listen, or take a kid to the bathroom. It happens. But these are a shepherd's more minor duties! Shepherds are not crowd-control, they are relationship-builders. So even if there are only four kids there with the teacher, YES we still need to be there getting to know the kids, talking with them, guiding them. It's especially important for shepherds to take advantage of days with small class sizes because that's more one-on-one time with each kid in class! Why pass it up?
A BIG thank you to everyone who is shepherding. It makes a difference. The kids get to know you, they miss you when you aren't around for awhile, the learn from you. You become important to them! If you are interested in shepherding, please contact me at jkgienapp@gmail.com .
A shepherd's main job is to build relationships with the kids through consistency. Talk with them. Learn their names, their likes and dislikes, outside activities, family situations, etc. Find out about their thoughts, and their relationship with Jesus. Ask questions that challenge them to think about God and the world and loving other people. This type of knowledge and familiarity between shepherd and kid doesn't come through an interview, or one conversation. It's built over time, with trust. It's an investment into a child's life, to help guide them into a relationship with Jesus.
But that doesn't mean that shepherds have to have all the answers. Kids ask tons of questions (as I'm sure all of you know...) but it's ok to answer with, "wow! what a great question! I guess we'll have to think about that one", or "I guess we'll have to save that one to ask Jesus when we get to heaven!", or re-pose the question to the entire class for discussion.
Occasionally, a shepherd will have to remind a kid to sit still or to listen, or take a kid to the bathroom. It happens. But these are a shepherd's more minor duties! Shepherds are not crowd-control, they are relationship-builders. So even if there are only four kids there with the teacher, YES we still need to be there getting to know the kids, talking with them, guiding them. It's especially important for shepherds to take advantage of days with small class sizes because that's more one-on-one time with each kid in class! Why pass it up?
A BIG thank you to everyone who is shepherding. It makes a difference. The kids get to know you, they miss you when you aren't around for awhile, the learn from you. You become important to them! If you are interested in shepherding, please contact me at jkgienapp@gmail.com .
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Satellite groups
Satellite Groups : : : Connecting adults and kids
One of the challenges of being at a larger church is that
- our kids go to a variety of schools;
- our kids attend church, at best, every other week;
- our kids attend at different times.
These factors make it challenging for our WWKids’ servants to build consistent relationships with the kids, and it also makes it challenging for our kids to build relationships with one another. Hey, it’s not just the kids who face this challenge.
Over the years I routinely ask various adults about their childhood influences on their spiritual journey; “my parent’s friends,” was the answer that most surprised me. My parent’s friends were the other adults in my life. Our families hung out, vacationed, cried and played together. They ‘did life,’ walking side by side together on their spiritual journey.
This next Sunday you will have the opportunity to check out WW new satellite groups. As a parent, this could be the single most important decision you make for your family. These groups not only help adults connect but provide an opportunity for your kids to build relationships with other adults and kids that will potentially shape and influence their lives.
WWKids’ leaders please seriously consider getting involved in a satellite group. Your journey with Jesus was never intended to be a solo trip but a community adventure. Being in community will change your life; it did mine.
One of the challenges of being at a larger church is that
- our kids go to a variety of schools;
- our kids attend church, at best, every other week;
- our kids attend at different times.
These factors make it challenging for our WWKids’ servants to build consistent relationships with the kids, and it also makes it challenging for our kids to build relationships with one another. Hey, it’s not just the kids who face this challenge.
Over the years I routinely ask various adults about their childhood influences on their spiritual journey; “my parent’s friends,” was the answer that most surprised me. My parent’s friends were the other adults in my life. Our families hung out, vacationed, cried and played together. They ‘did life,’ walking side by side together on their spiritual journey.
This next Sunday you will have the opportunity to check out WW new satellite groups. As a parent, this could be the single most important decision you make for your family. These groups not only help adults connect but provide an opportunity for your kids to build relationships with other adults and kids that will potentially shape and influence their lives.
WWKids’ leaders please seriously consider getting involved in a satellite group. Your journey with Jesus was never intended to be a solo trip but a community adventure. Being in community will change your life; it did mine.
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