Listening for God's Voice

I had the opportunity to catch the Storytelling room twice this month-with the kindergartners and the 3/4th graders. I loved the game of listening to your partner's voice while blindfolded. We had to listen carefully in order to distinguish the voice of our partner in the midst of the other voices. God's sheep (his followers) know His voice.

Do I know God's voice? To be honest, it's very hard for me to listen to God. I always find myself thinking about what to make for dinner, my to-do list, how annoyed I am with so-and-so, etc. It's hard just to think about nothing and to leave room for God to speak. But I find that when I make the effort, when I start this little time of "meditation" out with a prayer-asking God to speak to me, to empty my mind of all the distractions of my day so that I can hear His voice-I do hear Him. Often, God brings to my mind a person I may not have thought of in awhile. Or He'll lay on my heart, completely out of the blue, the burden to pray for a certain person or situation, to reconnect with an old friend, to right a wrong, to step up or speak out, to show someone an act of kindness. These thoughts don't come from me-I know because they seem to come out of nowhere. I believe that this is how God speaks to me-in quiet, provoking thoughts.

How does God speak to you? Everyone connects with God differently, and I'd love to hear your stories of how God has spoken to your heart to change, challenge, and love you personally. I'd love to share (anonymously if you'd prefer) a few stories in an upcoming newsletter. So, that's my challenge to you: email me a story!

Psalm 23

Who would have thought that when we choose Psalm 23 as the scripture for January that it would touch so many individuals’ hearts. A mom asked her 2 grade son, what was his favorite part of Psalm 23. The kid said where it says, “even if you walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” When the mom asked her son why that verse was important to him, he replied, “because when I’m afraid, I know that God will be with me.

Another family just began coming back to church after the death of their mother/grandmother. Psalm 23 was her favorite verses. Another young girl just lost her uncle, and another family just lost their dad/grandpa.

Even though I don't like to have Psalm 23 associated with death and funerals it has a way of speaking to those who are hurting. It provides hope! and that is a good thing.

What Kids are Learning

In the K6 Experience Studios in June we taught about the Holy Spirit. While playing with a parachute we talked about how Jesus said that the Spirit is kind of like the wind. Then I asked the kids, "In what ways are the wind and the Holy Spirit alike?"

A second grader said, "You know how the middle of a hurricane is really calm, but at the same time, the outside is really blowing hard and knocking down trees? Well, the Holy Spirit can do calm things and really big powerful things at the same time!"

And ALL of the groups came up with up "you can't see the wind, but it is still very powerful, and you can see what it does." The kids seem like they are starting to understand that our culture doesn't recognize the real-ness of the God they cannot see, but He is just as real as their friends and their favorite famous people.

AND...He is way more powerful than any of them! I think that they feel excited and secure when we talk about this. God bless them! They are so precious! What an honor to be one of the people who get to watch the kids begin to realize the best news they will ever hear!

K6 Music & Motion Studio

. . .is really a lot of fun. It's not like "school", if you know what I mean! The kids here really enjoy themselves and they are very respectful and curious.

Their ideas and questions floor me sometimes. During our May studio I asked the kids why the Bible said that God kept the disciples on the Emmaus road from recognizing Jesus, i.e. Why wouldn't God want them to know that it was Jesus right away?

One little first grader said, "Because maybe God wanted them to LISTEN to Jesus first. If they knew it was Him, they would be too excited, and He had a lot to teach them."

Wow! I am constantly learning and being challenged by these kids' profound insight into the heart of God. I used her answer to help inspire all the following classes.

Comments from K6 Studio Director: Janet Deaver

K6 Discovery Studio - May 31

I taught in the Discovery Studio this weekend @ 10a. Had a great time exploring why the couple on the Emmaus road did not recognize Jesus. The kids had a worksheet and went to 6 interactive stations that involved sight and seeing from different perspectives. The kids asked questions, made observations and documented their findings.

We watched movie clips from Prince Caspian, the part where Lucy saw Alsan but the other kids didn't. Why was she able to see Alsan but not her sister and brothers? Even though (our) kids didn't see Alsan in the movie, they believed Lucy did. We talked about the different ways of seeing or knowing. The couple on the road to Emmaus said their "hearts were burning" they knew there was something special about this man who was walking along the road with them.

The kids concluded that you can know Jesus with your heart even though you might not see or recognize Him with your eyes.

In June we move further into the story and introduce the Holy Spirit who teaches us and helps us to know Jesus. Great stuff in wwKiDs Journey.

I believe; Help my Unbelief

In the wwKiD’s art studio this month the kids painted pictures of how they imagined Jesus. Using water color paint and learning how to create shadows with dark and light tones, the kids came up with Jesus with a goatee; pierced ears; tattoos; bald; long hair; short hair; curly hair, etc.

When their images were done, the kids read Luke 23.26-24.12 and looked for clues that might help them understand that Jesus was who he said he was – the son of God. After looking at the Luke account, the kids were asked to answer the question from John 11.26 “Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die? Do you believe this?” Based on the kid’s answer they wrote their response under their Jesus drawing.

Last weekend after reading the Luke scripture several of the 3rd/4th graders said they didn’t know if they were ready to say “I believe.” Fortunately the studio teacher affirmed where the kids were spirituality. She did not try to convince them of the “right answer” nor make them uncomfortable. Rather she encouraged the kids to ask God to show them, trusting the Spirit to lead and guide our kids to the Truth.

I love that we – the leaders – are beginning to understand we are merely the “reeds of God” in which His Spirit flows through.

Serving in wwKids Ministry

Easter @ the WW

We had a ton of kids and a ton of help.

Thanks to every person who served and helped out in Kids on Easter Sunday. Each of you in your own way make it possible for these incredible experiences and moments for our kids to encounter God.

"I am the resurrection and the life, whoever believes in me will have everlasting life. Do you believe this?"

Easter: Jesus is who He said he is

April's K6 Experience Studios

This month our kids in K6 Studios will be asked to personally wrestle with and respond to some huge questions that Jesus asked his disciples. Jesus states "I am the resurrection and the life" in John 11.26 and he identifies himself as the "Son of Man" in Luke 19.31. Both statements are very bold and revolutionary claims.

Through Luke’s account of the Easter story (found in Luke 23.26-24.12) the kids will explore and identify evidence that supports Jesus’ bold claims. They will look at Jesus’ prayer to the Father for forgiveness (23.34);
the robber’s request (23.39-43);
the captain’s response (23.47);
the empty tomb and missing body (24.1-3);
the two men at the tomb (24.6); and
their statement, "He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you" (24.6).

After gathering the evidence the kids will examine and evaluate it and then be given the opportunity to express if they personally believe that Jesus is who He says He is.

Pray for our kids as they encounter Jesus, a revoluntionary who changes lives. Pray for our teachers and shepherds who are also encountering the same Jesus and helping guide our kids towards Him. Pray that they will trust God’s Spirit to work in and through them and the kids.
May your hearts be fillfed with hope and joy this Resurrection season.

Introducing a New Studio - Fall ‘09

This Fall wwKiD’s will introduce a new experience studio designed for young kids, ages 3-6 years old. This new studio, saturated in the Montessori philosophy, will reflect Westwinds’ core beliefs, iPAC.
imagination – we believe that kids use their personal experiences and imagination to connect with God.
Permission – we believe that kids encounter God in unique ways and we "give" permission to God to work uniquely in our kids’ hearts.
Authenticity – we believe that kids have real, authentic encounters with God and develop personal relationships with Him.
Community – we believe that kids communities are built as they learn to respect each other and learn to hear God’s voice.

I believe that not only will our kids grow and flourish within this Montessori, self-discovery environment,but all who lead and work along side the kids will also be transformed.

If you are interested in learning more about this new studio, please contact Sarah Ansel, Sarah Richmond or Lori Tate. NOW may be the time for you to get involved in KiD’s.

December:::Art Studio

The first drawing of Mary was done by a 5 year old boy.

The second was done by a 5th grade girl.

The media was crayon and watercolor.

They "got" it

. . . I wanted to let you know what a great time I had on Sunday with the 5&6 graders. No, seriously. They were attentive, enthusiastic about participating in the mime, answered questions, listened to both the Moses and the Rosa parks story and watched all of the Harriet Tubman video. I think they "got" it. - Vicky

Goals for K6 Experience Studios: Moses

Hebrews 11.23-24 . . .
23 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born.
They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. 24 It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. (New Living Translation)

Fall 2008 has a reoccurring faith theme
What do I want them to KNOW . . . I want the kids to KNOW that the setting of the times- the political unrest, oppression, plots to murder and control, the conspiracy to save a child (very similar times to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth); a child that eventually saves Israel from their oppressors
- The roles of Moses’ mom, sister and Pharoah’s daughter à risked a lot; God used them
- The importance of listening and obeying God – leads to faith
- God’s covenant (a promise) to/with Abraham and his family – the Israelites in Eygpt

What do I want them to FEEL . . . I want the kids to FEEL . . the responsibility to be a blessing to others (it’s not just about them); to care for others even though it cost them something
- Explore the feelings that surround Faith – the uncertainty of breaking the laws to
save your child

What do I want them to DO . . . I want the kids to (DO). . . learn to hear God’s promptings and see where he is working
- Grow in awareness how today’s decisions impact their future
- Begin to choose to trust God’s promises for themselves and walk by faith