wwKids Christmas

This year wwKids has done some amazing things, and to finish the year out with a bang we celebrated Christmas in a new, but old school way. For the month of December, we asked families to come in and create a new family tradition by assembling Advent Wreaths out of trash, which created a new family treasure.

This event was truly wonderful. It was easy to see that these families were having a magnificent time working together to create something that was uniquely them. Plus in this process they were able to see the birth of Jesus in a new light, which was that Advent is a time of preparation for the kings birth. Not just a physical preparation, but an emotional preparation also. His birth was so extraordinary, that to fully grasp the magnitude, we need to prepare ourselves. This is what the advent wreath helps us do. There is a candle lit every Sunday during advent, to build up until the day of Christ's birth.

So overall, the magic of the season, can be seen through many different things, but we were able to bring some of that feeling to these families as they were able to work together to create a new family treasure. Which was a wonderful thing that we were able to do as a finish for this truly remarkable year.

hearts in the right place

now that we are gearing up for the holiday season in wwKids and in the personal lives of many, it makes me wonder how much of that gearing up is actually for the hustle and bustle, and how much is actually the preparation for the birth of Jesus. When it is thought about, many acknowledge the fact that Jesus' birth is celebrated at Christmas, but its easy to forget that ina ll of the crazy activity of December. To fully understand that, we need to prepare ourselves mentally to fully understand what really happened that night.

It was not just any baby being born, it was the king of creation and all of us in the form of a man. It was not necessarily the most sanitary place or the best of circumstances, but it was a gift to us all, and that is something that needs to be remembered and thought about so that we can fully be ready to realize what Christmas is all about.

Halloween

this past weekend, wwKids were privileged to get to take part in the Halloween activities of Westwind's. This was a spectacular event that was able to create many memories for these children that will be remembered. Along with the visual excitement the kids also learned about fear. this made me wonder, what are we afraid of? Not just in our own lives but also when it comes to how we influence these kids. It is very easy to think we are not good enough to play a part in making a difference in these kids lives as a rolemodel, but what it comes down to is that no matter how much interaction there may be, children see you and learn from what you do in every circumstance.

So why be afraid of the inevitable. These kids learn from us so we need to realize that who we are is perfectly designed by God and that God uses us in the state we are in to help these kids, even all the way down to a simple smile. So next time you see a kids maybe just a little conversation will change a child's day for the better and help them see God through you.

P.S. thank you to all the amazing volunteers who helped with Halloween on Sunday. It was truly spectacular and that was because of everyone involved. So thanks.

making a difference

One of the great things about being around kids is that you don’t even realize it when you make a difference. Kids learn a lot in the beginning stages of their life. The main way that they are able to do this is by observing others who are older then them, and how those people function. Because of this, programs for kids such as wwKids are vital in their lives. The teachers and the shepherds are making a difference in these kids lives even when we don’t realize it. It can even be the same way with parents. So the next time you feel discouraged that the kids are not listening, remember what you do and say can make a huge difference even on the children who seem distant.

hidden treasures

This week wwKids was a great place to be in general. Every studio had something great going on that helped the kids learn more about God and Biblical stories. Being able to see this each week has made me wonder, do we realize how unique this wonderful program this is. There are many different churches within the area of Jackson but not nearly as many church that have a similar program to ours. We try to reach these kids at the level they already are and help them grow in their strengths, which is a great idea. So next time you think about wwKids, let’s remember that this program is truly remarkable and one of Jacksons great secrets, so let’s try to make it known.

A day of rest

Something that the Bible prescribed for us long ago, is something that can be easily forgotten or pushed aside. This week in wwKids we got to talk about the Ten Commandments, and one of those is to respect the Sabbath day. This is an idea that has been carried through the Bible, but has been so easily forgotten. When was the last time you or I had a day of rest? Its something to thnk about when we consider what we are teaching kids in our lives. Rest can help renew the soul and help us become more focused on God instead of the earthly stresses that surround us. So next time you being your week, think about how you can incorporate some time of rest. IT can help you and your kids. After all, ts something that God even did and suggests for us.

This week has been such a great one in wwKids. It was the last week for our lesson on Joseph and the hard times he went through. Reflecting back on the lesson, it was great to remember the kids interaction with such a fundamental story and lesson for Christianity. Joseph went through a very hard time but was willing to rely n and believe in God through it all. This is such a good lesson to keep bringing up to the kids and build off of, because there will always be hard times, and it is how we deal with them that makes a difference. Adults (including myself) need to remember this sometimes also. It is easy to get upset and blame God for the things we see as bad in our lives, but it is those moments that God can use to help us grow the most and it is those moments we remember as defining moments of faith. So the lesson of Joseph can be very helpful and it was a great thing to get to see the kids hear this and embrace the lesson.