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!

Connection Studio comments

Today was a great day and the kids did really well with response time. As we were wondering today a child, who used to have major behavior issues, asked, "So these stories are, like, real? They really happened?"

We talked about the Bible and told them all the stories in the Bible are real, that they really happened. The little kid said, "Cool!" It was really cool!

Psalm 23

Last weekend I was priviledged to shepherd in the Art Studio with our kids.

They created a poster based on Psalms 23. Here are just a few items the kids

wrote on their posters:

Don't be afraid

Jesus has my heart

My cup overflows with blessing

I live in the Lord's house

Beth Shafer was our teacher and she continues to inspire me with her grace

and love for Jesus in spite of the hardships she has endured. What an amazing woman of God.

What kids are saying

Here's a funny convo of stuff said in the Kindergarten room yesterday.

Aubrey (Devine): My last name is Devine.

Me: Do you know what divine means?

Kids: Noooooo

Me: It means "wonderful". As in, THIS CHOCOLATE CAKE IS SIMPLY DIVINE!

Another girl: I want chocolate.

Lisa (the teacher, Noah's mom): Get used to it honey, you're a woman. You'll want chocolate your whole life.

Other girls: mmmmm I love chocolate. I want chocolate too!

Noah: I don't get what the big deal is. I like chocolate, but not as much as all of you.

* Laughter*

I just thought it was so cute!

I was also TOTALLY surprised when Noah first came up and started talking to me when I first entered the classroom-he's never really opened up to me before or wanted to talk at all!

Showing up is huge! Laughter, fun, learning life together! You have to be there to have a relationship!

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.

Beyond 1000 is Westwinds’
ongoing mission initiative
that gives
wwKids Journey
$1000 per quarter to creatively invest in our community
- beyond the walls of
1000 Robinson Rd.

Whenever we do this type of outreach-Beyond 1000, the wwKids volunteers work real hard to help the kids understand why we do these things and that they can shadow God and help heal the world.
Matthew 25:37-40 (The Message) “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’
We give to others because hurting people matter to Jesus. He cares that little kids are hurting and when we help others we make our love real to Jesus. We want the kids to participate in giving to others.

Beyond 1000 - First quarter initiative

1Q wwKids’ Beyond 1000 Initiative - video systems and games for the kids at the Aware Shelter.

WHAT: We need gently used video games and systems to donate to the families at the Aware Shelter. We are looking for Game Boys DSs, Playstation 2’s, Playstation 3’s; XBox; Wii, V-smiles, etc.
WHEN: We will collect these items through February 28. Depending upon the types of donations received, we will purchase additional items.

Several things to share with your kids:
1) Describe the Aware shelter’s purpose. The Aware shelter, located on W. Michigan Ave., provides a safe place for moms and kids to temporarily live. Some times because of violence and abuse, moms have to leave the place they are living it so they can be safe. Most of the time they have to leave very fast and leave a lot of their personal things behind. NOTE: As a parent you know best what kind of information your kids can handle. Share what is appropriate and what you are comfortable with.

2) Ask your kids if there is anything they can do to help these moms and kids who have left everything behind. See what the kids come up with. This can be an amazing time as kids share from their heart. This type of discussion can happen in the car or around the dinner table.

3) Remind your kids about how blessed they are to have all their needs met as well many of their desires (page 56, Heart of Gold*, gratitude and appreciation)

4) Invite your kids to sort through their things (page 58, Heart of Gold, combat hoarding) so they can bless someone else who would enjoy these items. While you can do this with any of their toys, for Beyond 1000, we are suggesting you do with exercise with their electronic toys. Perhaps they have a couple of games that are very similar and would be willing to give one away. Perhaps they have received a new game that they didn’t care for or perhaps the game is no longer age appropriate. Ask your kids if they would be willing to give to another boy or girl. NOTE: Your older kids may be aware that they could trade in their old games at Game Stop or sell them on Ebay. This is another time to help your kids be aware that they “lack for nothing” and perhaps they could give to someone who has nothing.

5) Enlist your kids help to package up the items they will give away. Make sure all the wires and accessories are included. As you work together, perhaps you can pray for the kids that will receive the game.

6) Bring the donation items to church and drop them off at the main wwKids checkin table by February 28. OR as a family take your donation directly to the Aware shelter and then share that experience and story with us at wwKids. We are always looking for stories that will encourage others in our community.

Thank you for participating in this Beyond 1000 initiative. If you have questions contact me at lori.tate@westwinds.org.

Heart of Gold: The Joy of Living Generously, by Dr. David McDonald. Available at Sound Words and also through amazon.com.