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Category: Ministry Inspiration

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{Throwback Thursday}: Every Child Matters

Kathie Phillips

lifecounts

“You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.  Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!  Your workmanship is marvelous–and how well I know it.

Psalm 139:13-14

Last year, my children (ages 16 and 13) attended the March for Life rally in Washington, DC.  I was so proud of them–their desire to attend and brave the frigid temperatures and snow, all to make a stand for life, which is precious in the sight of God.  As I watched the rally online, I was awestruck at huge number of people (estimated at 500,000) standing up for the unborn.  I was reminded of how precious children are to God and how each and every child is valuable.

As a Children’s Ministry leaders, may we never forget that every child who shows up for our weekend and weekday programming matters to God.  Children from traditional homes and children from non-traditional homes.  Children from the suburbs and children from the inner city.  African-American children, Asian-American Children, and Caucasian children.  Children born in America and children born in a foreign land.  Rich children and poor children.  Children with special needs children.  Well-behaved children and misbehaved children.  Prodigal children. Children born to teen moms.  Children born to a single parent and children born to two parents.  Adopted children, abandoned children, orphaned children.  Well-educated children and uneducated children.  Children who come to church in a fancy car or SUV, by taxi cab, by bus or by foot.  Thin children and pudgy children.

Every child matters.

{From the Archives} Dream Big!

Kathie Phillips
Updated 1/8/15: Earlier this week, I talked about goals and waiting for God to reveal His plan for you if your list of goals for 2015 was empty.  [You can read that post here.]
With that being said, I thought I’d share an archived post from a few years ago that talked about dreaming big.  The original post follows.  I wanted to share some quotes about goal-setting that I think tie in nicely to this post.  They are from blogger Michael Hyatt.
“For a goal to matter, it has to stretch us. That means that it has to stand somewhere outside our comfort zone. If you know exactly how to attain the goal, it’s probably not far enough.” 
“For a goal to be meaningful its attainment should lie somewhere outside our comfort zone—in the discomfort zone. You’ll know you’re there when you start feeling emotions we normally consider negative, things like fear and doubt.  Trying to work it all out in advance through detailed planning is just a fancy way of procrastination. ” 
“As we try to set goals that are challenging but still realistic, it’s important to remember what goals are for in the first place. They are about getting things done, yes. But it’s more than that. A goal is not just about what you accomplish.
It’s about what you become.” 
Archived post starts here
Years ago, I was told that I dream too big.  After the initial shock, I began to wonder:  Is there such a thing?  What if I dreamt too small–or not at all?  Would I have had the experiences of being awed by what only God could do?  I am not saying that a person should live in a fantasy world.  But I do believe that dreams help us not stay in a comfortable place, confined by thinking that keeps us in a box.  God has a plan and purpose for us; dreams remind us that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26).  Go ahead–dream big!
“Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish more than we might ask or think.”  Ephesians 3:20, NLT
So what are you dreaming about?  What’s stopping you from dreaming big?

{From the Archives}: Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room: Jesus, Simply Jesus

Kathie Phillips

“Let every heart prepare Him room…”

“In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David.  The virgin’s name was Mary.  The angel went to her and said, ‘Greetings, you who are highly favored!  the Lord is with you.'”

“Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.  But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God.  you will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.  The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

“‘How will this be,’ Mary asked the angel, ‘since I am a virgin?'”

“The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.  So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.  Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month.  For nothing is impossible with God.'”

“‘I am the Lord’s servant,’ Mary answered.  ‘May it be to me as you have said.'”  Then the angel left her.

(Luke 1:26-38)

nativity1

“In those days, Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  [This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.]  And everyone went to his own town to register.”

“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.  He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.  She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

(Luke 2:1-7)

Jesus, Simply Jesus

Merry Christmas!

What Would You Do If You Weren’t Afraid?

Kathie Phillips 1 Comment

This summer, I was very blessed to not only take a vacation but to take a vacation where I did absolutely NO work. Aside from answering 2 work-related emails, I was able to unplug, relax with my family, shop, watch movies and read.  Deciding WHAT to read while on vacation wasn’t an easy task, as I wanted to read something that wasn’t related to Children’s Ministry but would be enjoyable and hold my attention.

Earlier this year, I watched an interview that Oprah Winfrey did with Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s COO.  I was so intrigued by the interview that I ordered her book, Lean In: Women, Work and the Will to Lead before the interview was over.  When I glanced at the huge pile of books that have gotten a tad dusty because I have been busy with other things, that one stood out to me.  So I grabbed it and placed it in my suitcase.  While on vacation, I read it cover to cover in just a matter of days (it’s been a while since I’ve done that)!

Photo Credit: leanin.org
Photo Credit: leanin.org

Today, I want to share some of my favorite quotes from the book as well as a few thoughts about a project I feel God is calling me to.

  • “We [women] hold ourselves back in ways both big and small, by lacking self-confidence, by not raising our hands, and by pulling back when we should be leaning in.”
  • “Fear is at the root of so many of the barriers that women face.”
  • “Opportunities are rarely offered; they’re seized.”
  • “Taking initiative pays off.  It is hard to visualize someone was a leader if she is always waiting to be told what to do.”
  • “In order to continue to grow and challenge myself, I have to believe in my own abilities.”
  • “Owning one’s success is key to achieving more success.”
  • “Authentic communication is not always easy, but it is the basis for successful relationships at home and real effectiveness at work.”
  • “The ability to listen is as important as the ability to speak.”
  • “Long-term success at work often depends on not trying to meet every demand placed on us.  The best way to make room for both life and career is to make choices deliberately – to set limits and stick to them.”
  • “Instead of perfection, we should aim for sustainable and fulfilling.”

This book was not written from a Christian perspective, but I found it to speak to me in so many ways.  The one chapter that I had to really contemplate was the very first one.  It asked, “What would you do if you weren’t afraid?”  Let that sink in for a moment.  How would you answer that?

When I put my book, highlighter and pen down and really thought about that question, I had a few thoughts pop into my mind.  I have shared in previous posts how fear almost prevented me from starting this blog for fear of failing.  Stepping out in faith comes easy to me in some areas but it petrifies me in other areas.

For the past year, I have felt God speak to me about birthing a resource for kidmin leaders but I have always pushed it aside because it has never felt like the ‘right time’ or I didn’t have the ‘right resources’ or *gasp* the ‘right knowledge’ to pull it off. But I have once again felt God say, “Do it.  The time is now.”  So, it is my desire to develop my idea a bit and share it with the kidmin world later this fall.  I can’t wait to share it with you!

But for now:  What would you do if you weren’t afraid?  How would you answer that?

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