Six Ways to Reconnect in the New Year

Kathie Phillips

Children (and leaders!) at your church are settling back into a routine now that the new year is underway.  As a kidmin leader or volunteer, you know the importance of bridging the gap and helping kids reconnect with you and each other.  That’s why my friends at Orange invited me to share helpful tips to do just that.  Please check out my guest post on their Lead Small website here.

Keep the conversation going by leaving me a comment below!  How do you help kids in your ministry reconnect after the holidays?  

{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?

{Book Review} “Children’s Games From Around the World”

Kathie Phillips

One of the things that makes our Children’s Ministry unique is that we offer a missions-emphasis program for our preschoolers, elementary-age children and preteens.  Second Sunday for the World, offered on the second Sunday of each month October – June, exposes children to other cultures, introduces them to church-supported missionaries, and allows them to pray for people around the world. They learn to have God’s heart for the world by serving others locally and globally.

I always keep an eye out for missions resources for children.  Many of my ideas come from Pinterest.  (You can check out my KidMin Missions board here.)

My friend Steven Knight has compiled a new resource that I was thrilled to take a look at.  Children’s Games from Around the World provides 23 fun games from 22 different countries.  These games are great complements to Sunday lessons, VBS, and missions programs.

About the book:
 
-eBook
-45 pages
-includes interesting facts about each country
 
What I Liked:

I love that many of the games are active – they get the children up and moving.  This is especially important to our ministry because we have an abundance of boys who like to throw balls (and each other occasionally!), run and jump.  I also love that the countries are listed alphabetically in the table of contents, making finding a game for a particular place fairly easy.

Each game’s directions are clearly laid out, so it’s easy to follow, even spur-of-the moment if needed.  I was also grateful to see that several interesting facts follow each country’s game.  The games can be fun & informative!

What I Think Was Missing:

It would have been great if each country could have been identified by its flag or location on a map (again, educating the children).  Some had identification; some did not.  It also would’ve been helpful if each game was categorized as “high energy” or “low energy”.  That information is useful to me when selecting a game.  Lastly, a list of needed supplies would make selecting and prepping for a game super easy.  This is also something that I take into consideration when selecting a game.

My Recommendation:

This resource is a good one to have in your arsenal.  If you’re like me, you’ll refer to it regularly.  For a limited time, Steven is offering this downloadable eBook free of charge to everyone who subscribes to his blog, KidMin Tools.  I encourage you to check it out!

New Year – And Trusting God!

Kathie Phillips 3 Comments

Happy 2015, friends!  I pray that your new year is off to a great start!

The start of a new year usually ushers in a reflective mood that often leads to us setting goals for various areas of our lives.  I don’t necessarily think that’s a bad thing.  A new year is a great time to reevaluate life and make adjustments to live more in the calling that God has for you.

But what if you aren’t sure what those goals are yet?  This is where I am currently.  I’ve been reading social media updates, articles and blogs about all of the ‘great things’ people have planned for the new year.  It seems that some of these folks have been working on these things for some time now.  I began to feel behind the eight ball – really behind.

When my family gathered to celebrate New Year’s Day, we talked about our responses to the following statements (we were given these in advance to ponder):

Ask God what He wants to reveal to you and through you in 2015.

     Ask yourself where you let a dream fall by the wayside in 2014.

          Ask God to breathe new life into dormant dreams or stir new dreams within you.

               Ask God what He’s dreaming for you this year.

Write down what He is saying to you.

I found myself stumped with statements #1 and #4.  Although I have prayed, I don’t yet know what God wants to reveal to me and through me this year.  And I don’t know what He’s dreaming for me this year.  Of course, there are many things that I’d like to do and dreams that I’d love to see come true, but what God wants and is dreaming – the bigger picture…I’m not sure yet.  And that’s ok.  So, if you find yourself in a similar place of waiting, you’re in good company.

Who says we have to have our yearly plan figured out on the first day?  Or the 6th day?  Or the 56th day?  While I firmly believe that we should have goals and work strategically toward them, I am also content with the fact that God knows the plans He has for me (Jeremiah 29:11).  I know that His ways are higher than mine (Isaiah 55:8).

So…I will wait.  I know that He will reveal His plan to me in His timing – and I can’t wait!!  I know it will be more than I could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20).

Will you trust God to reveal His perfect plan in His perfect timing?  Will you wait?