It's early Monday morning and, to be quite honest, there's not much energy in me. I know that I'll go back to bed in a few minutes and then hopefully wake up later and find a good Western or WW II movie to watch as I lay on the couch.
It was a typical weekend in many respects ... dealing with tardy staff, helping the nervous mom feel comfortable about leaving her angel in a new setting, dealing with a child that causes me to believe that demons can be children possessed, etc. The logistics of the ministry is enough to tire a person.
It was a weekend that God showed up. I told my son Aaron as we left the church parking lot yesterday that I felt as though we had really delivered a timely message to our kids as we taught on the subject "What's in Your Mouth?" I could sense in each of our three services that the message really hit home in so many lives.
I left our third and final service all "hugged out". Long ago, I learned the power in touching people. I believe that there is a healing and strengthening and connection that come through touch. For some, it might be just a touch on the top of the head. For others, it might be just looking them in the eyes and telling them how blessed that I am to get to be their children's pastor. For others, it might be kissing a baby on the cheek or a young child a kiss on the top of the head and then telling them how much that I love them. By the end of the day, there wasn't too much "hug" left in me. But, both the connection with the child and the genuine appreciation seen in the faces of the parents made it worth it all.
After the last child left, I began to have one-on-one time with my staff. I've purposed to never be in a hurry to leave after church. This is my time to love on my staff. So, yesterday, I met with one of my new staff members and connected with them, then spent time with a group of my staff before Vickie and I headed out to a restaurant with them.
Was the weekend worth it? You betcha. It's weekends like this past one that has caused parents to tell me that their child told them, "Momma, when I grow up, I want to be a policeman, a fireman, or a Pastor Billy" or "Momma, you know that I love Daddy but can Pastor Billy come and live with us?" It's the "hugged out" weekends that produces the children coming up to me like a little boy did a few weeks ago and told me, "Pastor Billy, when I grow up, I want to be just like you."
It is because of weekends like this past weekend that has produced such a tight relationship with my staff that when one of my teenaged staff's parents were going out of the country and they needed someone to stay with the teenager and their younger sibling, my staff asked their parents if I could come and live with them while the parents were gone. It is because of weekends like this past weekend that has taken several of my staff and enabled them to become great children's pastors in their own right across the nation.
Was the weekend worth it? You betcha. I can't wait to see what God will do next next weekend!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Extreme Revival
Here's a fact that you are hopefully well aware of ... revival is never silent or goes unnoticed. As the Spirit of God begins to move among our children, the services will become radically different because both the staff and children are radically different. Real revival will always cause an extreme turnaround from the pre-revival days!
Let me give bullet point thoughts for beginning an extreme Holy Spirit revival in your children's ministry:
* It begins with EXTREME HEARING: While many voices call for you to become discouraged about your ministry, EXTREME HEARING will cause you to ONLY hear what God has to say in your spirit and through His Word about your children’s ministry.
* EXTREME SEEING: Upon tuning out the surrounding voices, EXTREME SEEING will cause you to see and remain focused ONLY upon what God sees in your children's ministry.
* EXTREME BELIEVING: Having heard from God and seeing what God sees in your ministry, EXTREME BELIEVING will cause you to unwaveringly (to quote my friend Mark Hankins) “know in your knower” that each and every service provides an opportunity for a supernatural manifestation of God's presence.
* EXTREME SAYING: It's not enough to just hear and see and believe. Those who are fully persuaded (a.k.a. knowing in their knower) will begin to have EXTREME SAYING ability. You will speak to the mountain (religious tradition, apathy, the "we've never done it that way before mentality, confusion) expecting it to be cast into the sea! EXTREME revival always has a voice!!!
* EXTREME ACTION: In each service, EXTREME ACTION on your part and then eventually your staff's part will reflect what you have read from the Word, seen through the eyes of faith, believed in your heart and said with your mouth. Get radical. Act as though God actually meant what He said and said what He meant!
Come on, let's get radical. Let's get extreme in our pursuit for a move of God in our children's ministry. We are passionate and unrelenting. We won't be denied!
Let me give bullet point thoughts for beginning an extreme Holy Spirit revival in your children's ministry:
* It begins with EXTREME HEARING: While many voices call for you to become discouraged about your ministry, EXTREME HEARING will cause you to ONLY hear what God has to say in your spirit and through His Word about your children’s ministry.
* EXTREME SEEING: Upon tuning out the surrounding voices, EXTREME SEEING will cause you to see and remain focused ONLY upon what God sees in your children's ministry.
* EXTREME BELIEVING: Having heard from God and seeing what God sees in your ministry, EXTREME BELIEVING will cause you to unwaveringly (to quote my friend Mark Hankins) “know in your knower” that each and every service provides an opportunity for a supernatural manifestation of God's presence.
* EXTREME SAYING: It's not enough to just hear and see and believe. Those who are fully persuaded (a.k.a. knowing in their knower) will begin to have EXTREME SAYING ability. You will speak to the mountain (religious tradition, apathy, the "we've never done it that way before mentality, confusion) expecting it to be cast into the sea! EXTREME revival always has a voice!!!
* EXTREME ACTION: In each service, EXTREME ACTION on your part and then eventually your staff's part will reflect what you have read from the Word, seen through the eyes of faith, believed in your heart and said with your mouth. Get radical. Act as though God actually meant what He said and said what He meant!
Come on, let's get radical. Let's get extreme in our pursuit for a move of God in our children's ministry. We are passionate and unrelenting. We won't be denied!
Monday, June 29, 2009
A Well-Balanced Children's Ministry
I learned a long time ago that the adage "He who fails to plan, plans to fail" is so true. With children's ministry, preparation and planning are extremely important. Consistently just "going with the flow" is a sure-fire indicator that you won't be in this ministry very long. Praying and hearing from God and then writing or preparing the lesson before you walk into your classroom will keep your ministry balanced and on-track.
At the same time, if we are hard-headed about just going with the preplanned program, we will often miss what the Holy Spirit is attempting to say and do through us. It is so easy to become so programmed in our ministry that we totally ignore the leadings and promptings of the Holy Spirit. Having the mentality that we've finely tuned this lesson and have 120 minutes of lesson that has to be crammed into a 90 minute time-frame and everything has to be done can cause us to grieve the Holy Spirit and miss out on what could have been THE service that could have changed a child's future and the course of your ministry.
What is the balance? We must walk into the service having prayed, prepared and organized just as though the success of the service depends upon us and yet be vulnerable and flexible knowing that everything depends upon His unction and anointing.
At the same time, if we are hard-headed about just going with the preplanned program, we will often miss what the Holy Spirit is attempting to say and do through us. It is so easy to become so programmed in our ministry that we totally ignore the leadings and promptings of the Holy Spirit. Having the mentality that we've finely tuned this lesson and have 120 minutes of lesson that has to be crammed into a 90 minute time-frame and everything has to be done can cause us to grieve the Holy Spirit and miss out on what could have been THE service that could have changed a child's future and the course of your ministry.
What is the balance? We must walk into the service having prayed, prepared and organized just as though the success of the service depends upon us and yet be vulnerable and flexible knowing that everything depends upon His unction and anointing.
Monday, June 22, 2009
A Call to Fellow Revivalists
This week, allow me to deviate from the typical blog entry. Each week, people from literally around the globe look to this blog to provide inspiration, revelation, and confirmation enabling them to launch a Spirit-filled, Spirit-led, and Spirit-equipped children's ministry in their local church. To that, I am so humbled that you trust me to speak into your life.
This week, I am challenging you to show your desperation and insatiable desire to see a mighty outpouring of God's Spirit upon your children's ministry. I am making a call to revivalists from around the globe to be like the lady with the issue of blood (Mark 5) and put some legs to your passion. I'm speaking specifically to those who long for a spiritual revolution that will awaken children to flow mightily with the Holy Spirit.
I am challenging you to set aside 3 days on your calendar to come and join fellow revivalists at our 2009 Ignite the Supernatural Conference. Imagine what can happen in the realm of the Spirit when dissatisfied, desperate, daring, and determined children's ministry leaders and workers from around the globe come together on November 5 - 7 to the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas area.
I've gathered leaders/teachers who know how to flow with the Holy Spirit. This isn't just textbook information. With 24 workshops and 5 general sessions, times of intercession, anointed times of personal ministry through the laying on of hands and the working of the Gifts of the Spirit ... how can you afford to miss?
Join me. Clear your calendar for three days. Bring your key leaders with you. Your pastor and spouse can attend the conference along with you for FREE!
I guarantee that you won't find another conference like this in the nation! Check out a few of the workshop listings: The Holy Spirit on Assignment, Children and the Gifts of the Spirit, Let's Demonstrate the Supernatural, Power-Packed Preschoolers, Teaching Children to Hear the Voice of God.
Information for conference speakers, workshop schedules/descriptions, hotel rates is available by going to www.ignite-conference.com.
This week, I am challenging you to show your desperation and insatiable desire to see a mighty outpouring of God's Spirit upon your children's ministry. I am making a call to revivalists from around the globe to be like the lady with the issue of blood (Mark 5) and put some legs to your passion. I'm speaking specifically to those who long for a spiritual revolution that will awaken children to flow mightily with the Holy Spirit.
I am challenging you to set aside 3 days on your calendar to come and join fellow revivalists at our 2009 Ignite the Supernatural Conference. Imagine what can happen in the realm of the Spirit when dissatisfied, desperate, daring, and determined children's ministry leaders and workers from around the globe come together on November 5 - 7 to the greater Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas area.
I've gathered leaders/teachers who know how to flow with the Holy Spirit. This isn't just textbook information. With 24 workshops and 5 general sessions, times of intercession, anointed times of personal ministry through the laying on of hands and the working of the Gifts of the Spirit ... how can you afford to miss?
Join me. Clear your calendar for three days. Bring your key leaders with you. Your pastor and spouse can attend the conference along with you for FREE!
I guarantee that you won't find another conference like this in the nation! Check out a few of the workshop listings: The Holy Spirit on Assignment, Children and the Gifts of the Spirit, Let's Demonstrate the Supernatural, Power-Packed Preschoolers, Teaching Children to Hear the Voice of God.
Information for conference speakers, workshop schedules/descriptions, hotel rates is available by going to www.ignite-conference.com.
Monday, June 15, 2009
If He Did It Once, He Can Do It Again!
I love reading about what God has done through children throughout church history. Why? Because if God did it once through children, He can do it again!
This week, allow me to share a story from the life of John G. Lake from a book that has long been out of print, Adventures in God. (pages 15 - 16). In reading this account, remember that if God did it once, He can do it again. Here is Lake's story ...
I was sitting one day in the home of the DeValeras in Krugersdorp, South Africa, when a man arrived who had traveled all over the country. He had been following me from place to place, trying to catch up with me. He suffered a sunstroke which had affected his mind and he also had developed a large cancer.
He came into the house and proved to be a friend of the family. In a little while a six-year-old child who had been sitting near me went across the room, climbed on the man's knees, put her hands on the cancer on his face, and prayed.
I saw the cancer wither. In half an hour, the thing had disappeared. The wound was still there, but in a few days it was healed.
After the child had laid her hands on top of his head, he arose, saying, "Oh! The fire that has been in my brain has gone out," and his mind was normal.
Power belongeth unto God. Psalms 62: 11. The simplest soul can touch God and live in the very presence of God and in His power.
Note: I have discovered that this book is available in a pdf format at www.knihy.own.cz/ENG/J.G.Lake%20-Adventures%20in%20God.pdf
This week, allow me to share a story from the life of John G. Lake from a book that has long been out of print, Adventures in God. (pages 15 - 16). In reading this account, remember that if God did it once, He can do it again. Here is Lake's story ...
I was sitting one day in the home of the DeValeras in Krugersdorp, South Africa, when a man arrived who had traveled all over the country. He had been following me from place to place, trying to catch up with me. He suffered a sunstroke which had affected his mind and he also had developed a large cancer.
He came into the house and proved to be a friend of the family. In a little while a six-year-old child who had been sitting near me went across the room, climbed on the man's knees, put her hands on the cancer on his face, and prayed.
I saw the cancer wither. In half an hour, the thing had disappeared. The wound was still there, but in a few days it was healed.
After the child had laid her hands on top of his head, he arose, saying, "Oh! The fire that has been in my brain has gone out," and his mind was normal.
Power belongeth unto God. Psalms 62: 11. The simplest soul can touch God and live in the very presence of God and in His power.
Note: I have discovered that this book is available in a pdf format at www.knihy.own.cz/ENG/J.G.Lake%20-Adventures%20in%20God.pdf
Monday, June 8, 2009
The Jealousy of the Holy Spirit
Recently, I was on an outing with one of our ministries and had to return for Trinity's Saturday night service. During the course of the outing, one of my staff had become sick and needed to return home with me. I quickly discovered during the trip that I was transporting a non-talker. Try as I may to engage him in conversation, I was answered with two or three word sentences. After a while of trying to create conversation, I gave up. Needless to say, that three hour trip was a long and most unpleasant drive.
I often wonder if this is the sentiment of the Holy Spirit. At one time, He merely came upon select people for a select job. Now, Jesus promised that the One who was with us is now abiding in us. He has been assigned to be with us 24/7/365 so that we can fulfill our God-given assignments. And yet, in most believers, if He hears any conversation at all, it is in a perfunctory prayer at the beginning of one of our services. While abiding with us and going along for the ride with us, He rarely if ever has the opportunity to engage in conversation with us.
Is our silence deafening to the Holy Spirit? Does He yearn for interaction with us? Is He jealous of our imbalance with being consumed with the things of this world and our lack of time with Him? Consider this scripture:
"Or what do you think the Scripture means when it says that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, watches over us with tender jealousy?" (James 4:5, The Living Bible)
Come on, let's commune with the Spirit. Throughout the day, talk to Him … know that He is in the car with you, working on the job with you, playing golf with you ... acknowledge and welcome and engage His presence ... and then you and your children's ministry will never ever be the same again!
I often wonder if this is the sentiment of the Holy Spirit. At one time, He merely came upon select people for a select job. Now, Jesus promised that the One who was with us is now abiding in us. He has been assigned to be with us 24/7/365 so that we can fulfill our God-given assignments. And yet, in most believers, if He hears any conversation at all, it is in a perfunctory prayer at the beginning of one of our services. While abiding with us and going along for the ride with us, He rarely if ever has the opportunity to engage in conversation with us.
Is our silence deafening to the Holy Spirit? Does He yearn for interaction with us? Is He jealous of our imbalance with being consumed with the things of this world and our lack of time with Him? Consider this scripture:
"Or what do you think the Scripture means when it says that the Holy Spirit, whom God has placed within us, watches over us with tender jealousy?" (James 4:5, The Living Bible)
Come on, let's commune with the Spirit. Throughout the day, talk to Him … know that He is in the car with you, working on the job with you, playing golf with you ... acknowledge and welcome and engage His presence ... and then you and your children's ministry will never ever be the same again!
Monday, June 1, 2009
Be Filled with the Spirit
Am I the only one in children's ministry that knows both the highs and lows of the ministry? There are days in which I'd gladly sign up for another thirty years of service. Then, there are other times that it would be easy to look for the back exit door. Surely I'm not the only one that knows the rollercoaster of the ministry, am I?
Allow me to share with you a secret that I learned from one of my heroes that has enabled me to keep on keeping on. When the greatest evangelist of the nineteenth century, D.L. Moody, was asked why he said he needed to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit, he replied, “Because I leak!”
The pressures of dealing with people and situations can cause us to leak. The "joys" of children's ministry can cause our levels to ebb. Moody gave us the answer to longevity ... continually be filled with the Spirit.
The apostle Paul must have understood the "leaking" for he wrote to the Ephesians to be filled (the literal Greek reads being which is a progressive constant) with the Spirit. So, when we are on the mountain top of the ministry ... ask to be refilled. When the Gilbert O'Sullivan song "Alone Again Naturally" has become a state of mind ... ask to be refilled. If it is good enough for the apostle Paul and D.L. Moody, it is good enough for me. Selah.
Allow me to share with you a secret that I learned from one of my heroes that has enabled me to keep on keeping on. When the greatest evangelist of the nineteenth century, D.L. Moody, was asked why he said he needed to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit, he replied, “Because I leak!”
The pressures of dealing with people and situations can cause us to leak. The "joys" of children's ministry can cause our levels to ebb. Moody gave us the answer to longevity ... continually be filled with the Spirit.
The apostle Paul must have understood the "leaking" for he wrote to the Ephesians to be filled (the literal Greek reads being which is a progressive constant) with the Spirit. So, when we are on the mountain top of the ministry ... ask to be refilled. When the Gilbert O'Sullivan song "Alone Again Naturally" has become a state of mind ... ask to be refilled. If it is good enough for the apostle Paul and D.L. Moody, it is good enough for me. Selah.
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