For example, take the young mom who picks her children up from VBS a few minutes late. How tempting it can be to reiterate the correct pick up times. But doing so could easily erect a roadblock—particularly if we take an impatient tone. A minor inconvenience for us could morph into a comment that further tears down the morale of a discouraged, harried parent.  

 As I work with young families in our Christian preschool, I am constantly reminded that for many, this is their first experience with the church. In whatever program we serve, we need to remind each other that we get to be the hands and feet of Jesus as we greet and welcome new and returning families to the family of God.

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The only agenda? Spending time together. We would enjoy wonderful dinners, home-made goodies for breakfast, and lunches out on the town—during shopping adventures. What else would 16 women do in an afternoon? 

I’m so glad I went! We shared stories, pictures, and information about each of our families. We all wrote individual prayer requests in a book so that my aunt of 83 years, a real prayer warrior, could pray for each of our needs or concerns. There were copies of her favorite prayers and poems, collected over the years and now available for us to read and take home.

All of us have a biological family, but being able to put a face with a name and a prayer creates a much greater sense of family. Aunt Irene’s legacy can and will continue with my family. I am looking forward to next year when I can bring my three daughter-in-laws to share in this weekend and the legacy.

Editor’s note: As you plan for your family reunion this summer, consider using some of CTA’s Living a Legacy materials as mementos of the event.  

That was the question an 18-year-old student at the Hong Kong International School (HKIS) asked me seven years ago.

I had taken an opportunity to travel to China on a servant trip with 12 youth from my congregation. We were blessed to have five students from HKIS as interpreters while we navigated the Guangdong Providence.

The Lord allowed us to serve as his hands and feet as we helped at orphanages in small towns, worshiped at a government-authorized church, and visited a rehab center for children with physical disabilities. We spent two days cleaning and painting a remote village school. For part of my time in country, the 18-year-old with the deep question, was my roommate.

 One evening, just as I was leaving my room for prayer time, I asked Raishe, “How is the trip going for you? 

She responded, “I believe in god, but I came along on this trip to see who this Jesus Christ is.”(While HKIS is a Christian school, the students from HKIS are not necessarily Christian. As interpreters, none of them were required to attend any of our Bible study or prayer times.) Our conversation continued, focusing on Raishe’s amazement at our group’s eagerness to do anything we were asked to do and our commitment to care for people we’d never met. Her question opened a door, and I got to share what Jesus has done for me . . . and for her!

It’s a sobering thought. Many people in today’s world “believe in god,” but know nothing about Jesus and what he did for them on the cross and in his empty tomb. We want to keep their need in mind every day, of course. But especially this Easter, may the Holy Spirit open our eyes to see those around us who wonder what this day is all about, who question what it has to do with them. 

Who is this Jesus Christ!? How would you answer that question? And whose asking it—in your own family, school, or neighborhood?

Actually, the “shadows” are not shadows. Nor are they reflections. Instead, they are projections. Stained glass does not reflect light. Rather, it permits light to pass through it.

As I sit in the worship area early in the morning, the image projected on the wall is far from clear. As the sun comes up and moves across the sky, the image formed by the light coming through the stained glass also moves. It slowly makes its way to the front of the church where, at one point, it frames a large cross. The closer the image gets to the window, the clearer the projection becomes.

This reminds me of how clear my own life becomes when I stay close to Christ and the forgiveness he freely gives through his cross. As I invest time in prayer and Bible study, a quiet peace settles in my heart, despite the changes and disturbing events swirling around me. As I take time to give of myself, I find clarity about life’s real priorities. But when I let life grow too busy, the peace and clarity fade. And I project a more distorted image of God’s glory. How thankful I am that he forgives our failures—every one of them!

And how exciting it is to think about what could happen if all of God’s people were growing daily in the kind of Son-shining-through lives he wants for us.

How will you stay close to him this week?

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV

But the Wise Men won’t arrive in Bethlehem until January 6—the “Twelfth Day of Christmas” and the day the church traditionally celebrates the visit of the Magi and their worship of the Christ Child. In liturgical churches, this is called Epiphany. In some churches the  season lasts until Ash Wednesday. The word “Epiphany” refers to God’s appearance to live with us as one of us, and the season marks the many ways Jesus revealed Himself as the Son of God.

That’s why I want to scream! I want to keep Christmas in the present.

My parents celebrated Epiphany, and it was a blessing. As a child, I would receive a small gift—some fun, but useful item like a cute pair of socks. As I got older, the gifts morphed into a Christmas tree ornament or some other decoration for the following year’s Christmas celebration. As I look back at the traditions and those little reminders of God’s love in Jesus, I realize that they strengthened my faith-relationship with Him.

So on Wednesday,  I will again celebrate Epiphany by sharing a little reminder of God’s Gift with my husband and our three sons and their wives.  

How about you? How might you celebrate “Christmas Present”—Epiphany? Surprise someone! For Christians, Christmas is never over!

 CTA has helped make this event easier and more meaningful. In fact, that’s what CTA does best!

For example, consider the Christ the Savior is Born downloadable video. The video provides a great foundation for a children’s Christmas program—on Christmas Eve or a Sunday leading up to Christmas.

At our preschool, we show the video and add in an Advent Cheer, the reading of Luke 2:1-20 by the preschool staff, and a song like Away in the Manger. We conclude with a blessing and an invitation for everyone to join us for the cookie reception!

As everyone leaves the service, consider giving  them a keepsake reminder. We’ve done that for several years.  This year you might consider giving each child (and siblings in the audience) a copy of the book on which the video is based. The book comes complete with notes for parents about ways to talk about Christmas in their family. Children will enjoy having parents read the story many times over in coming weeks and years. 

Surprise older children who attend with both a Christ the Savior Is Born book and a pencil from the Value Pack and give adults in attendance a Christ the Savior Is Born magnet  or ornament reminder. All at a price preschools can afford!

2010 Thanks be to God Pocket Calendar

But wait! What about the month? What about a Happy Thanksgiving month?! 

I’ve always enjoyed sharing Thanksgiving Day at church and with my family. But this year, I’ve decided to observe a personal thanksgiving month. I want to take some time and effort to say thanks to people who have been a such blessing to me—and to my family, and in my ministry.

Personal notes of thanks have all but been replaced by quick e-mails or even text messages. But these don’t always say thanks in a personal enough way.

CTA has some great items that will help me let people know how thankful I am for their service, their heart for my ministry, and their friendship. Maybe you’ll find them helpful, too:

• I can use the Thank You for Serving with a Heart Like Jesus note card set to write and send personal notes to six people—and for only 99 cents while the cards are on sale!
• The Thanks Be to God Pocket Calendar can be a year-long thank-you to those who bless me in special ways.
• So can the Thanks Be to God Magnet .

This year, put the thanks in giving by giving and sending thanks!

Starbuck’s employees take pride in knowing what time their customers come in, being able to name their favorite drink, and knowing which table they pick. Employees strive to “surprise and delight” their customers, turning an ordinary cup of coffee into an extraordinary experience. Starbuck’s is a place to relax, a place where someone knows your name. 

That’s what we try to do with our Parent’s Day Out program. We want to care—physically, spiritually, and emotionally—for a community. 

As a leader in this program, part of my job involves knowing and caring for each child. I love to see the surprise and delight in the children’s eyes and on each child’s face as we sing a new song or master a new skill. 

When one of our children has been blessed with a new sibling, we intentionally work to help the big brother or sister feel special. We realize that all the attention at home may seem to focus on the new baby. Mom may well have less time for the older child(ren). And so we make an intentional effort to care for that child. 

Throughout the year, we stay as connected as possible to families, striving to learn what is going on in their lives so we can support parents and affirm the special role God has given them in the lives of their children. We look for ways to show them a God who turns life’s ordinary details into extraordinary blessings. 

We want to model a personal God, a Savior who knows, loves, and forgives each of us personally. We want every family member to know they matter—individually—to him.

Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle. . . . Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.

Romans 12:10-12, 13-15 (The Message)

Pumpkin Prayer Bookmark

Halloween is a great example! This year, I plan to cut out bright-colored fish, a heart, and cross shapes similar to those on CTA’s Pumpkin Prayer bookmark. I also plan to cut pumpkins out of construction paper in proportion to the fish, hearts, and crosses. 

Then, using the symbols, the children can create their own pumpkin faces. If I send home the Pumpkin Prayer Activity kit or bookmark from CTA, it will explain the project and the symbols in a way most parents will notice. 

This can also work a larger scale. If you are responsible for a children’s message or devotion for children’s church in October, think about creating a giant Prayer Pumpkin in front of the group. Then send home a Pumpkin Prayer bookmark or Pumpkin Prayer Activity kit with each child. It is a great way to help equip families with tools they can use to guide them in their child’s faith formation.

Have a fun, friendly, and faith filled fall!

Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, . . . not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be, . . . not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. (NIV)

When I first read these words, they really spoke to me. I serve a little flock of preschoolers, actually pre-preschoolers, two- and three-year-olds. I love what I do and feel called to teach them about Jesus as their personal Savior. What a job! Every day I get to play, sing songs, eat a snack, and love the children as Jesus would love them. 

Not too far into my ministry, I found that my “flock” was a little bigger that I had originally had thought. I found out quickly that dads, and especially moms, were also a part of the flock.

After only a few weeks of school, my staff and I found ourselves answering questions about potty training, discipline, and other parenting issues. We would encourage and listen to the parents, often staying later or making our selves available at drop off. Trust grew, and all of us on staff were soon fielding questions about our church, the type of services we offered, and Baptism. This has been the pattern for the past seven years. Today’s young families are still seeking out caring, trustworthy places to ask questions.

When I reread this passage, I see that God not only tells us to care for his “flock,” but also tells us how to do that—tenderly showing the way, “being examples.” Taking care of the young children in a Jesus-centered program is an amazing job, but caring for and encouraging young families has become our mission!