Known- Part 3

Throughout the last two days I've been sharing with you all what I learned from the two day leadership conference that I attended last week.  Despite the conference being over 4 days ago I have still found myself  thinking about all of the things that I learned over those two changing days.  If you follow my Twitter feed then you have seen me post lots of recaps over the last two days.

I wrote on Monday about what impacted me most deep down in my spirit and on Tuesday I wrote about what impacted my ministry the most.  If you haven't read them then I encourage you to.  Isn't it refreshing to know how much we can learn from each other?  It is always my prayer that God will use my blog as a way to reach out to those who I may never come in contact with in any other way.

Today, I want to share with you what I like to call truth nuggets.  We all know what I'm talking about.  These are those little statements of truth.  Those nuggets that are so good that when you hear them you sit up a little higher, you grip your pen a little tighter, write a little faster, and listen in closer because you know just how good those words are.  These are the nuggets that you remember out of every sermon.  These are the statements that you keep going back to days later.

Here are just a few of those nuggets that I have been meditating on over the last few days.

"I am known to make him known.  Remember who it's from and who it's for and know that God can cut it off in a minute.  
Your appetite for known will never be satisfied by a number.  It will only be satisfied by a who or a name, and never satisfied by a how many."  -Andy Stanley

"Don't underestimate the power of the heart or the power of your own faith.  David was not the underdog."  -Malcom Gladwell

"I am designed by God to display God's identity.  God is most glorified in me when I am most satisfied in Him."  -John Piper

"Jesus never promoted a childish life, but He did promote a child-like faith."  -Judah Smith

"Change from the inside out is the kind of change that lasts."  -Priscilla Shirer

"When you see how much time you have left you tend to get serious about the time you have now.  I am not God.  
I am not the Holy Spirit.  I can not change anyone, but I can love a few.  Inheritance is what you leave someone.  
Legacy is what you leave in them."  -Reggie Joiner

"Love the church you're in and not the one you wish you were in.  Love the calling you have and not the calling you wish you had.  Rejoice in the God who calls you and you will begin to rejoice again in what He has called you to."  -Jud Wilhite

Were you at Catalyst this year?
What have you been meditating on the last few days?
Did any of these nuggets speak to you like they spoke to me?

Let's talk about it!

Come back tomorrow for a recap of tonight's theme: Go Fish!
It's the one day of the year that I wear camouflage and I like it.

*#KidsMin Calling is looking for guest bloggers for the month of November to write about reasons they are thankful for kids ministry.  If you are interested please e-mail kidsmincalling@gmail.com

Known- Part 2

Yesterday, I shared with all of you my recap on what I experienced personally at the Catalyst conference.
You can read all about it here.
After that, I just have one question?  Did anyone dance yesterday?  Even now as I'm listening to Kari Jobe sing sweet worship songs through my speakers I have this overwhelming desire to get up and slow dance with Jesus.

Today, I'm going to be talking all about the message I heard that most impacted me as it relates to my ministry to kids.
While all of the speakers said things that can be applied to my kids ministry, only one speaker spent his entire session focusing on ministry to youth, children, and families.

Friday morning I had the opportunity to learn from Reggie Joiner who just so happens to be the founder and CEO of Orange.
To learn more about Orange and what it's all about feel free to visit here.

This was one of the most inspiring messages on the value of time that I've ever heard.  Time... this little something that we all need more of and before we know it our lives are here and gone.  Reggie put it this way, "When you see how much time you have left you tend to get serious about the time you have now."  We are all so incredibly guilty of this!  Myself included.  We are always looking out towards the next best thing.  What's the next event in my ministry?  Where am I supposed to be in the next service?  What am I teaching about on Wednesday?  I am always looking ahead in my ministry and I know that this isn't a bad thing.  What I'm wondering is if I look ahead so much that I forget what I'm doing right now in this very moment?

Reggie shared an illustration of something that he does in his children's ministry to remind his parents that their time with their children is valuable.  When a baby is born he gives the parents a jar of 936 marbles.  They get one marble in their jar for every week between when their precious bundle of joy is placed in their arms and when that precious bundle gets in the car at 18 and drives away.  Every week they take a marble out of their jar as a physical reminder that time is precious and that it is passing.  How much more so can this apply to our children's ministry?  The time that we have with each child is precious.  I get approximately 676 weeks with each child who comes into my ministry from the time they are born to the time they hit 7th grade and transition into our youth ministry.  After that, my time is gone and done.  How much more important is it for me to be fully present in everything that I'm doing when I'm with them.

Reggie Joiner shared it this way, "When you take love and put it over time it's believable.  Love over time gives someone a sense of worth."  My kids want my time right now.  That might involve me taking an extra 15 minutes to sit on the floor of the nursery and read a book or roll a ball back and forth.  Giving of my time might involve me taking the time to answer the questions of a curious 5th grader.  I don't know what this looks like, but I am determined that my kids know that they are valued to me because they are the one's that I pour my time into.

"I am not God.  I am not the Holy Spirit.  I can't change anyone, but I can love a few."  -Reggie Joiner

This is what it's all about.  I, in my power, cannot change anyone.  I can't make my kids love Jesus.  Yes, I can create a loving environment that helps nurture their love for Jesus, but I cannot change anyone.  All I can do is love.  All I can do is reach out with my time and with my life and invest it where it matters most.

Throughout the conference many speakers spoke on leaving a legacy.  What does a legacy look like?  How do we make that happen?  Reggie Joiner put it this way, "An inheritance is what you leave for someone.  A legacy is what you leave in them."  I don't want to just leave things for the kids that I spend my time with.  I want to leave a love of Jesus that is so great that is in them.  That is what I want my kids to think about 10 years from now when they are remembering Miss Mary.  I want them to think about how I showed them how to love Jesus with all of their hearts and all of their souls, and how that won't ever leave them.

I'm excited to read more on this from Reggie Joiner's book Losing Your Marbles/Playing For Keeps which has now moved to the very top of my nightstand reading list.

I'm challenging all of my readers today to be fully present in the lives of those you love.
Make a conscious effort to not merely leave an inheritance, but to leave a legacy.

How do you leave a legacy?  How do you make sure time doesn't slip away from you?
Let's talk about it!

*#KidsMin Calling is looking for guest bloggers for the month of November to write about reasons they are thankful for kids ministry.  If you are interested please e-mail kidsmincalling@gmail.com

Known- Part 1

Last week I had the incredible opportunity to attend Catalyst.

What is Catalyst?

Catalyst Atlanta is a powerful gathering of young leaders, a movement of influencers, and world changers who love Jesus, see things differently, and feel a burden for our generation.  We seek to learn, worship and create together with a momentous energy passionately pursuing God. 

Catalyst was the most amazing weekend.  

I had such a long and busy summer, and I have been swamped recently getting my Wednesday night programs up and running again.  I absolutely love what I do and I have such a passion for my ministry, but after weeks of long days and long nights I was running on empty.  Not only was I tired physically, but my spiritual and emotional tank was dangerously low.  

The two days I spent at Catalyst were exactly what my spirit doctor, also known as Jesus, ordered.  I was able to sit under the most amazing teachers who spoke to me not only about my ministry, but about my own personal walk with Jesus.  I was able to join in with 13,000 of my closest friends and family in raised hands, unashamed, and relentless worship.  As I sat in my car on Friday getting ready to begin the drive home I was overwhelmed with God's goodness.  My body was still tired, but my spirit and soul were more alive than they had ever been.  

I want to share with you some of the things that I learned last week over the next two days. 

I want to first share with you the things that spoke most to my spirit. 

Tomorrow, I'll share with you the things that will help shape my ministry over the next year. 

Wednesday, I'll give you all those little nuggets that made everyone sit up a little straighter and listen in a little closer. 

Why am I starting with my spirit and not with my ministry?  

When I'm empty, my ministry is the one that suffers. 

When I am full of Jesus, I truly believe that the ministry thrives.

Thursday night we were led straight to the feet of Jesus by Passion Worship band.  

You haven't experienced worship until you've been with 13,000 people and sang about God's never-failing love with arms raised high and voices raised strong.

After worship I heard a sermon by Pastor Judah Smith that I don't think I will ever forget.  

Over the two days there seemed to be an overwhelming theme on finding satisfaction in Jesus, but on Thursday night Judah Smith broke it down in such a way that I will be forever changed.  There were so many messages by great leaders like Andy Stanley, John Piper, and Lecrae but this was the one that spoke to me the most.

Using the stories of the prodigal son and the life of Peter our lives and walks with Jesus were related to a giant dance floor.  Yes, that's right... a dance floor.

Here is what we learned:
Jesus never promoted a childish life, but he did promote a child like faith of running into Daddy's arms.
Being a son or daughter is not about worth- it's about birth.
Don't ever be the older son scowling in the corner- Just Dance!

Despite everything that I've ever been through and anything that might ever be going on in my life or ministry finding complete and total satisfaction in joy is all that I ever need.  If life is a giant dance floor, I should be out there with Jesus breaking it down.

Judah Smith said that if you have nothing left to dance for that you have this one thing... Dance because all you have to dance for is the fact that Jesus is there and that He loves you in spite of everything that you have ever done.  The modern way that the prodigal son was explained took me to a place with Jesus that I desperately needed.  Hearing life explained as a modern dance floor put a joy in my heart that is still overflowing.

I was reminded that I always have something to be joyful over.  If everything else in my life were to fall apart.  If I was to have nothing else left in this world, I would have Jesus.  If no one else is out on the dance floor, I can be out on the dance floor with my Savior.  I can find complete and total satisfaction and love in Jesus.

Isn't that amazing?

When I left Catalyst I had slept a total of 15 hours in 3 days and my body was still physically tired, but my spirit... My spirit was more ALIVE than it has ever  been.

After Judah Smith's sermon we were again led in worship by Passion and hearing their new song, 'God's Great Dance Floor' was like having the proverbial icing on top of my chocolate cake.

"You'll never stop loving  us.  No matter how far we run.  You'll never give up on us.  All of heaven shouts, let the future begin... I feel ALIVE.  I am ALIVE.  I come ALIVE on God's great dance floor."

You see, this is what being Known is really all about.
It's about feeling ALIVE.
It's about experiencing the love of your Savior.
It's about knowing that Jesus knows my name and loves me in spite of anything that I've ever done.
To be known is to be loved by Jesus.
To be ALIVE in His love.

Are you Known?
Are you ALIVE?

 If you are, hit play and go dance with Jesus!

High Five For Friday

Happy Friday, #KidsMin Calling!

Hello to all of my visitors this week!
I was overwhelmed with seeing the many people who stopped by for a visit this week!

This week, I had the amazing opportunity to go to Catalyst Leadership Conference so my top 5 this week are all revolved around them.  Be sure to visit the blog next week for recap posts on what I learned.

1) Having Uncle Si be Friday's surprise guest at the conference.
You haven't lived until you've sang 'Take Me Out to the Ball Game' with Uncle Si and 15,000 of your closest friends and family!

Uncle Si at Catalyst!

This was after waiting in line to get a book signed for half an hour. 

Sadly, with close to 1,500 people in line I didn't get my book signed but I still snagged this awesome shot! 

2) Getting to worship with Passion live!  Oh my goodness can you say AMAZING.  Despite the 3 hours of sleep I got on Wednesday night waiting to see Passion at 7:30 on Thursday night was totally worth it.  They were the most genuine worship team that I have ever seen and they led me straight to the feet of Jesus.

His love never fails.

It never gives up. 

It never runs out on me! 

Speechless after Passion. 

3) Hearing Judah Smith preach!  His sermon... Life changing!  I'll be blogging the specifics next week, but to sum it up in a tweet... Dance because the only thing worth dancing about in your life is that God loves you in spite of what you've done.

4) Listening to Reggie Joiner talk about children and family's ministry.  "I can't change anyone, but I can love a few."

Welcome to Catalyst! 

I love seeing all of the extra touches.  

This year they offered hot air balloon rides! 

5) Getting to worship Jesus with 15,000 of my closest friends.  There is absolutely nothing like hearing 15,000 voices and seeing 30,000 hands raised up to Jesus.  I truly believe that it was as close to heaven as you can get on earth.

Those are my top 5 this week!  Was anyone else at Catalyst?
Sound off below with your highlights!