Walk in a Manner Worthy of the Lord

Colossians 1: 9-10

These are the verses I'm pondering today. Read them. Ponder with me.

If I am filled with the knowledge of God's will, I will:

• walk in a manner worthy of the Lord


• Please God


• bear fruit in good works


• Increase in the knowledge of God, which will help me:

• 
  
  walk in a manner worthy of the Lord


• 
  
  Please God


• 
  
  bear fruit in good works


• 
  
  increase in the knowledge of God, which will help me..............

and on and on.................that's my role in life............to increase in my knowledge of God - get to know Him better and better. If only I would stay focused on that. I tend to wander away.

I'm going to keep pondering these verses. It's almost Thanksgiving and these verses remind me what I'm thankful for..........

• a loving God who wants a relationship with me and forgives me for not pursuing Him constantly with a red hot passion.


• a loving God who wants to love me


• a loving God who has blessed me with a wonderful family, friends, and who cares for my needs


• a loving God who gave His Son to die for my sins

I want to know you better.........I want to live constantly in a way that pleases you................I want to bear good fruit with my life.

from the first day..........

Philippians 1:3-6
I thank my god in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

This weekend Clear Creek Community Church will open another campus in the Clear Lake area. We have been preparing and ordering stuff for the past few weeks. As all the preparations were under way....... I read these verses. I thought about the people who will be a part of this campus from the first day...........oh the stories they will have to share! It makes my heart skip a beat to think about the people who will come to this campus and hear about God's love for the first time. The families that will come to this campus to worship together for the first time. The kids that will experience God in PeeWeeVille or Creek Kids for the first time.

And the volunteers that will be there t0 serve and to soak in all these stories from the first day! God is so good to us to allow us to be a part of his perfect plan - to allow us the privilege of serving in His ministries. To allow us to minister to families and share God's love with them.

I will be there the first day. It will be fun, hectic, exciting, hard, and glorious all at the same time! I'm so thankful that God is blessing me in that way!

So if you live in the Clear Lake area - join us! If you are going to attend the Clear Lake campus - bring some friends and neighbors - and get ready for the ride of your life as you are there from the first day.

Perfection

PeeWee School started today! WooHoo!! It was a great day. It was the beginning of new relationships and learnings. It was a great day! It was also fairly quiet - which is a big marker of how great a year it will be!

The beginning of PeeWee School reminds me of new things like this new year. And yet the lessons on Sunday for preschoolers and Elementary kids are about the Ten Commandments which are really old.................In some ways I just want to throw away the old and just concentrate on new. But I am learning so much as I think about and study the Ten Commandments.

• I am learning about how great God is! God is perfect at each commandment. Each commandment shows me God's character. He is the one God. He is valuable and worthy of praise and worship. He can protect me so I can rest. He is my greatest authority and worthy of honor. He is the Creator of life. He is faithful. He is wise and knows how to give us what we need. He does not lie.



• I am seeing more and more clearly what a sinner I am. I can't keep any of these commandments - perfectly.



• I am praising God for His rescue plan that rescues me - a sinner deserving death. I am thanking God for giving His perfect son as a sacrifice for me.

I hope you will contemplate these learnings as you help your child understand God's perfect laws and His most perfect rescue plan.

I went to Alaska last week.

Last week I was cruising around Alaska.............totally amazed by God's creation. Everything was so big and majestic: mountains, glaciers, whales. They say everything in Texas is big - I think everything in Alaska is bigger. I felt so small.

God's grace seemed even more real to me in Alaska. Just thinking about how a God that can create such a masterpiece......why would He even care about me. And definitely why would He send His son to die for me. God can create perfection.........He chooses to save the imperfect - ME. I felt small - but very loved.

God who sees me as small as I am in this big beautiful world. He loves me and saves me.

I had a wonderful vacation. It was a great place to go - I recommend it highly. It was also a very worshipful place for me. Thank you God for creating the beauty I saw and thank you for saving me - and for wanting to use even me.

Last week I was cruising around Alaska........... and awestruck again by God.

What makes you beautiful?

This week in PeeWees and Creek Kids your child talked about being beautiful.

PeeWees learned that saying good and beautiful things makes you beautiful on the inside. We talked about saying things that point people to God - those are beautiful things. (Proverbs 21:23)

Creek Kids learned that outward beauty is temporary............inner beauty is everlasting. (Proverbs 31:30)

I was watching TV last night and they were showing all of these celebrities that had plastic surgery. They showed the before and after pictures - all of them looked better before the surgery to me. It made me think about all the hundreds of thousands of dollars that are spent to make people look beautiful.

Real beauty doesn't cost a dime, but it does take work:

• Choosing to say the right thing



• Choosing to do the right thing



• Choosing to act like Christ



• Choosing to be Jesus to someone

Doesn't cost a dime..............just takes making the right choice.

Lessons from July 17

Your PeeWee learned...........
Through the story of David (the lowly shepherd) becoming King, your PeeWee learned that God sees people differently than we do. We need to try to see the world - and people - the way God does and love each one for their uniqueness.

You can reinforce this lesson by reading the story to your child from a children's Bible. It is found in 1 Samuel 16. Also - bless your child this week by telling them the qualities you see in them and how God could use them to tell others about Him.



Your Creek Kids learned..........
We discussed boasting in Creek Kids this week. Help your child see how he can "boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31). Show him how to thank God for the gifts and talents he has, and to ask God how to best use them for Him. Help him think about how God could use that talent to share His love with others. God gives us gifts for the common good - how can your child's talents be used for God?

Read the following verses with your Creek Kid to reinforce this lesson:

• 1Corinthians 1:31


• 1Corinthians 4:7


• Psalm 44:8

********************

Each week at Clear Creek Community Church your child is exposed to Bible truths, stories, and lessons. Each week in the hour they are at church they hear how Christ died for them and what that means for their daily living. We pack as much as we can into the hour they are in our services. But it is just 1 hour - even if you attend every week, that's just 52 hours a year. Sounds like a lot until you figure there are 8760 hours in a year!!! 52 is just .6%..........

Use your hours parents, please don't just depend on our .6%

Lessons from July 10

PeeWee Ministry:
Your PeeWee learned about having a strong foundation in God. We sang the "Wise Man and Foolish Man" song. You can find this story in your Bible - Matthew 7: 24 - 27. I hope you will read this story with your children. Let them sing the song for you.

Creek Kids Ministry:
Your Creek Kids learned about being self centered this week. Please follow up with their lesson by helping them complete the Take Home Worksheet. You can also discuss the following:

• Thinking highly of yourself - Romans 12:3


• Thinking of God instead of ourself - Hebrews 12:2

I hope that each week you take the time to discuss the lessons with your child. I hope that our lessons give you an open door for great conversations during the week. So how are we doing????? Do you find our lessons helpful as you disciple your children? What could we do better?

You are the primary disciple maker in your home.............we want to partner with you.

So what does it mean to disciple your child??

Well............ a disciple is a learner or follower. When we disciple our kids we are helping them become followers of Christ or learners about Christ.

What are you doing to help your child be a learner or follower of Christ?

• Share your ideas - so we can all learn from you


• The easiest thing you can do is show them your growth - tell them your story of faith, read the Bible with them, pray........

God has given them to you for discipling.............what are you doing with that assignment?

Promotion Sunday - June 5

This Sunday marks a milestone in a lot of kids - and families - lives.............we promote our school age kids up to the next grade. That means...........
If you are going to Kindergarten in the Fall - you go to Creek Kids
If you are going to Junior High in the Fall - you go to Matrix

All the kids in Elementary School will promote up to the next grade.

It's a big deal. It means you have finished something really big whether it's preschool or 3rd grade. It means you are growing.....maturing?.........ready to make new friends......ready to try new things. It's a milestone.

Celebrate it with your kids. Let them be at church on Sunday to start that new beginning with everyone else. Celebrate their accomplishments this year over the weekend. Begin the summer with new expectations of them and/or new freedoms. Your kids growing up is all part of the plan - remember you aren't raising kids you are raising adults. These milestones are a good chance to move them that way - and to share that with them.

Tell your kids what you see in them - share with them the unique gifts, talents, and personality God has given them. Bless them by sharing what you see in store for their future. Tie the new responsibilities and freedoms to that future. Pray for them. Thank God for them and what a blessing they are to your family. Promotion weekend is a great reminder to bless and encourage our kids - so don't let it slip by.

Art Show

You should finish reading THE BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE today. I hope that you and your family enjoyed the time together, enjoyed the story, and enjoyed some good conversations about the story. Please let me know - give me a comment on this blog; or email: lcarden@clearcreek.org

Now that you have finished - create a piece of art to show what you have done. We had about 15 pieces turned in last weekend at Egret Bay and about 10 at West Campus. They are all amazing! I'm so proud of all of you for doing it. We will keep them in the lobby this weekend also, so bring it early on Sunday and we will add it to the show.

Let's show the whole church what PeeWee Families are doing and learning.

The Plan from the Beginning

There were some tough stories to read this weekend from THE BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE. Friday it was all about how Jesus suffered. Saturday was so sad thinking about how his followers missed him and were in the dark about what had happened.

I pondered those stories............... Friday night I was at a baptism service for Creek Kids. We celebrated 11 kids coming to faith. We couldn't have celebrated that without Christ's suffering. We couldn't have a relationship with God without Christ dying for us. We wouldn't have a gift to accept without him taking on our punishment.

It was all part of the plan from the beginning. Today as you read Part 23 - Jesus showed his followers the plan. He showed them how it was written in the scriptures for hundreds of years. God loved us so much that He made a plan for us. He knew that we would sin and not be able to get to Him. He gave His son to die for us. Jesus - took on our punishment - is our rescuer!

Celebrate that plan - your rescue plan today as you read Part 23. Share your story of faith with your children. Celebrate our Father's love for us............even while we are such sinners.

Create a beautiful picture showing how God rescued you. If you bring it to PeeWeeVille this week, we will put it in our Art Show. Celebrate.........help your children to celebrate and not forget what Christ did for us.

Help Your Children Know God Better

Wow! You have almost read the whole BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE! I hope that you and your family have used it to prompt many conversations about God, faith, and what Christ did for us. I would love to hear your stories. Please either comment on this blog or email me (lcarden@clearcreek.org) a story about how this story book helped your family this month.

Here are a couple of other culminating celebrations for you to be a part of:

1. Saturday(May 21) is Water Day. We will have jumpies and water slides in the grassy area between Creek Kids and PeeWee buildings at the Egret Bay Campus from 10am to noon.


2. Sunday we will have an Art Show in the Auditorium lobby of both campuses. Please submit your child's or familiy's art masterpiece on Saturday or Sunday. We want the whole church to see what families are learning and how PeeWees are growing in their faith.

Both of these events are fun. We want kids to understand from an early age that reading and studying God's word is fun and enjoyable. We (PeeWee and Creek Kids staff and volunteers) want to partner with you parents in discipling your children. We want to give you tools and encouragement. We are here as a resource for you. So take advantage of the 30 day challenges, the notes sent home with the lesson for the day, the books we sell and recommend, the Family Workshops, etc. Give us feedback and help us to be the best partner we can be for you. Your child's relationship with God and growth is THAT IMPORTANT!

It is so amazing that God wants to have a relationship with each of us. He wants us to know Him and love Him. God loves us so much that He gave us the Bible to teach us about Himself. He loves us so much that He gave us a Rescuer that we can rejoice about. Growing in your faith is a privilege and joy! Help your children grow up physically and in their faith............celebrating milestones of both...........and praising our Father God who wants us to know Him better.

Art Masterpieces

This weekend will mark the halfway mark in our reading of THE BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE. I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. I would love to hear your stories! Please comment on this blog any funny, sad, or moving conversations that you have had with your children as you read along.

Also, we want to show off your creativity! As a family create a masterpiece of art using any medium your child chooses: paint, crayons, chalk, skulpture.......... The list is long. Your PeeWee may want to do it all by themself - or the whole family may chip in. Please label your art and bring it with you to our Water Day celebration on May 21 at the Egret Bay campus from 10am - noon. We will display them in the church lobby for all to see!

We are halfway there................keep reading and learning and making time for those God moments each day in your homes.

SIN and RESCUE

It is truly a story as old as time..............because it is written all throughout the Bible from Genesis to today........... Man sins and God rescues.

Today is Mother's Day. A day to relax and enjoy the fact that you gave birth to those little munchkins. They will bring you gifts and tell you they love you. They will get all dressed up and take a pretty picture. But I guarantee that in every home out there..........at some point today they will disobey. Yes, even on Mother's Day. And yes, even on Mother's Day you will have to punish some sin - some disobedience.

We are all sinners through and through. We can't go a single day without disobeying God. When you read Part 8 of the BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE you see that as soon as God rescued the people, they would sin again. They would worship Him as their king and rescuer...........then turn around and try to be their own king. Unfortunately we are no different. We can't go a day without sinning.

I am so thankful that God doesn't get tired of rescuing me. That He doesn't get tired of forgiving me. That His love doesn't have a limit. That even if there was a God's Day - He would know that I'm gonna mess up and He has me covered. I am so thankful that He sent His one and only son to die for me............for me...........the loser that can't go a day without disobeying Him.

Thank you God - my rescuer!

Joseph - Revenge or Reconciliation

As I read Part 5 of THE BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE today, I'm reminded of our 3 kids. Thanking God we didn't have 12!!! Just kidding. Really I was thinking about all the fussing and fighting - the tattling, etc.

Kids squabble. Kids are jealous and mean and rude.
Adults squabble. Adults are jealous and mean and rude.
Remember we live outside of the Garden - we all SIN.

Joseph's brothers were no different. And they ganged up on Joseph. And they did something really mean. Many years later - Joseph caught up to them and was in a position to really take revenge - but he chose reconciliation.

There are lessons for us and our kids...........

• You will get yours in the end if you are mean to each other??? NO...........remember Joseph chose to reconcile. Reconciling and having a relationship is always more important than remembering a wrong and getting back at someone.


• Poor Joseph - forgotten by his family and God - left in prison??? NO.............read the whole story - Genesis 37-46. God was with Joseph the whole time. God had a plan. God took care of Joseph. God used Joseph and his situation to help a lot of people. God made Joseph great.

Romans 8:28 - And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Yes, this world outside of the garden is hard and mean, but we aren't alone. If we love God and follow His will and purpose...........He is bigger than all of our troubles - He will work it all out according to His plan.

Life Outside the Garden

I hope you are enjoying reading THE BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE. Yesterday was a really sad story - the repercussions of sin - separation from God.

Today - Section 3 - begins with a terrible look at life outside of the Garden of Eden. Have you ever thought that we are outside the Garden of Eden today? I'm reminded of that when I watch the news, listen to a sad story of hurt or evil, and when I hurt. This world isn't perfect. It isn't the very good beginning that God started with.

Adam and Eve were thrown into a world that was without communion with God. They went from constant communion to none in a flash. Everything became hard including relationships. Everything seemed to go down hill. I often think how much that must have hurt God. He created something wonderful and full of Him and man chose sin instead.

In the time of Noah - God judged the world again it was tough and hard, but necessary. Today we live in a post-Noah world. I'm not sure we have learned anything. I'm not sure we appreciate how amazing communion with God can be. Or how swift and tough God's judgement for sin is.

Sin and judgement are not just for really evil people. The Bible says: "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) For all = me and you and our children and our friends and our family, etc. All includes all. We are all sinners.

Life outside the Garden = sin and judgement. We all deserve judgement for our sin. But the story of Noah shows us that if we make God our King - we will be saved from our punishment. I'll give you a hint at the end of the story - Jesus takes our punishment. How's that for a King...... my king...........hopefully your king!

As you read this story and you discuss the bad stuff in the world. Don't forget to tell your kids the ending. God wins! Jesus takes on our punishment! God is king even outside the Garden.

Big Picture - The Very Good Beginning

Hopefully you have a

BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE.

We are ready to begin our adventure of reading through it and thinking about it all through the month of May. Today is May 1 - read section 1 - The Very Good Beginning.

God created a beautiful world - and beautiful people in His image. They obeyed Him and knew that He was their king. It was wonderful................. There was no sadness or sin. There were no hardships or troubles. It was a very good beginning.

Bruce Wesley talked today in the adult service about troubles that we all face and how to have peace in the midst of them. In the very good beginning there were no troubles - everyone was at peace because they were in a relationship with God. He was their King. As you follow along in THE BIG PICTURE BIBLE, and as you attend the teaching series this month about finding peace.............you will see that the only way to have peace is to be at peace with God and allow Him to be your king.

The beginning was very good............unfortunately tomorrow we will read about the very sad day.

As you read today, worship God. Thank Him for creating everyone in your family in a special way. Thank Him for the beautiful world He made. Go for a walk today and celebrate creation. It was a very good day when God created the world and you!

We Start Reading Sunday!

I hope you have your BIG PICTURE STORYBIBLE. We will begin reading it on Sunday. You can purchase it from PeeWeeVille for $15 or from your favorite bookstore.

We will read 1 section per night from May 1 - May 26. I will be blogging and tweeting along the way! I'll also send 2 text message reminders/week as we go along. If you would like to opt in for text messaging:

Text PWBIBLE to 27138

It will be a great adventure as we read along through the Bible together - don't miss it!

Easter is Almost Here!

Last night at the Gathering I was reminded of why we have Easter Sunday. Christ took on my sins and died for them so that I could be restored to my Father God. Thank you Jesus! (literally) Thank you Jesus! I am truly forever grateful to you.

This weekend we will celebrate the risen Lord - Jesus didn't stay on that cross or in that grave. He is alive! I welcome you to join us at either campus. Here are the services to choose from:

• West Campus - located at Friendswood Junior High - 9:30 and 11:00


• Egret Bay Campus - Saturday at 6pm, Sunday at 7:00, 9:00, 10:30, and Noon

Saturday night at 5pm at the Egret Bay Campus we will have an Easter Egg Hunt, hot dogs, and Family Portraits. It will be a fun celebration.

Where ever you are on Easter - I pray that you are thankful for what Jesus did for you that you couldn't do for yourself.

** Don't forget we will be starting our reading of THE BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE on May 1. We still have some available in PeeWeeVille at both campuses for $15. Purchase it this weekend so you are ready on May 1!

Get your BIG PICTURE STORYBIBLE and Read Along

You are invited on an adventure with me............... Let's all read the BIG PICTURE STORY BIBLE in the month of May. I will be blogging and tweeting about learnings along the way. It is an amazing book. It will be a great lead in for your family to have God conversations every night. We will read 1 section per night - we will finish on May 26. During May, the lessons in PeeWeeVille will be taken from that day's reading. It is going to be a great adventure! Please join us! You can buy the book at any bookstore, or we have limited quantities at a great price in PeeWeeVille. Get your book today and don't miss out!!

2 Thessalonians 3:13:
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

As I read this verse the other day..............
I thought of parenting.

Parenting is hard work. (scratch that - ) Good Parenting is hard work.

So don't grow weary. Keep working hard. If parenting is hard then you are probably doing a good work.

2 Thessalonians 3:13:
As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.

Quiet...........

My cell phone ring is crickets. It is kind of fitting because Mark and I live a very quiet life...........now. We have 3 grown children, so our life hasn't always been so quiet we could hear the crickets............but it is now.

I know that many of you wish for a quiet day. I understand - I did the same. You need to understand that quiet is a natural part of the life cycle of a family. It is coming - so there's no need to wish for it. It will come - wishes or not.

So embrace your stage of the cycle.

• Are you at the beginning of loud and crazy - then hang on to your hat for the ride!
• Are you in the middle of beyond decibels - then know you are about to start down the other side toward quiet again.

It is a cycle - you will get back around to the beginning. You will have a quiet time again. Here are some precautions from someone who has made it around the circle:

• Enjoy each stage - they really do go by fast
• Embrace the activity and noise - but also find a quiet place to hide periodically to refuel
• Hide some chocolate - standing in the dark pantry, chewing a small piece of chocolate is kind of like taking a mini vacation sometimes.
• Stay in love with your spouse!
• Continue to let your spouse be your best friend - when you get to the quiet again - it is wonderful to spend quiet moments with your best friend.
• Don't be grumpy face - smile and enjoy the ride.

Enjoy spurts of quiet along the way of the cycle..........so you don't forget how amazing it can be when you get there. Which you will - it's a cycle for Pete's sake!