Leadership Lesson - You can't do it alone!

We have a saying around CCCC............we shouldn't do anything alone.  We have policies when we work with children there are always 2 adults.  But also when we are leading teams - the motto is the same - don't do it alone.  We are stronger together, safer together, smarter together, it's more fun together, and it is definitely more sustainable together.

Exodus 18 gives us a wonderful picture of this theory.  Moses is the only leader for the people.  They are coming to him all day long to make all of the decisions.  He has no time to rest.  But it seems as if he doesn't have time to finish making the decisions either - like the line of people goes on and on.  People probably waited days for their turn to talk to Moses.  It was inefficient and unsustainable.

In steps Jethro - Moses' Father in Law......  he speaks wisdom to Moses - you shouldn't be doing this alone.  You need help and the people need a better process.  And TA-DA.... a leadership structure was born.  One that we model after today at CCCC in all ministry areas.

Leadership Lesson - you can't do it alone.

This definitely applies to ministry teams and to any work environment.  But it also applies to your home.

I believe God created the family to have a Mom and a Dad because we can't do it alone.  We need each other for strength and energy and to make it more fun.

I think we were all made to live in community, because of that I believe that you also need to lean on Christian friends when you are raising kids.  We need to encourage each other and help each other bear the load.  If you aren't in a Small Group at CCCC - I recommend you find one.  It will be great for your soul - you will grow in your faith, but you will also find strength and encouragement and community for the life road you are on.

Leadership Lesson - you can't do it alone!

Leadership Lesson #3

Everyone has leaders - so obey them.  Make leadership a joy for them.

I know what you are thinking...........whoever wrote that wasn't around for the last couple of weeks when our governmental leaders couldn't get their act together.  They weren't thinking of these guys when people were not allowed to work.  I say I know what you are thinking - actually I'm just admitting that that's what I'm thinking these days.

But these words/thoughts came from the Bible - Hebrews 13:17.

"Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account.  Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you."

2 learnings for me this week..........

1. I have leaders.  I need to submit to them.  I need to submit willingly.  I need to make it easy for them to lead me.
2. As a leader - I will have to give an account to how I led people.  Did I imitate Christ so others could imitate me and grow more like Jesus?

These learnings are very convicting to me.  I need to lead well.  I need to imitate Christ better.  I need to pray for my leaders and follow them well.

Christ died for the times I don't do these things well............I'm thankful I'm forgiven............I want to grow more like Him.

Leadership Learnings - #2

This morning my research on leadership in the Bible led me to............Leviticus.  Took a couple of cups of coffee but I plowed through - and I learned something!

Leviticus 4:22-26

In the middle of the laws for sin offerings, there is a whole section on what to do when a leader sins.  It didn't say if - it said when.  God so knows us.  He knows that leaders will sin.  All of us sin and are sinners.  When we become a leader over someone or something, we are still the same sinners - just in a different position.  We will sin.

Today we don't have to follow the burnt offering procedures that are written in Leviticus.  We have a savior that offered Himself once and for all for our sins.  We are forgiven.  But..........we still need to ask forgiveness of God and of the people we lead.  We need to restore relationships that our sin breaks.  We are responsible to confess our sin to God and to the people we lead.

Good leadership isn't sin-free...........there is no such thing as that.  Good leadership is being humble, sincere, and responsible when we sin.

You are a Leader whether you wanna be or not!

We are all leaders.............. of something.  Some of us embrace the title.  Some of us wear it as a badge of honor.  Some of us run from the title and never want to have anything to do with it.  But we all lead something or someone.  If you have a pet - you are a leader.  If you have a team - you are a leader.  If you are a parent - you are a leader of your children.  If you are a Christ follower - you are called to lead others to know Christ - to be a missionary.

We are all leaders.........  The key is to be a good leader.  To follow Christ so that others can follow you.

I've been pondering leadership for the past couple of days a lot.  I decided to study leaders in the Bible.  There are a lot - I think maybe that was a bite a little too big!!  But I'm determined to at least skim through the leaders in the Bible and see what God can teach me about leading.  I invite you to join me.

Lesson #1:  How does God lead?
I read Exodus 15.  It says God led in love.  It says He guided the people with strength.  I need to follow God so others can follow me.  I need to lead like Him.  I need to lead with love and strength.  Truth is - for me - I need to concentrate on leading in love.  I need to love the people God gave me to lead.  If I love them, they will trust me to lead them.

Prayer for today - 
please dear God, help me to love my team/my family/the people you give me to lead.  Help me to care for them.  Help me to be a leader that they can depend on and trust.  Help me to lead with your strength, because it is infinitely better than mine.

Schools Back!!!

Happy first day of school all you Clear Creek Kids!

Here are a few of my friends on the first day!

Please send me stories and pictures of your first day.

Good Works

I was reading Titus 3 this week.  Such good words..............

There is always a struggle about good works.  They don't save you, but aren't they still good, you know good things to do???

Then I read Titus 3:1-8.  Why yes they are good!  And yes they do have a place!
Titus 3:8   The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works.  These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Did you see that............good works are excellent and they help people.  But did you also see the first part?  Who should devote themselves to good works?  That's right, people who have already become a part of God's family - who have already believed - who have accepted God's free gift of grace.  If we are Christians/Followers of Christ we should be devoted to good works.

I need to be devoted to good works that help others.  I need to do this because of what Christ did for me on the cross.

As you teach your children, you need to teach them to be kind and to love others and to do nice things for others.  But you need to be very careful to get the order right.  We aren't just to be good people............we are called to be people following God and loving others along the way.  We need to do our good works out of obedience to God and thankfulness for the cross.

God is Unchanging

Sunday we will learn about God's Unchanging Plan.  God created us and knows us.  He created a perfect world but He knew that we would sin.  He had a rescue plan for us from the beginning.  And aren't we grateful!

This week - finish up your word wall.  Bring your homework on Sunday.  Here are some possibilities:

Rescuer
Redeemer
Righteous

Savior
Salvation
Strong
Supreme

Trustworthy
Teacher
Truth

Please join us Sunday.............we only have 2 more weeks in this unit.  Finish your word walls and send me pictures, stories, what you have learned during this unit.  You can email me:
lcarden@clearcreek.org
or comment on this blog.

Thanks for being on this journey with us!

We have made it to P!!

We have almost finished our unit on the Attributes of God.  Just a few more weeks.  I hope your word wall is very full.  Please send me pictures.

Don't forget to do your homework this week.  The letter P - what words did you find?
Perfect
Powerful
Provider
Plan Maker
Pure

Please bring it with you to church on Sunday!  We will be studying Q..........
God is QUICK TO FORGIVE.
I am so thankful He is quick to forgive me.  Do not miss this lesson, and follow up at home.  Always remember to ask your child what he learned at church or why did you do that activity.  Use the lessons we provide on Sunday to jumpstart wonderful conversations around the dinner table all week long.

Keep worshiping God with your word walls ............ send me pictures of yours!

How does the story of Noah show us God?

Have you had a chance to read and discuss the story of Noah with your family?  (Genesis 6-9) This story gives us an awesome opportunity to talk to our kids about God being just.  He is just.  There is punishment for sin.  All of us sin.  Sin Separates us from God because He is Just.  We can try hard not to sin.  We can try to live a better life.  We can even list people that aren't as bad as us............but none of that covers or bridges the chasm of separation between us and our Just and perfect God. 

In the story of Noah - God shows mercy on Noah and his family.  He provides a way to save them.  This is a beautiful picture of the mercy God shows us.  We can't bridge the gap to God but Jesus did that for us on the cross.  He took our sin and punishment so we could be forgiven..........so we could come to God and have a relationship with Him.

God is Just and we see our sin.
God is Merciful and gives us a rescue plan.

Your assignment this week is words that begin with K and L.  Here are a few:

• Kind
• King
• all-Knowing

• Loving
• Large
• Light

I would still love to see your word walls.  Please email me pictures.
lcarden@clearcreek.org

Don't forget to bring your K and L words on Sunday with you.

God is Just

I'm so sorry I haven't blogged this week........I've been under the weather.

But if something has hindered you from thinking about your word wall this week - sickness, busyness, etc.; take heart!  It's not too late.  Gather the family tonight and think about God's goodness.  Last Sunday that is what we studied - GOD IS GOOD.  As you look at God's goodness to you and your family, be reminded of what else you know about God.

Try to find H and I words to describe God.  Here are a few off the top of my head......
God is...
Honest
Holy
Highest
worthy of Honor

Independent
Indivisible
Irrefutable
I am

You can think of many more I'm sure.  As you complete your homework form, think about how you know this about God.  What in the Bible or creation proves that God is that attribute?  Write all this down, put it by the door...........bring it tomorrow to church.  Add it to our word wall so that others can see more about God by reading your discoveries.

Tomorrow we will look at the Justness of God.  Please don't miss this!  Set the alarm now!!!  We look forward to seeing you and your family at one of our services tomorrow!

God is my Deliverer!

We had a great lesson this week in PeeWees and Creek Kids.  Ask your child who the Deliverer was in the story of Daniel - Daniel 6.

On Sunday we will talk about Hannah - 1Samuel 1:1-20.  God is good........  Read this story with your child and name all the ways God was good to Hannah, then how has God been good to your family?

How are you doing with your word wall?  The one at church needs a lot of help!  Please bring in your words and put them on our wall.  We want to have a big one full of things to thank God for.

This week your homework is E and F.  If you are stuck....think about these words:
Eternal
Exceptional
Exciting
Everything

Father
Favorite
Full of.......
Fortress

Be sure to find something in the Bible to support whatever word you write.

See you Sunday!

***I need more stories and pictures - either comment here or send them to:
lcarden@clearcreek.org

Prepare Your Child for Sunday - April 14

Here are some things you can do to prepare your child for Sunday's lesson.

• Complete the "homework" page.  Find a B and a C word that describes God.  Write it on the sheet.  Bring it with you to church Sunday and your child  can post it on the Word Wall.

Here are some B and C words I've thought of.............I can't wait to see yours!
beautiful, creator, cool, big, boss, comforter

• Read the story of Daniel in the Lions Den.  You can find it:
• Daniel 6
• The Gospel Story Bible - p. 150-151
• My First Study Bible  - p. 279-285
• The Jesus Storybook Bible - p. 152-159
• My First Hands On Bible - p. 184-189

Continue working on a family word wall at home.  How many words can you think of to describe God?  Send me a picture to:
lcarden@clearcreek.org

Send comments and stories about this unit to lcarden@clearcreek.org or comment on this blog.  We want this unit to be a starter for your family discussions ........... a way to worship our great God as a family by calling out specific things in praise of God.

Funny Story from Sunday

Funny Story from Sunday.............
As the teacher for a 4 year old class was trying to get the children to think about their homework for this week, she said............. how can we describe God with a B, who can think of a B word?  A little boy in the back said - I know a B word - BUTT.  When the teacher gave him a shocked look, he said - uhh I mean BOTTOM.

Well that's a B word!  And God made our Butts, Bums, and Bottoms - God is our CREATOR.  Hey that's a C word for you.  What B and C words has your family found to describe our great God?  How is the word wall coming at your house?

God is

Prepare your child for Sunday

• Begin your family word wall.  As you study or read about God with your child, list words that describe God.  Thank God for the amazing God He is.
• Read about the 40 days after Christ's Crucifixion
• John 21, Matthew, 28, Luke 24, and Acts 1
• Guess what we will study for A on Sunday.
• Read a Story Bible of your choice - what did Jesus do, say, or go during that time?
• Be on time on Sunday so your child gets the full 1 hour of study.....and so will you.
• Add a comment to this blog - what do you think we will use as our A word on Sunday?  What other words describe God?

What a Wonderful God We have

I am so excited about the new unit we will begin on Sunday Morning - April 7 and Wednesday Night - April 10!  We will learn about some of the attributes of God - there are too many to know them all!  When your child comes to PeeWeeVille or Creek Kids (K-3), we will study 1 attribute, then we will send you home with tools to research with your child 2-3 more attributes of God.  The following week your child will bring in the attributes your family found and post them on our big banners.  Together we will worship God and be amazed at what a wonderful God we worship!  We will do this alphabetically - so April 7 and 10 will be A...........what do you think the attribute will be???

Please don't let your child miss a single week!  Please participate as a family to help build our wall of worship of our great God!  Please partner with us in this to help your child begin to grasp what an amazing God we have!

I will have weekly posts - yes, you can call me on it if I get behind!!  Also it will make sure you guys are reading.  Anyway, I will post weekly about the attribute we studied together and some possible attributes for each of the letters you are assigned for homework.  We will worship through the alphabet as we get a taste of God's wonder.

Here are some ways you may research attributes of God with your child:

• Read through a Story Bible.  As you read each story, discuss what you learned about God in that story.  Here are some we recommend:  The Big Picture Story Bible, The Jesus Story Bible, My First Hands On Bible, My First Study Bible, The Seek and Find ESV Bible.  If your family doesn't have one of these, you may consider purchasing one before April 7.
• Continue doing your normal Family Devotional time, but again look for attributes of God in every lesson you teach your child.
• Look at nature and see how God's wonderful creation shows you something about Him.
• Have your child ask different people in his life what they love about God.  This can give you a lot of attributes of God.
• Continue reading through the book of John as we are in the adult service.  Read the passages together as a family and talk about what they show you about God.

In PeeWeeVille and Creek Kids, we will be going through the alphabet as we name attributes of God.  As you do one of the activities above, keep a running list as a family of attributes.  Put them on a poster next to each letter of the alphabet.  See if you can create your own wall of worship at home. 

We hope that this not only teaches your child about God, but also inspires worship.  Use your family wall of worship as you pray each day - thank God for every attribute you see and remember.  Worship God as a family over the next 8 weeks!

Jesus perfects us

 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23 ESV)

The Fruit of the Spirit

 

 

We started studying the Fruit of the Spirit this month in PeeWeeVille and in Creek Kids/K-3rd.  I love this unit because we will look at each of these attributes or fruit that should be seen in our lives.  I love it because we will see how perfect Jesus is at each one - we will also talk about when we aren't perfect at each.

 

 

 

Epic Fail

 

 

Our 4th and 5th Graders began a unit on failures this month.  I love that unit too, because we look at how none of us measure up.  We all have failures in our lives.

 

 

 

I bet you are wondering why I love these units about our failures...............

 

It's because they remind us of Jesus' perfection.  They remind us of God's love for us in the midst of our failures.  They remind us that we can't earn our salvation - we aren't capable - we are sinners to the core..................but we have a savior in Jesus Christ.  He paid the penalty of our sin - He bore our sin and disgrace.....our failures.  He loved us that much.

 

 

These are the lessons your child is going through with us in PeeWeeVille and Creek Kids.  Use us as a tool this month as you disciple your child and teach them the beautiful Gospel of Jesus.

 

 

Let me know how we can help you further because we want to partner with you each week.