Tuesday with Tiff: The Power of Purpose

"And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God’s message without fear."

~Philippians 1:12-14

 

Paul might have been forgive had he chosen to take a little sabbatical as he sat in prison, awaiting his trial. Yet he used even this opportunity to advance the gospel. Paul was a leader who never drifted from his mission. He determined to leave his mark wherever he went.

 

How did Paul's sense of purpose keep him in the battle as he sat in prison?

What did he learn behind bars? Consider the following:

 

A purpose will motivate you.

A purpose will keep your priorities straight.

A purpose will develop your potential.

A purpose will give you power to live in the present.

A purpose will held you evaluate your progress.

 

When has your sense of purpose sustained you? How can it help you now?



See where we're going in 2014!!!

The Greenhouse is a safe and fun place for kids to discover God! Check out what they will be discovering in 2014! So exciting!!!  

 

 

 

2014 GH Series

January 4 weeks “Choosing God’s Way”

February 4 weeks (Valentine’s Day Feb 14) “True Love” (website)

March 5 weeks “God’s Love through Jesus”

April 4 weeks (Easter 20^th) Easter “Jesus Loves You”

May 4 weeks (Mother’s Day 11^th) (Memorial Day 26^th) “Trust God”

June 5 weeks (Father’s Day 15^th) “Crowns”

July 4 weeks (4^th of July) “Best of the Bible”

August 5 weeks  “Best of the Bible”

September 4 weeks (Labor Day 1^st) “God of the Underdogs”

October 4 weeks (Halloween 31^st) ???

November 5 weeks (Veteran’s Day 11^th) (Thanksgiving 27^th) “Miracles of Jesus” (website)

December 4 weeks (Christmas Eve 24^th) (Christmas Day 25^th) (New Years Eve 31^st) “Birth of Jesus” ‘Jesus is the Reason for the Season’ (website)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

January: Choosing God’s Way

Memory Verse: Your word is a lamp to guide my feet
    and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

Week 1: Love God Most of All: Adam and Eve Genesis 3 Develop an action plan that helps them obey God   TIL: ‘God wants me to obey Him out of love’ Memory Verse John 14:5

Week 2: Choose Good Friends: Jonathan 1 Sam. 16:14-18:16, 20, 23:15-18 How will they be a good and faithful friend  TIL: ‘God wants me to choose good friends who help me love God’ Memory Verse John 15:12

Week 3: Be Kind and Forgiving: David Spares Saul 1 Sam. 24, 26 Plan to do something nice for someone who has been unkind to them   TIL:‘God wants me to be kind and forgiving to everyone.’ Memory Verse Ephesians 4:32

Week 4: Stand for God: Elijah on Camel 1 Kings 18 How to stand for God even against peer pressure   TIL: ‘God wants me to stand for Him no matter what others do’ Memory Verse Deut. 31:6

February: True Love: (TIL is the title of each week) (website)

Lesson 1 - Love is Patient

In this first lesson, children will discover that godly love means we can wait patiently until His blessings are revealed to us.

Lesson 2 - Love is Kind

In this lesson, children will discover how genuine love that comes from God means we will show kindness to all people, even our enemies.

Lesson 3 - Love is Forgiving

In this lesson, the children will learn how to choose love and forgiveness over getting even, through the Old Testament Bible story of Joseph.

Lesson 4 - Love is Everlasting

In this lesson, the children will learn that true love, the kind that comes from God will last forever, no matter what may come.

March: God’s Love Through Jesus 

Week 1: Bible Story God Gives Us Jesus—Matthew 1:18-25; 3; 4:23-25; Luke 1:11-60; 2: 1- 20
TIL: God’s love is shown in Jesus.  Bible Verse “This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” –1 John 4:9

Week 2: Bible Story
Jesus Helps a Young Girl and a Sick Woman—Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56  TIL: God’s love is kind and patient. Bible Verse “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.” –1 Corinthians 13:4

Week 3: Bible Story Jesus Cares for a Samaritan Woman  John 4:1-42 TIL: God’s love is for everyone. Bible Verse
“[Love] is not rude, it is not self-seeking” –1 Corinthians 13:5

Week 4: Bible Story Jesus Forgives Zacchaeus Luke 19:1-10 TIL: God’s love is forgiving. Bible Verse “[Love] is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.” –1 Corinthians 13:5-6

Week 5: Bible Story Jesus Lives Forever Mark 14:27—16:20; Luke 22:47—24:53; John 21:15-17 TIL: God’s love never fails. Bible Verse “[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” –1 Corinthians 13:7-8

April: “Jesus Loves You” (TIL is the title of each message)

1. Even when you’re left out…Jesus Loves You! Luke 17:11-19 Jesus heals 10 lepers

2. Even though you’re different… Jesus Loves You! John 4:1-30 Jesus reaches out to a Samaritan Woman

3. Even though you do wrong… Jesus Loves You! Luke 22:47- 24:12 Jesus dies and comes back to life

4. Even when you don’t understand… Jesus Loves You! John 13:1-17 Jesus Washes the disciples’ feet

May: Trust God (TIL is title of each message) 

Week 1: Bible Point: God is with us, so...trust God! Bible Story: The Israelites cross the Red Sea. (Exodus 14:1–15:21) Key Verse: "God answered, 'I will be with you.' " (Exodus 3:12)

Week 2: Bible Point: God gives us what we need, so...trust God! Bible Story: God provides manna and quail. (Exodus 16) Key Verse: "For your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" (Matthew 6:8)

Week 3: Bible Point: God gives us strength, so...trust God! Bible Story: Israel defeats the Amalekites.  (Exodus 17:8-16) Key Verse: "For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." (Philippians 4:13)

Week 4: Bible Point: God guides us, so...trust God! Bible Story: God gives the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20) Key Verse: "I will bless the Lord who guides me." (Psalm 16:7)

June: “Crowns” (TIL: I can get a –title of each message)

Memory Verse “Those who look to Him are radiant” psalm 34:5

1. Crown of Victory 1 Cor 9:25 Given to those who work hard for God, not themselves.

2. Crown of Life James 1:12 Given to those who trust God during difficult times of trial.

3. Crown of Rejoicing 1 Thess 2:19 Given to those who tell others about Jesus.

4. Crown of Glory 1 Peter 5:4 Given to those who are humble servant leaders.

5. Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim 4:8 Given to those who are actively preparing for Jesus’ return.

July and August: Best of the Bible (TIL about –then title of message)

Week 1: Noahs Ark

Week 2: Birth of Moses and Moses Parts Red Sea

Week 3: Sacrifice of Isaac

Week 4: Burning Bush

Week 5: Battle of Jericho

Week 6: David and Goliath

Week 7: Shad, Mesh, Abed

Week 8: Daniel and Lions Den

Week 9: Jonah and Whale

September: God of the Underdogs:

1) What is an underdog?, 2) Gideon, 3) David, 4) Paul

TIL: God created me on purpose, for a purpose!

October: ???

November: Miracles of Jesus: (check website) (TIL:Jesus did great things and I can do!)

Week  1 - Water Into Wine In this lesson, children learn that the Lord cares about all of our needs, however seemingly insignificant, when He turns the ordinary into the exceptional for His glory.
Week  2 - The Great Catch Through this lesson children learn that we can accomplish so much more in life when we include God in everything we do. The Holy Spirit, prayer, and Bible reading empower both our physical and spiritual lives.
Week  3 - Jesus Heals a Paralytic Through this lesson, children learn that Jesus is more concerned with our spiritual condition than He is with our physical well being.
Week 4 - Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Through this lesson, children learn that Jesus is able and willing to supply both our physical and spiritual needs. We need to be careful not to waste the blessings the Lord provides and utilize these gifts to the best of our abilities.
Week 5 - Jesus Walks on Water Through this lesson, children will learn that there will be times in life when our faith is tested. Life will not always be easy, and we will need to let our faith in God help keep us afloat during the difficult times in our lives.

 

December: Birth of Christ ‘Jesus is the Reason for the Season’: (Website) (TIL: Jesus is the Reason for the Season!)  

Week 1 - Gabriel Visits Mary After completing this Christmas lesson, children will learn that God has great things in store for all of us as we live lives that are pleasing to Him.
Week 2 - Joseph's Dream This Christmas lesson will teach the children the importance of living a righteous life and how we must always allow God to lead us through the difficult times we will encounter.

Week  3 - Journey to Bethlehem This Christmas lesson will teach the children that although many things have changed throughout the ages one thing has not changed during all of this time. The good news that Jesus came into this world because God loves us.
Week 4 - Visit of the Magi This Christmas lesson teaches children that it is natural and expected to worship Jesus. Wise men and women throughout the ages have made Jesus their Lord and Savior.

Tuesday with Tiff: 20 Ways to Make Kids Laugh at Church

I love hearing kids laugh.  There's nothing more precious than the laughter of a child...especially at church.  Over the years, I've found ways to get kids laughing.  Here's 20...

1. Tell a joke. (they love knock-knock jokes) (Here's my newest one from a laffy taffy candy: what teeth can you buy for a dollar? BUCK TEETH!)

2. Ask their name and then start saying it back to them wrong. (example - if it's Jake, say, "Nice to meet you Justin") The more times they correct you, the more they'll get tickled.

3. Get something dumped on you like water, slime, pudding, etc.

4. Fake a fall, trip, run into something, etc.

5. Sing a funny song.

6. Talk in a funny voice.

7. Whoopee cushion app on your phone. (make sure it's the app...not you)

8. Sing way off key. (that's easy for me)

9. Wear a crazy costume.

10. Make a funny face.

11. Have a burping contest.

12. Guess their age outrageously high. (example - if they're 6, ask them if they're 60, then keep saying it back to them wrong as they correct you - 36? 16?)

13. Show a picture or video of an animal doing something funny.

14. Boogers and snot. (they love to laugh at gross stuff)

15. Say a word or state a fact wrong and let them correct you.  Say it wrong several times before you finally "get" it.  (examples - everyone sit down in your "bears" instead of "chairs",  Noah built a motorcycle to put all the animals in)

16. Have someone pull a prank on you in front of the kids.

17. Impersonate an animal or well-known person.  The worse you do, the better.

18. Tell them something really funny that happened to you.

19. Put a big mark or smudge on your face ahead of time and when they start pointing at it, act like you don't know it's there.

20. Laugh uncontrollably.  It's contagious.

If kids laughed more at church, maybe they wouldn't grow up to say it was boring and they were "made" to go.  You don't have to "make" someone go where they enjoy being.

We tell kids to sit still and be quiet and then wander why they grow up and are sitting still and being quiet...if they even come at all.

Your turn.  How do you make kids laugh at church?  Share in the comment section below.

Tuesday with Tiff: Guess who I'm thankful for!!!???

It's true... when I think about who I'm thankful for...

 

 

Because of your faithfulness and willingness to serve with excellence...

 

 

Because you know what it means to host families into our home and provide a safe and fun place for kiddos to discover God, I'm SO...

 

 

And I couldn't do this without you... no warm bodies will do.. you were created on purpose for a purpose and God called you to this role so remember...

 

 

When I think about all of the ways you have blessed me.. I'm so...

 

 

And when you get spit up on, bit, a booger wiped on you.. please know...

 

 

And when you get blessing after blessing poured out on you because you know a child trusts and loves you... know that I'm so eternally..

 

And for all those times you come early, stay late, fill in, or serve more than once.. your time is so precious and important to me and I am so very..

 

 

And for all of those crafts, games, stories, and questions with answers gone wrong, know that

 

 

For those times you didn't get any sleep and you may not feel the greatest but you know that your role is so important.. that some child may not be or feel loved that day if you didn't serve..

 

 

For those times you worship and get all crazy or sweet and sentimental with the kids, know that they are watching you.. they are looking for Jesus in you.. and for that, I'm..

 

 

For those times kids come running in knowing a memory verse (which hides Gods word in their heart), or a child cries because they don't want to leave, or a child is crying when they arrive but then with your care they realize that they are ok...

 

 

For those times, you feel like what you're doing couldn't possibly be making any difference, but you serve anyway..

 

 

And for those days that you allow God to do an amazing work in and through you and you don't miss any opportunities to make a difference... know that

 

 

So I hope you get the idea that....

Tuesday with Tiff: All for ONE MORE



• A child who has never been to church before was experiencing Jesus in our K-4 worship and couldn't wait to jump in and participate and learn what it means to give God your all.
• A child who runs up to their parent after class is over and says, "We HAVE to come back here!"
• Kids who ask if there will be any free time because they want to read Bibles together.
• Families who will contact me after a service saying, "I just wanted to let you know that we have been a part of many churches and we've never been to a church that had a secure check in with a team of people who authentically looked excited that we were there."
• Little boys in the toddler class that sometimes can't focus.. until a male leader comes in, worships with them, prays with them, plays with them, and reads with Word of God to them. Then they're all ears and can't wait to participate.
• Kids who can't wait to come back to church.. not because of the fun worship, or the games, or the cool Bible message.. but because they can't wait to see their leader who pours into them each and every week.
• And then those same kids who invite friend after friend, just so they can meet that leader.
• A child who says, "My other church was so lame and boring but here we actually learn about God and it's fun and we worship! Did you see me raising my hands?"
• A parent who finally gets up the courage to leave their infant with us for the first time and comes back to see that the baby has been well taken care of and loved on.
• Babies you have seen grow through the worship set---starting young just by holding the "world" ball as they sing He's Got the Whole World in His hands but in just a few months, they are now waving the ball in the air with smiles.
• 99% of the time ALWAYS having atleast ONE person give their life over to Christ.
• A 4th grader who fills out a prayer card at the end of small group time asking for prayer for their friend who's dad just committed suicide and wants prayer for that friend to know that God loves them.
• An overflow of kids asking if they can be jr. worship leaders because they want to be good examples of what it means to live for God and give Him their all in worship.
• Leaders who BEG to serve more than once because they see the life change happening in the kids they get to serve with.
• A new preschooler is sitting in small group time and the leader is asking about what God gave us to show his love to us and the other children say "Jesus" and the leader says, "that's right, God sent Jesus to die for you and me." The new preschooler looks confused so the leader asks them if they have ever heard that before. "No." The first opportunity this child had to hear about Jesus coming to live and die for them.
• A new family comes to church and sits in the back row: Mom, Dad, and 3 young kids about the ages of 2-5. During adult worship, the kids see Freedom family raising their hands and closing their eyes as a they sing. The oldest child looks over at the 2 younger siblings and they raise their hands so he raises his. He looks over at mom and dad who aren't. He stands up on his chair next to mom and grabs her hands and puts them up in the air. He then goes over to dad and raises his hands and then the boy goes back to stand on his seat with his hands raised. A new family of 5 getting in the posture to surrender it all to God.

These are just a few "Wins" that keep our perspective of "ONE MORE."

It's all to reach one more... to make a difference.. to make someone's day and be Jesus to them.. to show others love and gain their trust.. to see them live for God.. to see them turn their life over to Him.

Know that what you're doing is making a difference... WHAT YOU DO MATTERS. Lives are being changed because of your faithfulness.

-Honored to serve alongside you,
-Pastor Tiffany

ALL GH TEAM CHRISTMAS PARTY DEC 19th!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

6:30pm until 8:00pm

Let's come together to celebrate all God has done this year by having a white elephant gift exchange and cookie/dessert exchange! BUT THATS NOT ALL! An award will be presented for UGLIEST CHRISTMAS SWEATER! So come decked out! Cookie/dessert exchange rules: bring 3-4 dozen cookies so each person can take 2-3 samples of your goody home with them. Bring 30 copies of the recipe. Bring a container for you to take home all your samples. ... White Elephant Gift Exchange: bring a new wrapped item to be exchanged that is valued at $10 (no gift cards). Please do not mark this item that you brought it so it's anonymous. Rules for stealing of items will be explained that evening. (You can choose not to participate in this and that's totally fine! Everyone who brings a gift will also receive a gift!) This will be a really fun evening for us to just hang out and end the year well and united and get ready to launch a new year! Light snacks and drinks will be provided! AND--Your spouses and kids are invited to join! **Kids can also be a part of their own gift exchange if you want them to participate! So have them bring an item valued at only $5 that is new and wrapped to be exchanged. ***Spouses are welcome to jump in on the gift exchange fun by participating in bringing and then receiving a gift as well!

4 Weeks into Freedom's New Journey

As we are now 4 weeks into this amazing journey we have embarked on to reach ONE MORE, I just want to say...

I SERVE WITH ROCKSTARS!

Thank you so much for all of your commitment to serving above and beyond to love on these kids and make sure we have a place for them! But even more than that, Thank you for your JOY that you have about serving... you are all so selfless and it means so much!

Since we have a few weeks under our belt, we will be able to adjust the number of team members serving in each area, especially on Saturdays, until our numbers start picking up more. So those of you who are serving more than once, some of you 3 times, never fear! I will NOT allow you to become burnt out.

I know you all have such gracious hearts and love to serve, and I'm so blessed by that, but as promised, by Jan 1, everyone will only be serving once, UNLESS you WANT to serve twice. I care way too much about you to see your bright lights go dim :) These kids need you.. the best you.

So again, thank you all for serving with excellence and making the kick off of our "Night Shift" services GREAT for these kiddos we get the honor of serving!

-In this together,
Pastor Tiffany