God’s Plans For You Are Better Than Your’s

I was not called into Children’s Ministry, I was drafted. I was helping with the Youth at my church one Sunday (Because that’s what X-hippies did when they got saved in the 70’s) when my Pastor came to me and told me to grab my Bible, bring my guitar and go to children’s church. The lady who had been teaching the kids just didn’t show up. In fact she never came back. When I got to the classroom I looked the classroom over and thought how hard is it going to be to teach 7 kids? I’ll be honest with you, it was one of the hardest things I ever did. In fact that hour and a half seemed like a month. I remember singing some songs, telling a story and doing an altar call and then looked at my watch and saw I had done everything I knew to do and only 15 minutes had gone by. Man it was a long day. I’ll never forget what I did the minute the last child was picked up, I went and found my Pastor. I asked him the question I wanted an answer to more than any other question, “How long am I going to have to do this?” His answer was simple: “I’d like you to do this until God raises up someone with a vision.”

I began to pray. “God, give someone a vision for the children of this church. Open their eyes Lord and show someone your desire for children to know you.” After a few weeks of praying that prayer and working with those 7 kids I knew I was the somebody, He was raising up to work with those kids. Those original 12 year olds are turning 49 this year. I keep in touch with a bunch of them on Facebook. I am so glad I said yes to the opportunity my Pastor gave me but more than that I’m glad I said yes to the vision Jesus had for me!

I served a wonderful pastor for years who used to say… “I don’t have a great vision, a great vision has me!” What does God have in store for you this new year? Is there a vision he has placed on your heart that you need to say yes to? I am so glad I said yes to that vision.  I’m also thankful that Jesus didn’t show me everything He had in store for me. If I had know when I was struggling with 7 that one day I’d have the privelidge to minister to 7000 kids It would have been to big to handle. I want you to see something. Each yes to God leads you for what He has planned for you down the road. Each yes is important.  What do you need to say yes to in 2014?  God wants to give you His vision or plan for your life, for His church, and His kids. He wants to help you partner with parents in a new way. There are wonderful things ahead for you, things that are greater than you can imagine but it all starts with one little word you need to say about what He is saying to you. YES.

I’m praying for you that you’ll say yes to all of Jesus’ invitations to think bigger and to dream higher than you ever have before. If I can help you in 2014 please let me know.