Heartprints

The Importance of Touch, Part 2
 
How best to bring about a happy infant? I encourage churches to promote holding and cuddling of infants. Babies have historically been held close by their parents for millennia; this allows the infant to observe what his parents are doing and assures him that he is safe. A stroller, a bouncer seat, and all other infant paraphernalia do not bring the same reassurance, though they may temporarily quiet down an infant. .
 
Why do babies want to be held and comforted so frequently? Young babies do not realize that they are a separate individual from their caregiver. They are convinced Baby and Caregiver make one person.
 
Babies want to be in community with us. They want to be involved in the activity of the day. They want to be talked to and held. They want you to make silly faces and use silly voices to entertain them.
 
To an infant, touch is the physical equivalent of saying “I love you”. Babies do no better in isolation than do children, teenagers or grownups.

 
I am such a sucker for claiming my free welcome packets from churches. Yet, I honestly couldn’t tell you why I get so excited about them. I don’t really like getting gimmicky coupons for the church’s own coffee shop, and I am skeptical of eating any homemade baked goods. One time I got a large Hershey’s chocolate bar, but oddly enough I don’t really like chocolate that much.

Ok, I just had to share a couple of cool stories that I’ve experienced lately in my Children’s ministry that deserve mentioning.  One of which was a pretty cool moment and then one that was well…less than cool.  They both happened a week from each other and I think they represent the highs and lows of children’s ministry pretty well. 

How can we encourage children to seek wisdom? Wisdom is vital for children to have in order to fulfill God’s plan for their life…especially in today’s world. But only God can give true wisdom and help a child apply it to daily life. Thus, we want to encourage children to maximize God’s truth by helping them understand biblical wisdom.

This is a small list of reasons why I believe kids more easily accept the Gospel and why adults don’t:

 
One of my favorite songs is called Shine by Newsboys. The song goes through a series of “about-face” changes that can happen when you “Shine before all men and glorify the Lord.” The line that catches me most says, “The truth is in the proof is when you hear your heart start asking what’s my motivation?”
 
What IS my motivation? Why am I in the ministry I am in? Why am I scheduling this outreach or using this curriculum? What’s my motivation?

It is a common misconception that God can be kept out of certain institutions or establishments. The superstition is an ancient one---that a deity is only present if its symbols are present. To the mind of ancient man, it was devastating to have his god’s temple or sacred shrine ransacked or pillaged, or to have public statues or memorials to the god devastated, because the removal of these lessened the power and authority of the god.
 
But is that the God we serve and worship?

Ok so I know this doesn't apply of any of you but just in case you know anyone that has struggles in their marriage, you might share this blog with them and just let them know that this was written by a guy who is imperfect, doesn't have a Doctorate in Marriage & Family counseling and is really pretty goofy overall...but really loves his wife and is blessed with an extremely awesome

One of the best aspects of working with children is taking the time to play games with them. Some games are traditional, like hide-and-seek, tag, or hopscotch. Other games are made up on the spot (and some have more enduring popularity with others). Some of my games have been flops, lasting only a short while, and mentally discarded; some have been very successful, and are oft requested.  
 
One of the games which I regularly use with older children is termed “Romans vs. Christians”. It is educational only in the sense that it cements the idea that one should avoid a first century Roman centurion if one wishes to avoid a Roman prison. (Now that is a helpful and relevant life lesson for most American schoolchildren!)