Candy Appreciation Labels (Free Printables!)

[vc_row][vc_column 0=""][vc_btn title="Click Here to Get Your Candy Appreciation Labels!" color="sky" align="center" link="url:https%3A%2F%2Fdeeperkidmin.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2017%2F10%2FCandy-Appreciation-Labels.pdf|target:_blank"][vc_column_text]Any candy that doesn't get passed out on Halloween or at the Fall Fest comes home to live with me (and it doesn't last very long). So this year, I decided to find a new home for all that leftover candy, and my waistline will thank me for it. You can get all that sugary goodness out of your house too AND let your volunteers know how much you appreciate them at the same time. Talk about a win-win! Use these free printable labels for 12 different candy bars to remind your volunteers how awesome they are using fun size or mini-size candy. Even if you don't have much candy left over...

The Paradox of New

[vc_row][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text]There’s been a lot of NEW in my life lately. New job, new personal business, new class in seminary, new boots for the fall season. And honestly, sometimes the new can be absolutely terrifying (except for my boots – they’re super cute). New brings you to the edge of the unknown and just shoves you right in the deep end. It requires quick adaptability and a high level of emotional energy to handle all the situations coming your way that you’ve never experienced before. I’m having to learn about website coding and SEO’s, and the world of digital marketing is a whole realm of unknown that often leaves me cross-eyed. New also means letting go of something so you can grab onto what God has for you next. But letting go is hard. Part of me is still grieving what I had to leave behind to step into this...

16 Delegation Tips from Disney

[vc_row][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text]Raise your hand if you struggle with delegating? (*both hands raised over here*). We come up with a million reasons NOT to delegate... It’s just easier if I do it myself. It will get done faster if I just do it myself. I want to make sure it’s done right. I just don’t know who to ask. I don’t want to inconvenience anybody else; after all, isn’t this part of my job? But handing over smaller tasks (and even some bigger ones) to your team can free up your mental energy and your schedule to dream big for your ministry, and we shouldn't do ministry alone. Here are 16 tips from Disney that can help you be a better delegator.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text] 1. Make a list of what others could be doing and let them do it! You focus on the bare...

6 Ways to Make Scripture Memory Fun!

  Scripture memory can be a daunting goal to accomplish, even as adults, but the importance of hiding God’s Word in our hearts is undeniably valuable. Check out some of the ideas below for making memorizing Scripture fun (and therefore easier) for you and your kids. We’ve used several in our ministry context, and they are easy to apply at home or in your ministry too! 1) Make it a game! There are SO MANY ways to make memorizing scripture a game, and the more fun your kids are having, the more they’ll want to memorize! Click on the image below to download a copy of my favorite Scripture Memory Games. 2) Sing it Out! – Make up your own song, chant, cheer, or rap using the words in the verse. You could also check out several resources that are readily available for you and your family. JumpStart3 and Seeds Family Worship both...

In the Middle of the Mess (Lit Lowdown)

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_single_image image="2970" img_size="medium" onclick="custom_link" link="https://amzn.to/2SbW0zA"][/vc_column][vc_column width="1/2"][vc_column_text 0=""] In the Middle of the Mess: Strength for this Beautiful, Broken Life By Sheila Walsh My rating: 3/5 stars - It was OK.     Read: October 2017[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text 0=""]This book is for you if... you are a believer struggling to see how your mess fits into your faith, you or someone you know struggles with mental illness or depression, or you want to read one woman’s story of defeating the darkness with God’s light. My thoughts: Honestly, it’s hard to give 3 stars to a book that is someone vulnerably sharing their heart-wrenching story of darkness and redemption; it...

7 Psalms to Encourage A Child

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column][vc_column_text 0=""]In a recent post about blessing your child, we mentioned that reading Scripture to them and over them can be an easy first step. Using Scripture to encourage your child is also a great way to instill the importance of God's Word and teach them a reliance on God. We studied through the book of Psalms in our small group last year, diving into a variety of themes and circumstances the different psalmists deal with.  One of my favorite things about the Psalms is the examples they give us about how to deal with different emotions and how to talk to God about how we are feeling. While these Psalms can be a great source of encouragement for you as an adult, sharing the Psalms with your kids can be a great way to help them understand that it's OK to be angry, sad, frustrated, lonely, mournful, etc. and how to...

3 Easy Steps to Speak Blessings Over Your Child

[vc_row 0=""][vc_column 0=""][vc_column_text 0=""]Last year I attended a class at my church that focused on how to walk in the freedom Christ has given us through taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. One of the topics we hit on was the importance of speaking blessings and truth over ourselves, using Scripture as a way to remind ourselves of our identity, worth, and purpose. For parents, this habit extends to your children too. Speaking a blessing over your child allows them to understand their worth and begin to walk in the identity Christ has for them. Blessings give children the opportunity to hear affirmation from their parents while connecting that earthly need for acceptance and love with a spiritual level of acceptance and love. Sound intimidating or just plain awkward? It doesn't have to be! Speaking a blessing can be...

Levels of Biblical Learning

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]LifeWay has created an awesome resource that we used at our volunteer training, to help shape our VBS curriculum, and more! The Levels of Biblical Learning cover 10 concept areas that children can conceptually learn and understand at each stage of their lives as they study God’s Word. These LOBL helped shape our VBS curriculum this year and they guide the curriculum we use on Sunday mornings to ensure that each age group interacts with God’s Word and ideas about faith at an age-appropriate level. It’s a great reminder that even your sweet infant can start to understand things about God, and your 2nd grader who asks all the questions is really just trying to make connections to his own life! Check out an overview of the LOBL here, and click on your child’s age group below for a full list of what our...

Resource Highlight: The Aetherlight

[vc_row][vc_column 0=""][vc_video link="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Y8A65im5D0"][vc_column_text]Join the Resistance and get your kids hooked on a game you'll actually want them to play! I learned about this resource last year at a Children's Pastor's Conference, but it has stepped up its game (no pun intended) since then and is ready for your kids to explore! The Aetherlight: Chronicles of the Resistance is an online computer game (also available for ipads I believe) that encourages kids to join the Resistance and fight the Fog that has taken over Aethasia, creating an allegory for the story of the Bible. The world of Aethasia is a mysterious steampunk land, once ruled by a benevolent Great Engineer, but now ruled by the evil emperor Lucky and his army of mechanical automatons. As a player in this world, your child is part of a Resistance...