True Wisdom in Discipline.

Pastor Marv was speaking in chapel this morning from James 3.  He spoke about wisdom that comes from God, not the world, and it hit me.  We need wisdom in discipline all the time.  As parents, as volunteers, even as a spouse or friend.

The world may say that to have discipline in the classroom, you must be strict.  You must be just.  But true wisdom comes from God.  And in James 3:17, it says, "But the wisdom from above is first of all pure.  It is peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others.  It is full of mercy and good deeds.  It shows no favoritism and is always sincere."

When we discipline with wisdom from God, we're not thinking about ourselves!  So, here's what I'm taking from this:

1. We need to be PUREly thinking about the child being disciplined.  What they need.  What they are going through. 
2. We are ultimately striving for PEACE in the classroom.  Not submission.  Not order.  Not just obedience, but peace!  
3. We are to be gentle at all times.  Our tongues get us into trouble, constantly! If we let out what we're really feeling, sometimes we lose favor with that child, forever!  Be GENTLE when you speak, and in how you act.
4. We need to be WILLING TO YIELD.  Don't just to conclusions.  Don't assume you know everything that happened while your back was turned toward the chalk board.  Ask questions, and be willing to yield, even to the kids.  Know that you're not always right!
5. We are to be full of MERCY! Would you like to be treated with justice in every single thing you do?? NO!  God gives us mercy constantly!  Treat your kids with mercy and look for ways to bless them with GOOD DEEDS.  They will repay you with mercy and good deeds when it counts!  On that day when your kids kept you up all night, you missed your coffee fix because you had to rush out the door, you're not prepared with your lesson plan, and you have a full day ahead of you...they will give you grace and mercy and good deeds back.
6. Show NO FAVORITISM.  Favoritism breeds discontent.  Treat all the kids with love and grace, not just the quiet, perfectly behaved, little cutie-pie in her Sunday best.  
7. Always be SINCERE.  Kids can smell a lie, or flattery, or an insincere threat (!!) a mile away.  Be sincere in discipline, in love, and in kindness.

I would encourage you to ask God for wisdom!!! In the classroom, as parents, in our relationships, workplaces, every where!! God wants to give you his wisdom! Just ask!!  The most important thing to remember about this is, you can't come up with this stuff on your own.  True wisdom comes from God.  You can't always be peaceful, gentle, merciful, etc, on your own!  Go to God to change you from the inside out!

Volunteer Covenant Training

Hey Kids Staff!

I'm trying out a new approach to training!  If you have not sat through the Kids Training in 2012, please click the link below and have a listen!

Volunteer Covenant Training

Kids Ministry isn't baby sitting. It's not child care. It's not day care! It's unlike any other interaction with children that you may have had in the past. For one very specific reason. JESUS.

We teach about Jesus! We GET to teach about Jesus! PLEASE DON'T COME TO VOLUNTEER IN FREEDOM VALLEY KIDS MINISTRY WITHOUT TEACHING JESUS IN SOME WAY OR FORM! There's too much opportunity to miss!! Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and don't stop them! For the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these!" (Matthew 19:14) If we allow children to come to CHURCH, and not meet with Jesus, in my view, we're stopping them. Which would be a direct violation of what Jesus taught. 

Yes, that goes for babies. Yes, that goes for toddlers. THEY CAN BE TAUGHT! Paul wrote to Timothy "from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures." (2 Timothy 3:15). 

Our babies and toddlers need people passionate about teaching them who Jesus is. Will you?








If you'd like more encouragement on this subject, check out this article: http://www.childrensministry.com/articles/tips-for-baby-spiritual-growth