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3 Steps To A Spectacular Kid’s Ministry Group That Matters

Reading Time: 3 min 3 sec

I dropped my head in my hands and sighed. A sense of dissatisfaction eked into my soul. I must be missing something. Why is it that every Monday starts with such a promise? I have these great intentions of working ahead, dreaming, evaluating, or even time spent recruiting.

Instead, my week seems to fly by in an endless cycle of crisis management. I feel like I am constantly behind as I run to fill volunteer slots, send out newsletters, attend staff meetings, and prep for upcoming events.

I want to build a Kids ministry that is more than checking a box. I want to create a ministry where kids’ lives are transformed. If only I could stop the relentless clock of Sunday morning long enough to figure out how to get there. This isn’t what I signed up for…

Today, we will talk about three steps to building a spectacular ministry group that actually matters.

Point #1- Pro-Active Vs. Reactive

Point #2- Wonder

Point #3- Seek Wisdom

1. Point #1-Pro-Active vs. Reactive

A quick stop at your local bookstore will overwhelm you with the endless variety of leadership styles available. We could easily dive down the leadership rabbit hole, never to return. We want to focus on briefly addressing a reactive and proactive style of ministry.

A reactive leader spends their days running around putting out fires. They are great at problem-solving. And though they passionately care about their ministry, they can live in the moment and never take the time for big-picture planning. This leadership style, left unchecked, can be stressful, and exhausting, and can quickly lead to burnout.

A proactive leader on the other hand can see the big picture. They are gifted at making sure they meet their long-term goals. They can get so caught up in planning for the future that they can struggle to address daily issues promptly.

I am here to advocate that as leaders, we need to develop both our proactive and reactive skill sets. Have you ever heard the phrase, “What gets talked about gets done?” My variation on that is, “What gets scheduled gets done.” We need to block out and protect time in our weekly schedules to focus on our long-term goals, otherwise daily tasks will dictate our ministries.

At the same time, we need to develop healthy flexibility, understanding that the needs of our pastoral role do not always match a pre-planned schedule. A healthy ministry can’t run on autopilot. Like anything else, it needs regular evaluation and maintenance.

Next Steps- Are you a reactive or proactive leader? If you have not already, block out time on your schedule to focus on evaluation and long-term planning. Set up safeguards to protect that time on your schedule (i.e. set a reminder on your phone, turn your phone to silent, and treat it as a standing meeting on your schedule). Check out Trello. It is a free, visual time management software that has been very helpful in my own ministry setting.

2. Point #2- Wonder

You have blocked out your schedule…now what? These last two steps are not in any sequential order. I would encourage you to write down your vision or goal for your kid’s ministry. Start with this exercise if you are struggling to articulate a vision for your ministry.

What are the characteristics of a child that has just graduated from your ministry? What do you want them to have experienced, learned, and developed while in your kid’s ministry group? What tools do you want them equipped with?

Imagine one of your families has just graduated their last child from kid’s ministry. What would you have wanted them to have experienced, learned, and developed as a family in your church? Duplicate this process with your volunteer team as well.

Don’t rush through this process. Give yourself time to research, to learn how kids connect best with Jesus. Don’t forget to incorporate your church’s vision and purpose in your overall plan for kid’s ministry. You want to confirm that your vision for the kid’s ministry is in step with the overall vision of the church. The last thing you want to do is to create a silo ministry that is not working in tandem with the rest of the church. The vision for your ministry is the foundation upon which everything else is built. This can sound overwhelming, but as the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day.”

Next Steps: Check out organizations like the Children’s Spirituality Summit for the latest research on the Christian spiritual development of kids. They offer a conference every year where pastors and educators encourage, brainstorm, and learn together. They also publish all of the keynote topics from the conference in a book which you can find on Amazon. I buy it every year it’s that helpful.

3.Point #3-Seek Wisdom

Even the best vision cannot happen in isolation. We need to take the time to hear from God. It can be challenging to hear from him on a deadline. I would encourage you to utilize several days of your blocked-out time to create space to be with Jesus. Take a prayer retreat or a walk to a park.

If you don’t do this regularly, here are some helpful tips to get you started.

Silence your cell phone (or leave it at home). Go for a walk, sit at a park, or in a quiet place. Nature is one of the primary ways where people meet with God.

Spend a period in silence, practicing listening for his voice. Present your heart to God. Sit with him and ask him for his timing, direction, and wisdom. Take your time, and don’t rush this experience.

Talk with your uplink or boss and express your vision for ministry. Ask for their input and wisdom. What do they see that you don’t see? Spend time in prayer, asking God for his wisdom and grace. Discuss the best time and way to implement the new vision. People have a hard time overall with change. So give yourself and others grace as you move slowly, faithfully implementing God’s vision for your kid’s ministry.

Putting in the work by scheduling time, envisioning a better ministry and seeking out wisdom takes effort but it will provide a framework for a transformational ministry. My prayer for you is that your children’s ministry will thrive and you will witness your kids connecting with Jesus in powerful ways each week.

If you want to know how to get started in transforming your Kid’s Ministry: grab our 8 Primary Ways Kid’s Meet With Jesus Guide (below). And join the MIW Community of children’s pastors who are hungry to lead a transformative Children’s Ministry.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to developing your Kid’s Ministry? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

14 Fantastic Scriptures On Being Thankful

Reading Time: 5 min 26 sec

Do you look at life through a glass half empty mentality? Do you ever find yourself resenting your life circumstances? Do you struggle with complaining throughout the day? Do you find yourself looking at life through a negative lens?

Before you hang your head in despair, there is hope. You are not stuck for the rest of your life as the designated complainer. 🙂 However, we need to know that nurturing a thankful heart is so much more than behavior modification. We can go to ridiculous lengths to change our external behavior but what we need to focus on is our heart.

Luke 6:45 says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

We can’t fake out God. He cares about the state of our hearts. If we want to transform internally and externally, we need to partner with God in the renovation of our souls.

Immersion in scripture is a powerful way to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness. It’s not enough to just read a verse on gratitude. We need to intentionally engage with scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us from the inside out.

Are you ready to foster a heart of thankfulness? Here are practical ideas on how to immerse yourself in scripture plus fourteen verses that you can use to cultivate gratitude in your life today.

1. Thankful Scripture: How To Engage

2. Thankful Scripture: 14 Fantastic Scriptures

1. Thankful Scripture: How To Engage

There are a variety of ways that you can steep yourself in scripture. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Pray Scripture– Join with Christians throughout the ages by using the passages below as a prayer to God. Check out this article for more information about how to turn scripture into a prayer to God.

Journal Scripture– There are many different ways to journal scripture. Here are two examples.

a. Use the verses below as a framework for your own prayers to God. Ask him to help you cultivate a thankful heart.

b. Make a quick list each day of the things that you are grateful for and post it in a prominent place around the house. Let that list serve as a reminder to praise God for his good gifts daily.

Memorize Scripture- Here is a well-known but powerful practice. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit can bring memorized passages to mind all throughout your day.

Meditate on Scripture- Engaging with scripture is a marathon, not a sprint. The practice of meditating on scripture is all about sitting with God’s word and allowing the Holy Spirit to use it to transform your heart.

Read a passage (or verse) of scripture, and spend some time in silence and reflection. Allow the Holy Spirit elbow room to speak and cement the truth of his word in your heart.

Sing Scripture– Turn scripture into song by singing your thankfulness to God. This is such a powerful practice that not many adults employ. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed OR sing aloud your thankfulness to God with your family. Psalms is a great place to utilize this practice.

2. Thankful Scripture: 14 Fantastic Scriptures

Psalm 69:30, “Let me shout God’s name with a praising song, Let me tell his

greatness in a prayer of thanks.” MSG

Psalm 138:1-3, “Thank you! Everything in me says, “Thank you!” Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.” MSG

1 Chronicles 16:8-12, “Thank God! Call out his Name! Tell the whole world who he is and what he’s done! Sing to him! Play songs for him! Broadcast all his wonders! Revel in his holy Name, God-seekers, be jubilant! Study God and his strength, seek his presence day and night; Remember all the wonders he performed, the miracles and judgments that came out of his mouth.” MSG

Psalm 28: 6-7, “Blessed be God- he heard me praying. He proved he’s on my side; I’ve thrown my lot in with him. Now I’m jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to him.” MSG

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” NIV

Psalm 100:1-5, “On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise.Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.” MSG

Psalm 92:1-2, “What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak, sing your faithful presence all through the night” MSG

1 Chronicles 16:34, “Give thanks to God—he is good and his love never quits.” MSG

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” MSG

Psalm 100:3-5, “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” MSG

Psalm 12:2-4, “Yes, indeed-God is my salvation. I trust, I won’t be afraid. God-yes God!-is my strength and song, best of all, my salvation!” Joyfully you’ll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation. And as you do it, you’ll say, “Give thanks to God. Call out his name. Ask him anything! Shout to the nations, tell them what’s he’s done, spread the news of his great reputation!” NIV

Psalm 107:17-22, “Some of you were sick because you’d lived a bad life, your bodies feeling the effects of your sin; You couldn’t stand the sight of food, so miserable you thought you’d be better off dead. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time. He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves; Offer thanksgiving sacrifices, tell the world what he’s done—sing it out!” MSG

Psalm 136:1-3, “Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits. Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.” MSG

Jonah 2:7-9, “When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I’m worshiping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving! And I’ll do what I promised I’d do! Salvation belongs to God!” MSG

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? How do you develop thankfulness in your life? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest! [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

How To Never Forget To Pray For Your Child Again

Reading Time: 6 min 8 sec

We all want the best for our children. We agonize over their choices of friends, make sure they are in well-rounded activities, advocate with their teachers, and stress about their futures. We sacrifice sleep, money, and time to set our children up for success. But are we investing in the one thing that will pay the most dividends in their future?

As followers of Jesus, throughout the Bible, we are commanded to raise our children to know and love God.

Deuteronomy 6:6-8 says, “Write these commandments that I’ve given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children. Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.”

Prayer is the act of talking with God. It is the foundation of a life-long, love relationship with Jesus. It is one of the most powerful gifts that we can pass on to our children. Unfortunately, even though we understand the importance of praying over our children, in practice, we often forget to pray for our child.

Gary McKnight in his article, Equipping Parents for the Spiritual Formation of their Children, says this, “According to the Family Needs Survey conducted by Family Life in 2007-2008 with nearly 40,000 Christian Parents, nearly one-quarter of parents never or rarely prayed with their children, and another one-quarter prayed with their children only occasionally.”

We know prayer is important, but it can be easy to push it aside when frankly, soccer games and college scholarships feel way more real. We have to remember that our children will only be on this earth for eighty or ninety years. That is a drop in the bucket compared to the thousands of years spent in heaven. That’s not to say that we don’t prepare our children to become healthy adults but that we also remember our spiritual responsibility as parents.

Gary McKnight continues, “Childhood is a particularly important time for the spiritual formation of children, often setting the basic trajectory for the rest of their lives. George Barna reported that a series of studies showed that “the probability of someone embracing Jesus as his or her savior was 32 percent for those between the ages of five and twelve; 4 percent for those in the thirteen-to eighteen range; and 6 percent for people 19 and older.”

Let’s find out how to never forget to pray for our child again.

1. Pray For Your Child: The Gift

2. Pray For Your Child: The Examples

3. Pray For Your Child: The Secret

1. Pray For Your Child: The Gift

There was an older woman at my church, who during my summer day camps, committed to showing up every day and walking the halls of the church, praying protection, and blessing over my students. She understood that there is an ongoing assault on the hearts and minds of our children. Children need adults, like this Godly grandma, who will commit to daily covering them in prayer.

In first Peter, it says this, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

As parents, we do not have to have all the answers. But we are called to contend for the lives of our children. We give our children a gift when we consistently lift them in prayer. We can do this by praying for them throughout the day whenever they come to mind (more examples below).

Children also need us to model prayer in everyday life. You can check out this article How To Teach Your Kids To Pray When You Have No Clue for three simple steps you can do today to teach your kids to pray.

“Notice that not once did Jesus make his disciples pray. He just kept on praying until they could contain their hunger no longer and asked Him to teach them how to pray.” Pat Lynch, in Awakening the Giant

We want to be parents who give the gift of prayer to our children. So, let’s get practical, shall we?

2. Pray For Your Child: The Examples

There are some nights when its all you can do to get the kids fed, bathed, and in bed. Your brain is fried and mustering up the energy for prayer can feel overwhelming.

Here are a couple of prayers that I use when I pray for and with my children. This is not a comprehensive list but a sample to get your wheels turning. I have to be honest my kids love when I pray the same prayers over and over. I think the daily and nightly tradition is comforting.

Bedtime Prayer

“Dear Dad, we thank you and praise you for the gift of our _____ (child’s name). We pray your hand would rest upon them and they would come to experience an ever-deepening expression of your lavish love for them. Give them ears to hear your voice and eyes to see you, Father.

We pray that you bless them with the wisdom of King Solomon, the courage of Queen Esther, King David’s Heart of Worship, and the faithfulness of Ruth.

We pray that you would give______ (child’s name) beautiful dreams tonight. Let them dream of running and jumping in meadows, eating cotton candy, riding his/her bike, and floating boats on a stream (insert child’s favorite things to do). And we pray that you would be with ________ (child’s name) in his/her dreams.

We come against bad dreams, and we ask place guardian angels around them while they sleep. Let them sleep feeling safe and protected in your care. We love you, Jesus. In your name, Amen.”

Prayers of Protection

“Protect Us As We Travel.” -Vernie Schorr Love

“The Lord will protect you from harm; He will protect your life. The Lord will protect your coming and going both now and forever.” Vernie Schorr Love-Spiritual Disciplines for Children

3. “Father, We ask that you would guard _____(child’s name) and keep ___ him/her safe. We ask that you would put a hedge of protection around_____ his/her heart, mind, body, and soul. Surround ______him/her with your guardian angels and uproot any lies from Satan and replace them with your truth.

Remind____ him/her of who _____he/she is, your beloved child. Let ____him/her experience the depth of your lavish love today. We love you and praise you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Prayers of Blessing

“May the peace of Jesus fill you, The Love of Jesus surround you, And the presence of Jesus guard you, Now as you sleep, and all your life. “ -Angela Ashwin

“May God Bless you and keep you. May God turn toward you and be gracious to you. May God turn to you and grant you peace. May the light of God shine over you. May the Holy Spirit fill you. May the blood of Jesus cover you. May you sleep/live/go in peace. (Use the verb that suits the setting) And may you always know just how much the Lord Jesus loves you.” -Scottie May

Prayer for Wisdom

“God, we pray that you would give _____ (child’s name) the wisdom of King Solomon. Let their thoughts dwell on the beauty and glory of your name. Give them ears to hear your voice clearly, give them eyes to see you at work all around them. We pray your clarity would surround them, and fill them with your peace. Amen”

3. Pray For Your Child: The Secret

Here are a couple of ideas to help establish a rhythm of praying with and for your kids. I would encourage you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to one prayer you would like to start including in your family. It could be a prayer of blessing (check out this post for more info) bedtime prayers, or a prayer of protection while your child is at school.

A simple way to get started is to pray and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you. Read over the prayers. What prayer do you feel most drawn too? Start with that prayer. Stick with that prayer until you feel the Holy Spirit inviting you to include another one into your day.

Use Your Daily Rhythm

Where can you include your prayer into what you are already doing? Mealtimes, before and after school, and bedtimes can be a great starting point. I would encourage you to choose a time that you feel is the least rushed. Bedtime is my go-to prayer time because it can be the place where children are most aware of God’s presence.

Visual Reminders

Last but not least, visual reminders are one of the secrets to never forgetting to pray for your child. This is a game changer! I intentionally include visual reminders throughout my day that invite me to pray. I use such tools as reminders on my phone, prayer cards posted around my house, art, food, and nature. I would encourage you to find one thing that is meaningful and draws your heart towards Jesus, to serve as a visual reminder to pray. Your reminder could be a photo of your family, a favorite memory verse, a piece art, or as simple as a pen. These visual reminders are an invitation to pause and pray for your beloved child.

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to remembering to pray for your kids? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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How To Combat Fear When The World Is In Crisis

Reading Time: 6 min 17 sec

How do you combat fear when you are in living in a state of crisis? Are you tired of the news playing havoc with your emotions? Does each press conference, or latest update feel like a stranglehold on your desire for security? Are you desperately searching for a safe haven in the midst of a storm?

At the time of this writing, COVID-19 is assaulting the world. We are daily hearing stories of toilet paper skirmishes, mask shortages, and how hoarding has become the norm. The mainstream media continue to stir the pot of fear each trying to outdo each other with elaborate headlines.

We wrestle with the idea (turned reality) that in our age of advanced technology, and strong healthcare systems, a pandemic can have such an effect on our lives. We subconsciously believe that we are too evolved for viruses that we can’t control.

But pandemics, wars, natural disasters, widespread poverty, and pain are not a new phenomenon. These life-altering events have been affecting humans since the beginning of time. We fight against it because it forces us to come face to face with our own helplessness, our own vulnerability, our innate humanness.

We are not God, and that is never more apparent than in a time of crisis. You wonder is it even possible to live with peace when fear is the common currency? We are going to be talking about three practical ways to combat fear:

1. Fight Fear: Recount His Faithfulness

2. Fight Fear: Praise God When The Sky Is Falling

3. Fight Fear: Practical Tips To Turn Your Eyes Toward Jesus

1. Fight Fear: Recount His Faithfulness

The Israelites from the Bible were very familiar with overwhelming odds and near-death situations. After escaping Egypt, the Israelites were caught between the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army pursuing them from behind.

I can’t imagine how terrifying and helpless it would feel to see a huge army, including 600 hundred of Pharaoh’s fastest chariots hurtling towards you, as you are stuck on the banks of the Red Sea with no way to get across.

The Israelites responded to the crisis in the typical human fashion, “They said to Moses,“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Exodus 14:11-12

When faced with overwhelming odds, instead of looking too God, they started planning their own funerals. They forgot that they served a God who had just unleashed his mighty power through plagues, rescued them from Pharaoh, provided a pillar of cloud to guide them by day, and a pillar of fire to guide them by night.

So, what do we do, when we feel like the world is closing in around us and there is no way out? We need to learn from the Israelites and remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness. Nothing that is or will ever happen is a surprise to God. He is not scrambling to try and figure out a solution to the issues at hand. When we are tempted to panic, we need to stop and remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness to us. So, let’s get practical, shall we?

Recounting God’s Faithfulness Prayer Exercise:

a. Grab a piece of paper, or journal and a pen. Find a quiet place and get comfortable.

b. Optional -Light a candle as a visual reminder that God is with you right now.

c. Close your eyes and invite God into this time of prayer. Spend a couple of minutes in silence just spending time with God.

*If this new to you, set a timer for 2-3 minutes, so you are not constantly checking your watch wondering if it broke. 🙂

d. Ask God to remind you of his faithfulness in your life. Record those events by writing down any time, large or small, that God has shown up.

Option 2: If you are finding this is difficult, or you have a relatively new relationship with God, start by listing all the ways he showed up for:

People in the Bible
Members of your family
Current Godly men and women that you admire
In the lives of Christians throughout history

e. Post that paper in a prominent place as a daily visual reminder of God’s presence in your life.

2. Fight Fear: Praise Him When The Sky Is Falling

The story continues with Moses challenging the panicking Israelites to not be afraid and to trust in God. With everyone watching, God made history yet again. 🙂 He saved the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians, by dividing the Red Sea and allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground.

Exodus 14:28 says, “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.”

The Israelites spend an entire chapter, singing a song of thanksgiving to God praising him for his mighty power.

I don’t remember a majority of the sermons that I have heard over the years much to my dismay. However, I once heard a pastor unpack the story of Moses and the Israelites in a way that I have never forgotten. He said that the Israelites praised God on the wrong side of the river.

In the face of adversity, they promptly forgot his track record of faithfulness, and they demanded proof yet again that God was who he said he was. Anyone can praise God AFTER he shows up in a mighty way.

God is inviting us, built on our love relationship with him, to trust him. To praise him when it looks like everything is crumbling around us, and the world is screaming, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”

We need to remember that we serve Immanuel, which means God with us. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us of God’s character as it says,

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”

Will you choose to accept God’s invitation to trust him and to praise him on this side of the river?

3. Fight Fear: Practical Tips To Turn Your Eyes Towards Jesus

Take a breath and remind yourself that there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible alone is full of men and women faced with extraordinary challenges, completely helpless, and chose to accept God’s help to see them through.

David hiding from Saul in the mountains. Daniel in the lion’s den. Esther facing death. Ruth facing starvation. Baby Jesus and the threat of King Herod are just some of the examples.

I am always looking for ways to take head knowledge into practical heart transformation. I have compiled a list of practical ideas to help you when fear starts to creep up. They are not in any particular order.

a. Place Restrictions on Media Consumption.

I am not advocating burying your head in the sand. It is important to be an informed citizen. However, be wise at how much control the headlines have over your mental and emotional health.

b. Set Parameters on how Long you will Discuss the Latest News.

Along those same lines, be intentional on how much time you spend discussing the latest headline.

c. Spend Time in the Bible.

I would highly recommend reading through the Psalms. They are full of David’s sometimes brutally honest cries to God for deliverance. I would recommend reading a Psalm or two a day and using them as your own personal prayer to God.

d. Don’t Isolate Yourself

Find ways to connect with others, even if it can’t be in person. FaceTime, phone calls, text messages, and yes, even letters. Skype with your small group. Get creative! 🙂

e. Memorize Scripture

The great Christian mothers and fathers throughout history have used meditating on scripture as a way to live in peace, not fear. You can focus on topics like peace, hope, and joy.

f. Exercise

This is so important to your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, try out a new exercise video on youtube, play outside with your kids. The point is to get moving!

g. Be Honest With God

Talk with God about your thoughts and feelings. Be honest. He wants to hear from the real you not the “good christian” you.

h. Eat Healthy Foods

I know you want to indulge in comfort foods 24/7 to help manage the stress. But eating whole foods is crucial to supporting a healthy immune system. The little choices you make today affect your overall health tomorrow.

i. Get Rest

Don’t use the latest restrictions as an invitation to binge watch tv until one am. Be wise and set aside six to eight hours for much-needed sleep!

j. Engage in a Hobby that Brings You Joy

Seriously, now is the time to try out that new hobby. This should be something that allows you to decompress and invites you to experience joy, wonder, and beauty in this world. Explore music, exercise, art, fix a car, learn to knit, try a new card game, or a new recipe. The skies the limit and there are no acorns in sight. 🙂

To God be the Glory, Forever, and Ever, Amen.

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to fighting fear? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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28 Fantastic Poetry Books for Kids Who Don’t Like Rhymes

Reading Time: 2 min 1 sec

There is something magical about poetry books for kids. Poetry can spark your imagination, let you envision worlds the eye cannot see, and it can stir your heart with its powerful emotion. Poetry strips away time and space and allows you to experience the world in whole new ways.

The thought of poetry can strike most of us with feelings of inadequacy. Why does poetry have to feel so complicated? We were all taught that within poetry is this hidden message that if you are reflective (and brilliant) you will be able to grasp its meaning. It doesn’t work. I reflected the fool out of more poems than I can count and I still walked away scratching my head.

Why does something so beautiful need an army of interpreters?

So, I staged a revolt. I knew that if I waited until I felt confident, I would NEVER introduce my children to poetry. So, we started out our poetry journey by taking small steps. Even though I promptly made a ton of mistakes, I learned a couple of things along the way.

Set yourself up for success by starting with picture books written in rhyme. Not only are the pictures mesmerizing but the cadence of the words makes it a very easy read. After you feel confident, add beautiful poetry books for kids that are short, funny, and relatable. Here is one of our favorite poems called The Naughty Four O’Clocks by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

“There were some naughty flowers once, who were careless in their play;

They got their petals torn and soiled

As they swung in the dust all day.

They went to bed at four o’clock

With faces covered tight, To keep the fairy Drop O’ Dew

From washing them at night.

Poor Drop O’Dew! What could she do? She said to the Fairy Queen,

“I cannot get those Four O’Clocks, To Keep their faces clean.”

The mighty Storm King heard the tale; “My winds and rain,” roared he,

“Shall wash those naughty flowers well, As flowers all should be.”

So raindrops came and caught them all

Before they went to bed, And washed those little Four O’clocks

At three o’clock instead.”

Flowers who are tricked into taking a bath? What could possibly be more captivating than that? 🙂 The poem is simple, imaginative. and colorful. It struck delight in the hearts of my children. You can check out this article to find out my requirements for choosing beautiful poetry books.

My goal is to help my children fall in love with poetry. To accomplish that objective, I want to remove all the stumbling blocks that might interfere. Does that mean that my children will never be able to appreciate the finer nuances of poetry? No, but it does mean that in the early years we are intentional about establishing a strong foundation of curiosity and delight.

Here are twenty-eight suggestions to help you get started in developing a love of poetry for kids in your homeschool. These are all books that we have read together and enjoyed.

1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids

2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids

3. Short Poetry Books For Kids

4. Poetry Books For Older Kids

1. Favorite Poetry Books For Kids

2. Picture Poetry Books For Kids

3. Short Poetry Books For Kids

4. Poetry Books for Older Kids

Are you wondering HOW do you actually get started homeschooling? Join our community of moms who want to invest in the lives of their children through homeschooling. I also created a 10 Tips to Finding Excellent Curriculum form to help you on your journey.

What about you? What are your favorite poetry books for kids? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!