My soul is full

 the past few months have been difficult. the loss, anxiety and frustration is sometimes overwhelming. i have never felt the weight of the world as much as i have in the last several months. so much pain, so much injustice, so much uncertainty...

 none of the outside forces changed today but I held the hand of a three year old (wore my mask and he wore his) and we walked. we talked about sticks and driveways, we talked about flowers and trees with faces. we talked about all of the nicknames he has from various family members and we walked...a long way. IT WAS GLORIOUS! I gave him a big bear hug then he went home and I came inside and washed my hands. 

 the injustice is still there, the weight of it is still heavy, i still don't have certainty about what's going to happen next but wow! it's worth trudging through all of it to look at his big beautiful eyes, to hear his sweet voice and to hold his precious hand. 

I love you, bubby! Thanks for helping me see the world through your eyes today. 

Life is different than I thought it would be...

Life is different than I thought it would be...
Well, isn't that the truth! Who in the world would have predicted 2020?!?

Who in their right mind would think that we'd be staying home..no really STAYING HOME all the time.

Who could have imagined a world where I would enter a bank, a grocery store, or the hardware store wearing a mask and dodging strangers to make sure we don't come close to one another?

What kind of person would imagine that our communities, our families, our friends would be so divided and unable or unwilling to see from the point of view of the "other"?

So, life isn't as we planned. I'm not doing the thing I thought I'd do forever. I'm not snuggling my grandbabies, going to all the crowded places that I love, or having coffee with friends. The list of things I'm not doing is long...and yet.

I am able to:
→ take time to learn about and listen to the point of view of the "other"
→ consider the beauty of an evening walk or a drive with my husband
→ see my grandbabies, even if it's at a distance
→ appreciate all the ways that my needs are met
→ have long and deep conversations
→ express gratitude
→ remain hopeful
→ show compassion to people with whom I disagree
→ remember that this too shall pass...try not to miss all the amazing things about 2020.

 


  

Awaken us (me)

Today is a good day...no trouble brewing in my life. Just a sense of contentment and peace.  I think.
I think I'm content.

My husband and kids are reasonably happy.  He is better to me than I deserve.  Treats me with respect when I probably don't deserve it and responds with kindness when I treat him with less respect than he deserves. I have been blessed with more time with my children than generally expected.  I have every reason to be proud of who they are becoming.  I love them more than life! 

We have food in our refrigerator (well I should probably go grocery shopping).  Our house is plenty big enough; it's warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

I love my job.  The people I work with are among the best at what they do.  There really isn't much of anything that I would change right now.

And yet...
there is a discontent.  I hope this discontent grows out of a holy place.  That place where God is at work tilling up the soil.  Encouraging a sense of urgency, a sense that things are not as they should be...that there are people who do not know Him and His great love for them.  We spend more time than we should trying to make ourselves comfortable; surrounding ourselves with people who look, think and sound like us.  God, help us (ME) to remember that this is not our home...you have a better place, but it isn't just for me and the people I love. 

It is for the people that You love! Help me to love like you love.  Help me to see the world that way you see.  Help me to hear the cries of children who are not mine.  Help me to be the person that you want me to be.

We are questions that beg for the answers
We are poems awaiting the rhyme
We are riddles that long for solution
With your breath we come alive

We are silenced when searching for reasons
We are weary and broken inside
We are desperate for your affection
We are darkness you are light

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you
We are ashes, we are dust
Awaken us

Lord, You whispered the dawn of creation
And your love has been on display
You have promised that you would be with us
We need you, here to day

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you
We are ashes, we are dust
Awaken us

You will lead us out of the desert
You will hold us when we are weak
Lord, we will rise up, we will rise up
To follow our Great King.

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you Oh

Awaken us, Awaken us
Stir in our hearts your truth
Awaken us, Awaken us
That we might live for you
We are ashes, we are dust

Awaken us ~ Building 429 

This city makes me smile

I got to spend this afternoon and evening wandering this city with some of my favorite people. There are so many things I love here:
Amazing diversity of people...just listen and you can hear the whole world!
Breathtaking architecture....new and old meet everywhere.
Crowded sidewalks give way to picturesque parks.
Skyscrapers overlooking one of the most beautiful bodies of water.
This city may not be the perfect place for everyone, but it is the perfect spot for our family!
I can't wait until we can all wander it together again....

The Eric Trap - 5 things every leader has to get right

I need to confess, I'm a bit of a leadership geek.  I've probably read every Maxwell, Lencioni, and Godin book available.  I follow blogs, read articles and pay pretty close attention to what's happening in the world of leadership both inside and outside the church. OK, maybe I'm more than just a bit obsessed.  So, when I was given the opportunity to get an advance copy of The Eric Trap I naturally said yes, please!

While I have learned lots of things from the authors I've mentioned; their work doesn't always translate easily to Kids Ministry and to the people I lead who are just a little less enthusiastic. I've handed these books to people on my teams only to have them respond with something like, "I just want to do ministry" or "how does this apply to kidmin?"  I can't wait to hand the people on my team The Eric Trap! 

The Eric Trap is a leadership fable by Kenny Conley, Sam Luce, and Jim Wideman with several other contributors.

We are immediately drawn into a week in the life of Eric Newman - a gifted Children's Pastor whose leadership is a bit off track. Eric is confronted with 5 areas of leadership that he has to get right in order to get out of the messy place he finds himself.  In addition to a compelling story, we get some great insight from some terrific leaders.
 Here's my recommendation:
If you feel like everything in life and ministry is great - read this book. It's a great reminder to pay attention to those 5 things we must do well.
If you feel like your ministry world is caving in just a bit - read this book. You may learn some things by experiencing Eric's "no good, very bad week."     


 
By the way, I was given an advance copy of The Eric Trap for the purposes of giving it an honest review, but you can get your very own copy beginning on April 25th at The Orange Conference and at Amazon soon after. You can also pre-order the book for a huge discount over at Jim Wideman’s site! In the meantime, you can check out the book’s website at TheEricTrap.com.

the Next Milestone

We're developing a new Milestone for 4-6 year olds and their parents, it will debut on July 22nd!

At Suncrest, each milestone is an attempt to connect with parents. Specifically at a time when they are already open to input with regard to their role in spiritually nurturing their children.  Milestones 1 and 3 are in place and we're seeing a great response from parents and children.

Milestone 1 is Parent-Child Dedication and includes a Covenant that parents write for their child/children.

Milestone 3 is a class called Lifebuilding - a class dedicated to helping parents lead their kids through the basics of our faith and baptism.  One of my favorite things is the Blessing that parents write for and read to their children! Love reading what parents write about how they see God at work in their child's life.

Now we're working on the middle.  Milestone 2 will be designed to give parents some tools to help them lead their child through the preschool and early elementary years.  Right now our list looks something like this:

Teaching your child to pray

Praying with your child

Helping your child see God at work in their life

Simple faith conversations

What do you think? What would you add to or take away from our list?

Nest is a bit more empty

"Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body."  - Elizabeth Stone

We dropped another daughter off at school (college) recently.  Daniel and I have four amazing kids who insist on growing up, becoming self-sufficient and basically proving the above quote to be true.

We wouldn't have it any other way! 

It's getting quieter at our house

With these two girlies leaving the house, it's going to be pretty quiet around here.
There are so many thoughts and feelings surrounding this momentous time in our lives. So proud of how they've turned out, sad that I won't see them every day, excited for all that's ahead for them and a bit (very little bit) concerned that they still need me too much to be out in the big world all alone.
Seriously, we are so proud of all of our kids. God has blessed us with fun, independent, compassionate and kind young people who are actually one another's best friends.
The next several months are going to bring even more change to the Albrecht house...one more daughter is likely to leave home and our son will finish his first year of high school. While there is so much change, there is also the assurance that no matter where my children live...they are most at home when they are together.

Milestone 1 - Parent-Child Dedication (our timeline)

 

Last week I wrote a bit about Parent-Child Dedication and promised to add some information about our process.  Here's the timeline we follow, over the next few days I will add more information about some of the things referenced here.  One of the most meaningful is the covenant that parents write...I'll post the template we give to parents, along with a couple of samples.

I would absolutely love to hear about how you make this event in the lives of families in your church more meaningful!

Dedication Timeline

8-10 weeks before dedication Sunday:

Publicize dedication dates in several places:

            Bulletin

            Website

            Kids communication                  

6-8 weeks before dedication Sunday:

Mail dedication packets to all who are interested - this may actually be done at any time.

Begin scheduling pre-dedication meetings with parents and Kid’s Directors (campus or global)

3-6 weeks before dedication Sunday:

Campus or Global Director will meet individually with parents who desire to dedicate their children.

During this meeting we will cover:

Biblical precedents for parent-child dedication

Parent’s role in their child’s spiritual growth

Spiritual Mentor’s role in the child’s life

Church’s role in the spiritual development of their child

Some hints for writing the family covenant

Details of the parent-child dedication process and service

10 days - 3 weeks before dedication Sunday:

Parents write family covenant and send copy to Kids Ministry office at least 10 days previous to dedication

Family picture settings to be available at least 2 weeks prior to dedication Sunday (prefer at least 2 time/date options)

Dedication Sunday:

            30 minutes prior to service:

                        Private prayer of dedication with parents and family (church leaders to assist)

                        Certificate, framed family covenant and photo to be given to parents

            10 minutes before the service:

                        Parents, Children and guests in Worship Area (designated seating)

            During service:

Parents, child and mentors will come up on stage at end of communion

Pastor will briefly introduce each one (child’s name and parents first name, asking them to  

step forward)

Pastor will talk about the purpose of the day, mostly directed at the parents

We will do vows/response from parents as a group

Will do final vow with congregation (standing) and spiritual mentors, then offer a prayer.

Will ask people to encourage the families with applause as they leave the stage, congregation will be seated

finished another trip around the sun

I'm not even sure how to describe the last seven days of my life.  Rather than trying to write coherently I think I'll just make a list:

• Had a bit of a bug that put me in bed for a couple days (I'm all better). 
• Spent some quality time with my girls (individually).
• Got a sweet gift from my boy and am totally surprised at how old he is becoming!
• Welcomed my little brother into our home for the summer...did I mention that he is the same age as daughter #3?
• Had some amazing conversations with a couple of newer friends (I am SOOOO blessed)!
• Got to talk to an old friend (love some Delia conversation)
• Received about a billion birthday wishes on Facebook...one of the crazy benefits (maybe the only benefit) of 5 different kidmin positions since 2005.  I have made some amazing friends! 
• Learned a bit about iPhone and Android Apps from a KidMin friend who is now the CEO of r04r.com 
• Reminded (again) that God is in control and loves my kids more than I ever will (ask me about it).
• Another Tuesday full of meetings with people I respect and love...wow! Suncrest has been an amazing gift to me and my family.

I'm pretty sure that I haven't begun to scratch the surface on all that has happened during this amazing week. This is what I do know...I'm tired, excited, encouraged, challenged and determined to live through next week!

My crazy,busy life!

This season in my life and ministry has been crazy busy...ok, if you know me at all, you know that it's always crazy,busy! and that some (sick) part of me loves it.  But this is an amazing, love what God is doing, hope that it doesn't end any time soon, kind of crazy, busy.

First, there's this crazy family of mine! They are my favorite people and I'm blessed to have them around.  Our girls are in that place of life where they could be anywhere, but they choose to be with us!  I get a front row seat to seeing how God is moving in their lives...and wow, is He moving! Our son is growing up to be this amazing young man, his best friend is his dad and Aidan's favorite place is anywhere with Daniel!  This year Daniel and I will celebrate 28 years of marriage!  I love this man with all of my heart.  We are truly blessed! 

Ministry is crazy, busy too! and I love it!  I am leading the most amazing team of Kid's Ministers!  I have the privilege of meeting with this team every Tuesday morning at 8:30...kinda crazy since I hate morning! We get to talk about mobilizing leaders and helping kids fall in love with Jesus.  Then there is the team I get to be part of on Tuesday afternoons.  I am honored to be part of a team of people who live for being used by God to change lives...these Campus Pastors and Global Leaders love seeing God at work in the lives of people.  I've spent my fair share of time hanging out with church leadership types but this team is remarkable!

Loving this season of life...not always easy but God is working in and through all of it!