The power of words is why I earned a degree from LSU in Political Science with a minor in Greek & Roman History. Political Science is the study of how people organize and govern themselves. They organize and govern themselves by words and the people who deliver the most compelling words and ideas. The minor in Greek & Roman History was less planned, but a great byproduct of taking all four years of Latin and some art history classes. For me it was all about the history which supported and defined the art.

These are some of the word phrases which organize my serving in ministry with children and families. I’m likely to repeat these phrases out loud or in my head just about every day.

“Go big or go home.” I think this comes from my wondering if the Lord would refer to me as lukewarm (Revelation. 3:16). I want to be committed, joyfully all-in ‘cuz if I lose my joy, I lose my impact. If I get it wrong, tomorrow is another day. I may shoot some bullets before lobbing cannonballs (Good to Great by Jim Collins), but I’m in it and I keep my eyes on the goals set. I don’t even have to win, but I’m all in.

“If it’s good for kids, it’s good for everybody.” This goes along with, “When our hands are busy, our minds are calm.” Sitting still may be necessary, but it’s a challenge for littles and for me. So much so that I stay in the overflow room of our church where I have plenty of stuff for holding onto so littles can listen and be ‘in the room where it happens.’ Things like squishy Jesus, magnet-tiles, sticker books, and connecting sticks. I keep thinking putty in my clutch.

“Go with what you know and not with how you feel.” With the world bowing down to feelings everywhere I turn, I find greater peace in going with what I know. When I feel alone, I know the Lord is with me. When I feel unheard, I know the Lord hears me. When I feel unsure, I know the Lord is greater than how I could mess Him up. When I feel angry, I know the battle is the Lord’s. When I feel hurt and disappointed, I know the Lord will ‘work all things for good for those who love Him’ and MAN do I love Him. He is trustworthy. My feelings are not. Willy-nilly is not a fruit of the Spirit.

“Do for one what I wish I could do for a hundred.” Relationships matter and they grow with time, margin, and a kind or wise word shared. Balloons, a random watermelon, a confetti cannon, a gift card, homemade soup, Crumbl cookies, a Sugarwish email.

“Faith formation experiences should be developmentally appropriate and sticky.” Last Sunday our pastor led us in a teaching about loving one another extravagantly from 1 John. For the children’s moment I used a Rice Krispie Treat to show just as the melted marshmallow connects Rice Krispies, God’s love connects and binds us one to another.

“Always be asking, ‘What’s in my hand?'” After serving the littles and bigs of multiple local churches, I can confidently say that the Lord indeed gives every church everything and everybody each church needs to reach the community it serves. What could be in my hand? People with skills like power tools, woodworking, lawn care, car care, etc. can lead littles and bigs to new skills to serve people and the Lord. Got a parking lot? Leave out nice, new orange cones for the teens to learn to drive and parallel park. Can read? Then a baked cake mix with frosting can be delivered to a single or a neighbor with an invite to Easter services. The best curriculum is the one delivered by the one who can tell the personal stories of God’s goodness and faithfulness with a consistent ministry of presence. Lord, you did it for him, do it for me. It’s less about WHAT and all about WHO with a good work ethic and a spirit of YES. Look at everything the Lord’s provided and let your mind go wild for how what’s in your hand can be used to build up the Body of Christ and serve the community as lights in the darkness and partners.

“Church on Sunday starts on Saturday.” We have an enemy whose sole purpose is to keep us from worshipping the Lord. If our worship services were on Thursdays, the devil would make it hard to go then, too. Knowing this upfront means I’m making the decision and plans on Saturday to get to gathering together to pray, play, serve, sing, sign, learn, and worship with other Christians on Sunday. If I’m teaching or leading on Sunday? Then that Sunday started the Monday prior, at the latest.

A personal liturgy is a plan of aligning words to so order our lives. Words matter because people organize their lives according to the words we tell ourselves. What are you telling yourself today?

“Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word aptly spoken.” Proverbs 25:11