Student Life for Kids Camp 2013!

I don't know a theme yet.

I don't know what color squad we'll be on.

I DO know some stuff... every 3rd-6th grader alive should go to this camp. It's fun, and it's a great way to get in the habit of doing a personal quiet time. It's a good place to get away from the world and all it's yucky worldliness. It's at Shocco Springs! And it's an opportunity for your child to make his faith his own. (or her own, as the case may be!)

Basic info you need to know:

www.studentlife.com

You can read about the camp and see pictures if you'd like more information.

While we're at camp, you can find pictures of us on the website, as well as join in for a live webcast of worship one night while we're there!

FBC Selma is going to camp July 25-28!

If your child has completed 3rd, 4th, 5th or 6th grade, he or she can come along!

The listed camp cost is over $250. With scholarship money we have available, we are working on lowering that cost for everyone! We also have scholarships available to FBC Selma families who want to send a child to camp but need help with some or all of the cost. Financial details are confidential, so please don't hesitate to ask me or Elaine about a scholarship. I promise we want your child to go to camp more than we want you to pay for it. :)

Included in camp cost: t-shirt, camp Bible study notebook, all meals except two lunches while we travel, all camp activities!

This year, we'll worship with the SL4K Band, and the camp pastor is Chris Poe.

'
SL4K BAND beside the lake at Shocco Springs

The SL4K Band is comprised of a team of worship leaders who specialize in kids' worship. Moreover, they have a genuine desire to help teach kids about worshiping God, how we worship, and why we worship Him. Unlike years past, the SL4K Band is a part of the Student Life For Kids staff and spends the entire summer traveling and leading worship at kids camp. The band members are all very accessible and available at camp, and they love spending time with kids in the cafeteria, at recreation, or anywhere in between. The band is produced by Chris Orr, a long time friend of Student Life For Kids.  He currently serves as Pastor of Worship and Arts at Riverbend Baptist Church in Gainesville, GA. Chris has produced two albums, "Just Becuz You Asked 4 it" and "Children of God". One of his albums, "Children of God" was produced last summer for Student Life for Kids. You can find this kids album here. Chris auditions, trains, and mentors the band members before and throughout the summer.




For years, Chad has been speaking biblical truth into kids' lives. Chad preaches God's Word through story telling, media, and visual experience, which we believe is a great way to teach the Gospel to children. As someone not simply called to speak, Chad believes in the importance of relationship and seeks to get to know people when he is away from the stage. Ultimately, Chad hopes to see students and kids moved into a deeper relationship with Christ. In turn, those kids will live lives of action that impact their community and world. Chad is married to Hope and they have two sons, Shepherd and Charlie. To find out more about Chad and his ministry, visit http://www.chadpoe.com.www.chadpoe.com.

Operation Christmas Child progress update!

Well FBC, we're working toward our goal of packing a record number of shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, and after sorting items today, I believe we have enough donated items to pack at least 50 complete boxes already! We have lots of school supplies, and need more toys, clothing items and chapstick to add. I think we have enough school supplies to pack 150 boxes! I would love to see a bunch of really exhausted GAs packing 150 shoeboxes. Think we can do it? I believe 150 is a completely reasonable goal that we can blow away, if we work together!

All monetary donations should be delivered to the church office or dropped in the offering plate, specifically marked for Operation Christmas Child. It costs $7/box, and we'll make our monetary donation online. By doing this through the Samaritan's Purse website, we can print our box labels with a unique bar code. Every box we send will have the same bar code, and THEN we can track all the shoeboxes we send across the globe, online! How fun is that?! I'm excited about this missions opportunity for the GAs and RAs and Mission Friends, and can't wait to give them reports on where these boxes will be headed. Thank you, church family, for participating in this children's ministry opportunity which is impacting our own children as well as children around the world.


Please keep an eye on this blog, the children's ministry facebook page, as well as all of our paper communications (Mid-Week Messenger, Worship Guide, Evangel) in order to help with items we need more of to fill in boxes as we approach our deadline!

Who's Ready for Fall?

Churchwide effort toward Operation Christmas Child:

We will begin September 2nd!

Collection buckets will be located by the elevators in both educational buildings for dropping off items!

The whole church is asked to bring specific items for the shoeboxes, rather than a completely packed shoebox, over the course of a few weeks as follows:

Sept 2-15: Please bring personal hygiene items!
Sept 16-29: Please bring school supplies!

Sept 30-Oct 13: Please bring small toys!

Oct 14-27: Please bring shoeboxes, and monetary donations to mail the boxes!

GA's will pack the boxes!

Church members can still bring their own complete boxes, but this is one way the church can work together to accomplish an important missions opportunity, and the kids can participate in a churchwide effort.

Fall Festival: October 31st:

5pm-7pm - this will be a special Wednesday night! Supper still served at FBC as usual.

STILL TO COME... Auburn vs. Alabama Food Drive, Christmas events, etc!

Mark your calendars now: 

Children's Christmas Program (Choirs, Missions and Bible Drills presentations): December 9th

Kids Disciple Now: February 2nd - 3rd

Preschool Easter Egg Hunt: March 24th

DANCE YOUR SHOES OFF! April 17th

Children's Spring Program (Choirs, Missions, and Bible Drills presentations): April 24th

God is oh so good!

There are no words to describe the faith that Bryant and Whitney are displaying right this moment, and for the duration of her pregnancy. Sweet Henley is 5 days old now! After reading Whitney's blog I feel like I know her, although I think I've only met her once... you'll understand what I mean if you take the time to read it as well, and I promise you will be challenged. This precious young couple is in my prayers nonstop, and they are my new favorite heroes. Please join me in praying for Bryant and Whitney, and their little blessing Henley. Her life is a result of God's grace and wonderful, godly parents and supportive family!

bryantandwhitney.blogspot.com

Surprise Terrific Tuesday. Ha.

What a day... I woke up at 5am to rumbling, rolling thunder and lightning. Blah. Great morning to stay in bed, but I needed to get going! Grace was heading out on a youth trip and we needed to drop her off at 6am. So according to my plan, I dragged myself, Ruth and George out of bed, and we joined Grace (the Stevens' family morning-person) in getting up and getting ready! Off we went to the church, and although we were a few minutes late, we sent the youth off with Janie and Beth! I was planning on going to Jacks for breakfast with the little ones, and then going back to the church, but Nancy invited us to her house, so I enjoyed drinking (YUM) coffee, and talking with her and fielding questions from all the mamas who had signed their kiddos up for Terrific Tuesday. "Yep. We're still going. I think the weather may blow on through." It rained harder, and there was more lightning and thunder...
When I arrived at the church, some of the kids were already there, and everyone arrived on time. Two of our kids prayed for us before we pulled out, and off we went. Half way to Montgomery, (still raining and lightning) Justin called me from Camp Chandler (our mystery destination) and suggested we reschedule...okay...so we decided we'd run by Lifeway to kill a little time and pick up some CDs, then just go bowling, then have lunch at Chick-fil-A, and go have dessert at Nancy's Italian Ice- all in Montgomery. Seemed like a back-up plan, right?

ha.

Back in March or April, when I planned all the summer events, God knew exactly what we were supposed to be doing today. He sent the rain. He had a plan for us all along. The kids ALL had great attitudes about the change of plans. There was just a sweet spirit among the group today. I randomly picked up a few packs of stickers for Children's Church at Lifeway while we spent 30 minutes or so looking around, listening to music, and watching Veggie Tales until the bowling alley opened.

randomly picked up stickers. ha again.

We arrived at the bowling alley a few minutes before it opened, so I talked to the kids about the rainy day being like a hard time in life. We talked about how we can still have joy even when we're sad or disappointed, because our joy isn't based on our circumstances, but in Christ. Then I gave them each a sunshine sticker that said "Let Love Shine" on it, and told them we were making our own sunshine today.

We went into the bowling alley, got shoes, and started bowling. The folks working there were happy to play our CDs that we'd picked up at Lifeway. There were lots of strikes and spares and smiles and cheers for each other.

 We had a great time! We had three lanes. When the boys and I were finished, because ya know, they're dudes. They get down to business. We bowled fast! The girls were enjoying celebrating every moment, socializing with each other, playing tag around a column, ya know, being girls. I love it. :) Anyway- the boys were waiting on the girls to finish, so I asked them if they wanted to go give a few people a sticker, and tell them Jesus loved them. They were a little hesitant at first, but I guess it was a better idea than sitting at a table waiting on girls to finish their games, so... off they went. George (almost 6), Andrew (8), Wiley (5) and Allen Michael (7). Four stair-step boys, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd graders. Walking around a great big bowling alley, telling people "Jesus loves you! want a sticker?" Yeah. They did it. It was so sweet, watching people's faces as they listened to these guys. It was even sweeter watching them go from hesitant to literally sprinting toward people, eager to tell them the good news, and share a sticker!

When we felt like we'd sufficiently spread stickers and Jesus throughout the bowling alley, we headed back toward the girls, where I found Sarah Gresham helping an older lady pick up her walker. I guess it had fallen or slipped/tipped over. Another sweet moment!

The girls thought it was awesome that they boys had talked to so many people, so a few of them passed out some more stickers. When we got to Chick-fil-A, McCann, Bailey and Margaret (all three going into 2nd grade) passed out 120 stickers- smiling and saying Jesus loves you! - just the three of them!

While I thought I had planned a surprise trip for the kids, God had a surprise trip planned for me, for all of us! I don't know how the people who were touched by our kids today were affected, but I know at least 250 people heard "Jesus loves you!" from children today, and we didn't do one thing to plan on that happening. God never ceases to amaze me! I just had to share with y'all how precious this group of children is, and what a wonderful day we were a part of today!!! I'll leave you with this, from Psalm 77:11-20...

I shall remember the deeds of the Lord;
Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.
¹² I will meditate on all Your work
And muse on Your deeds.
¹³ Your way, O God, is holy;
What god is great like our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders;
You have made known Your strength among the peoples.
¹⁵ You have by Your power redeemed Your people,
The sons of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.

¹⁶ The waters saw You, O God;
The waters saw You, they were in anguish;
The deeps also trembled.
¹⁷ The clouds poured out water;
The skies gave forth a sound;
Your arrows ^[k]flashed here and there.
¹⁸ The sound of Your thunder was in the whirlwind;
The lightnings lit up the world;
The earth trembled and shook.
¹⁹ Your way was in the sea
And Your paths in the mighty waters,
And Your footprints may not be known.
²⁰ You led Your people like a flock
By the hand of Moses and Aaron.

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

Psalm 46:1. Have you memorized it? I know this verse well, but I don't always remember it when I'm stressing over whatever issue is plaguing me at the moment... Tonight, the kids who come to W.o.W. are going to hear the story of King Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, and his impossible command to his wise men: Tell me what I dreamed, and then tell me what the dreams mean. Nobody could answer that, even if their lives depended on it! Turns out, their lives did depend on their answer, and a lot of "wise men" lost their lives because of the king's indignant response to their inability to answer him! Now that I think about it, "wise men" is an oxymoron Dr. Light can add to his list! If I asked you to tell me what I dreamed last night, you'd look at me like I was bonkers...
However, Daniel didn't balk at the command, or whine that it was impossible; he just asked for some time. Put yourself in his spot- you've asked for time before you have to answer an impossible question. What would you do? Run away? Cry? Hide under your bed? I can imagine doing all of those things. But Daniel gathered his friends together, and they prayed earnestly, requesting "compassion from the God of heaven concerning this mystery, so that Daniel and his friends would not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon." (Dan 2:18)
God revealed the mystery to Daniel, in a "night vision," and Daniel responded by praising God! Sometimes when we pray, we don't even realize God answered our prayers. How often do we accept credit for answered prayers, or just ignore the fact that we even prayed about the situation at all? Do we stop to thank God for answering our prayers? Check out Daniel's praise in Daniel 2:20-23:

Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and said:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; 
    wisdom and power are his.
²¹ He changes times and seasons; 
    he deposes kings and raises up others. 
He gives wisdom to the wise
    and knowledge to the discerning. 
²² He reveals deep and hidden things; 
    he knows what lies in darkness, 
    and light dwells with him.
²³ I thank and praise you, God of my ancestors: 
    You have given me wisdom and power,
you have made known to me what we asked of you,
    you have made known to us the dream of the king. ”

Daniel goes to see the king, and tells him that there is no man on earth who could tell him his dream and then interpret it, but "there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries," and Daniel tells the king what he dreamed and then interprets it. Daniel knew he should seek God before he attempted to do the impossible. Daniel gave credit to God before he answered the king. Then Daniel was given gifts and promoted to "ruler over the whole province of Babylon." Daniel remembered his friends who had been through so much alongside him, including praying with him about this pressing matter, and requested that the king promote them as well, and the king did.

We have to remember that when we face something tough, our hiding place isn't under our beds, but in our relationship with God! He is always, always, always there ready to help us when we face troubles of any kind. When (NOT IF) he answers, we need to remember to thank Him, and give God the glory!

Pray for me tonight as I attempt to share a pretty long chapter of Scripture that is pretty complex, with our kids, preschool - 6th grade. I love the simple structure of summer Wednesday nights, and the community that develops between kids of different ages in the church. It's not always easy to span the wide age range, but I am confident in the truth of Isaiah 55:11, reminding us that God's Word "will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it." Whatever purpose God has for Daniel 2 tonight, I know the living word of God will accomplish it! It's a relief to know I don't have to worry about that. :) Grateful for my BIG GOD.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/06/fresh-green-beans-one-way/

Yum. Great, simple way to cook fresh green beans! (a nice deviation from the standard boiling or bundling)

We're having baked marinated chicken (lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, grated lemon rind, fresh rosemary) for supper, with corn on the cob and green beans! I love summertime and all the fresh veggies that Chris works so hard to provide for our family.

Happy 4th of July to you and yours; hope you're enjoying your family as much as we are tonight!