Do you ever wonder where your life is going?  Will the sum of your days create something meaningful?

I’ve never had a “life plan”.  Some people grow up knowing exactly who they want to be or what they want to do.  Not me…. my strategy was more of a trial and error approach to life.  If I’m honest, probably mostly error.  Maybe you can relate.

I went to college because having grown up in a single parent home, my mom advised me to have a degree in case “marriage didn’t work out.”  I studied business economics for the first 3 years because my dad was a CPA but changed my degree the summer before my senior year.   (It turned out that balancing spreadsheets was not my idea of a good time.)  I took hodge podge jobs after college because I didn’t have a career plan.  At the end of the day, I had an eclectic resume of everything from waiting tables to working at the Governor’s office.  When I look back on it all, it very much feels like a Forest Gump-esque story.

I think we all have a wandering period of trying to figure life out.  My wandering was just, well, longer than most dare I say.

The one constant among my childhood, young adult-hood and beyond was music.  No matter where I would wander in other areas of my life, I would always have that constant thread.  And it brought me joy.

God wove that joy into purpose when I was hired for my first church staff role as a children’s worship director.  That role was a labor of love and I put my whole soul into helping kids enter into authentic worship while equipping youth and other adults to join the journey.

Like many journeys, I came upon a few detour signs directing me into other areas of leadership.  I vividly remember the day I let go of the worship director role and stepped into a larger leadership position.  I walked into the worship center of our church and cried like a child.  I felt like I let go of the very essence of me.

Several years later, when I stepped down from my time as a children’s director, I immediately stepped right back into the place I loved and felt most called to….worship.

What about Seth Godin?

About a year and a half ago, I read Seth Godin’s book titled “Linchpin” and started on a journey of rediscovering the purpose for which God might have me here for.  And there were four specific things that I couldn’t help but but act on after reading his book:

Make a Choice…..to follow your inner voice, instead of the heard of sheep.

So many times we can become detoured in doing what we think we should do or what others are doing instead of paying attention to that tiny inner voice that is prompting you to march to the beat of your own drum.  If I was honest with my inner voice, I would have to recognize and embrace that God has wired me uniquely.  And that perhaps that giftedness could be something He could use to help others around me.

View Your Work as a Gift of Art

Artwork isn’t just about canvas and paint, it is about doing your best work.  Viewing your work as art ultimately makes you happier because it is an extension of who you are.  It brings you satisfaction and happiness for creating the very best work you can.  It is far superior, and more rewarding, than completing a task because your boss told you to.  Even if your boss does tell you to do it, you should approach it as a work of art rather than a required task.

Triumph over “Lizard Brain“

The “Lizard Brain” is a prehistoric part of your brain that is in charge of survival, fear and reproduction.  When it is activated, it sabotages you.  It is the one that wants you to conform, not ask questions and is content with you being a cog in a system so that you don’t stand out.

I’ve wasted countless days, months, even years, yielding to the Lizard Brain and I’ve spent the last year and half telling it to be silent. Too many people need help and it would be better to fail than to do nothing to help them.

Complete the Task and “Ship It”

Last week, I “shipped”.  I launched a new website called KidzPraise for children’s leaders to find practical help with their praise and worship time.  Too many churches are opting out of teaching kids what it means to worship, or even including a time to corporately sing songs together on Sunday.  You can read more about that HERE.

Donald Miller’s “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” has been one of those “game-changer” books for me these past few years.  As I look back on my life, I can’t help but ask myself what would I re-write or edit about the story I am living?  Honestly, I wouldn’t change a single detour that I took in this journey because I have learned so much.  But his book has encouraged me to think about the story I am living and how I am helping others tell better stories along the way.

So let me introduce you to my latest labor of love:  www.KidzPraise.com

What You Can Do

First, you can go check out www.KidzPraise.com, share it with people who value praise and worship for kids and those who need a little helping hand.

Second, you can go “like” the KidzPraise Facebook page…..

Third and most importantly, share with me what your story is telling you.  What is your work of art?

Confession: When I was in 7th grade, I declared my “theme song” to be “Footloose”.  (Any other fans out there?)  I’m not sure why I resonated so deeply with that song but for whatever reason, it became my anthem for the year. (Hey, I was 12 — no judging!)

Music has a way of framing our life experiences.  At Orange, we understand how important music is — not only for worshipping our God, but for elevating our messages.  The right song can help reinforce a principle in a way that sticks.

If you were at Orange11 this year, you were challenged to “Make a Move“.  We put a lot of thought into selecting the right songs to sing together.  If you are somewhat winging it on Sunday when choosing your songs, I urge you to start being intentional with your music.  Music is a part of your message — and it shouldn’t be left to chance.

And now, (cue drumroll)…. here is the playlist we used to get you up and out of your seat so you would move.  Which was your favorite?  Maybe you have a different “move” anthem song that we didn’t use but it will inspire you when you need a little extra motivation…?

I have a complicated relationship with wall murals.  On the one hand, the right artist can really breathe new life into a drab wall with the waive of a paint brush.  On the other hand, because it’s a custom work of art, it can quickly morph into something that is sacred and cannot be changed.  Ok, don’t judge me but I’m really am not a huge fan of wall murals in children’s ministries. Gasp.  Ok, I said it.  It’s out there…..

Why, you ask?

I’ll admit, I’ve seen some really great wall murals.  My issue really stems from what happens when you go to upgrade your environment. I’ve found that the hardest environments to update are those that have wall murals everywhere from the resident artist in the congregation.  It’s a sacred cow.  How in the world can we change that?

One of my lessons learned in ministry comes in the form of a mural.  Talented artist meets giant wall.  I mean GIANT wall.  And it turned out ok….. but in hindsight, I wish I would have commissioned canvas artwork to put up on the walls instead of giant wall murals of art.  What I quickly learned is that murals painted on drywall fade and can quickly look dated.  Canvas artwork on a freshly painted wall will stay looking fresh and relevant longer.

If you are going to do a large mural, bring in the professionals.  Why?  Well, you may get a better mural for one.  More importantly, if you want to change it 10 years from now, Mr. Murals-R-Us isn’t going to be steaming mad every time he walks into church on Sunday.

Do you have a sacred mural in your ministry that you would love to update if feelings weren’t hurt?  I once had a friend who cut a piece of drywall from her house before she moved because the etchings that marked how her kids had grown over the years were too precious to leave behind.  I thought that was a pretty creative way to salvage something meaningful.  Perhaps the idea will work for that mural in your ministry that has sentimental value but is getting in the way of a fresh look. Can you repurpose it? Frame it? Relocate it?

What about you — are you a fan or foe of hallway murals?  Do you have a mural problem in your hallway?

originally uploaded to Flickr by hoyasmeg

The average church has less than 100 people attending their church on a weekend. Which means that many churches will have fewer than 25 kids in ministry on a typical Sunday.

How would leading a small group change your strategy?  When we had 14 children show up the Sunday after Christmas, there were a few insights I gained from leading the praise and worship time with the kids.

Get on their level

Being up on a stage felt out of context with 14 kids in the room.  If we had to do it all over again, we would get down on the same level as the kids or maybe even reverse the position and elevate the kids on the stage and put us on the floor. Intuitively, we felt that we needed to change from a leader – peer scenario to more of a a mentor – peer scenario.  Allow yourself to be more intimate with the kids.

Take them on a journey

It seemed really important to take our small group on a journey with the tempo of the music.  The high energy, fast tempo songs were all to set the group up for the contemplative song we landed on.  I asked all of the kids and the worship team to physically sit down during our contemplative song.  We were close enough to see everyone’s eyes and for some reason, that helped create a deeper connection during the song.

Use VIDEO to create additional energy

The smaller audience on this particular Sunday reminded me of a principle I have used in the past.  When I’ve led praise and worship in smaller settings, I’ve used a video presentation that projected High School youth up on the screens.  This supplemented the physical presence and energy leading the kids.  A virtual worship team helps bridge your smaller setting until you can put together a live worship team.  It will also help bring a higher level of energy to the group.

Get YOUTH involved.

It is imperative to get High School youth up in front of the kids demonstrating authentic praise and worship.  In my opinion, the smaller your group, the more you need your youth to take the reigns of ministry to create momentum that will allow for growth — both in your worship experience and numbers.

Set the Scene

Does your space reflect your value on the experience?  Do you have too much space for the small group of kids?  Try to redefine your praise and worship space by bringing in creative props, visual images or using pipe and drape to make a large space more intimate for the small group you are leading.

What insight do you have in leading smaller groups of kids in corporate worship?

Uploaded to Flickr by by lululemon athletica

Have you ever gone through a Sunday and mentally told yourself, “well, there’s always next week to try again”?  Why do we expect Spirit filled moments if we haven’t approached them with the right preparation?

Check out this video clip from Worship Artist, Jami Smith:

Did you catch it?

They prepared “all day” for that moment.

All day.

The amount of preparation that goes into an adult worship service is staggering.  For most churches, nothing is left to chance.  The lighting, the transitions, announcements, message and song selections — are all planned to prepare for a Spirit filled moment.  Have you ever noticed how mis-timed lyrics disrupt your own focus on God?  Conversely, if a song helps reinforce a message or heightens your response to the Almighty, how much more does the message stick in your heart?

I’ve run into many children’s ministry leaders who randomly select their songs the morning of the service and wonder why there aren’t any spirit filled moments with the children’s praise and worship time.  I don’t want to simplify any of the complex issues of ministry but most of the time there isn’t a plan or strategy in place to connect kids in the praise and worship moments.

I was reminded from my Senior Pastor this past week that everyday moments can be an act of worship.  And of course, that is true.  Even your planning, preparation and rehearsals can be an act of worship if they require your focus on God.

I know that in heaven, we won’t need a single moment of preparation to be caught up in the most incredible moments of knee bending worship.  But while we are here on Earth, we will need to plan well so that nothing gets in the way of focusing on the King.

The next time you look into the sea of kids worshiping with you, know that your time invested in that moment was most definitely worth it.  Not only was that time an act of worship in itself, but you put all the odds in your favor to draw the focus of the kids in your ministry to the Creator.

Do you approach the music you lead with the same intentionality as the message you deliver?  What is your biggest struggle when it comes to planning for praise and worship?  Marathon runners stretch to prepare before they run.  How are you “stretching” to prepare for that chill bump moment with kids?

Originally uploaded to Flickr by by joce01_y

Do you wish that your message had a greater impact?  The thoughts from a NY Times article may make you reconsider which part of your ministry has the most potential to influence the kids that you see every week.

“Music is well-known to connect deeply with adolescents and to influence identity development, perhaps more than any other entertainment medium,” University of Pittsburg School of Medicine.

I found this quote referenced in a NY Times article which visited the potential effect that certain music can have on risk behavior in adolescents.

Music influences persona….which can influence choices….  And we all know that lyrics are more explicit today than the days of yon.  Twenty years ago, at least we were confused about what we were actually singing about.  Today, there is very little confusion about the intended meaning in a song.

Most would read this article and feel that all is lost.  We’ve lost the fight.  There is no way to off set the hold of culture.  But I believe there is a counter message to be found here.

If music has more power to influence identity development than any other entertainment medium, do you treat it as such in your ministry?

Is your praise and worship music relevant and engaging?

Are your leaders excited about singing it?

Are you sharing it with parents and encouraging them to play it at home?

Music is one of the easiest tools for outreach, discipleship, character development, and can influence a positive persona… hopefully leading to positive and wise choices.  Find a way to harness it….and hopefully your kids will be under the positive influence…..of music.

Originally uploaded to Flickr by DRB62

When you take the stage to lead children’s praise and worship on Sunday, do you consider yourself to be a living work of art?  I think you are.  And maybe with a small shift in your thinking, you will too.

I am so thankful for the last 10 years in children’s worship music.   Truly there has been an evolution to create relevant, family friendly music. I am forever grateful for the brilliant artists who have dedicated their lives toward creating great music for kids.

Think about it….if you are anywhere close to my age (and no, I won’t disclose that here)….you grew up with maybe a leader and a guitar singing “Father Abraham”.  Not that there is anything wrong with that song.  I still will have it pop into my head now and again quite frankly. (And, “you’re welcome”, for the ear worm that will flood your mind for the rest of day.)

Now, we have music that brings chill bumps to our arms, lyrics that have incredible depth in meaning PLUS….you can gain an aerobic workout in the process.  The music that is produced for children rivals what you would hear in most concerts.   And, dare I say, might even rival what is happening in worship service.

Playing any contemporary song in Children’s ministry doesn’t make it kid friendly.  You have to consider the length of the song, arrangement, bridge — it is always important to run the song through the filter of kids if you are going to use it as a part of your worship strategy for planting seeds into the hearts of kids.

My husband and I were married in California near the Laguna Festival of Arts.  Every year, the most famous attraction, The Pageant of the Masters, takes original works of art and turns them into “living pictures”.  Real people pose on stage to recreate contemporary and classical works of art.

I consider myself a fairly decent worship leader…..I am not a worship artist.  I don’t have the gift of music composition. (I knew mom was right when she told me I would regret not sticking with my piano lessons!  ugh!)

But you and I can take the incredible masterful work of the artist and bring it to life for a group of kids on Sunday.  So if you are a Worship Leader — stand up, stand strong, stand proud.  You are a living picture….modeling what it looks like to authentically worship the Creator of the Universe.

Have you ever struggled to recognize the importance of putting “works of art” in front of kids on a Sunday?  They need living, breathing pictures of a heart worshipping God.

Volunteers who love what they do will go above and beyond any expectations you could ever communicate.  Amber is one such story….

This past summer, Amber saw a glimpse of Kid’s Worship and thought to herself, “I can DO THAT!”

It was more than, “I can DO that”…truly, it was, “I WANT to do that!”

I’ll never forget the first day I met Amber.  She was excited to lead, had sparkles in her hair and enough enthusiasm to inspire a room. Amber jumped into personal ministry.

Amber started out serving every other week but was easily encouraged to increase her commitment to every week.  In a short and simple email, she said yes to every week because she had to “get her worship on”.  The kids love her — and I know she loves the kids and youth who serve alongside her.

This past week, Amber broke her foot.  (ouch!)

Her broken foot would have been a perfectly legitimate reason for opting out of leading kid’s worship.  Let’s face it, it would have been a legitimate reason for not showing up to church at all.   But do you know what happens when you allow passionate people to serve in their gifting?  They show up with a broken foot, ready to lead by whatever means necessary.

Amber decided to empower the youth praise team to shoulder the majority of the dance moves, (she obviously could not), while she led the kids in song.  My favorite part was her solution to leading “Get Down” with her broken foot.  She decided to “Get Down” as best as she could by bouncing on a exercise ball!

What I love most about Amber’s story is that she is setting an example for the kids, parents and leaders that nothing will get in the way of her worshipping Jesus.  She is a volunteer….who is taking “worship with your life” to a whole new level.  I’m so grateful for the story God is telling through her.

One of my most favorite quotes comes from Compassion International CEO, Wes Stafford:

“…if you do not have a purpose that so moves your heart and soul that in 30 seconds it can move you to tears of joy or sorrow, then I would maintain you are not fully alive…”

People will give their time, creativity and will serve wholeheartedly for a purpose.  Invite others to join you and give them something significant to do that they love doing.  And when you do, they may even show up with a broken foot.

What would be on your “Top 10″ list for reasons why you should serve in Children’s Ministry?  This was a fun exercise that my husband and I played with over lunch one day.  So without further delay — here are the Top 10 why we think you should serve in Children’s Ministry:

10. You never have to make decision on what to wear on Sunday.

9.  Unlimited coffee (don’t worry — for you, not the kids!)

8.  Acting like a kid is encouraged — so you will definitely fit in….!

7.  HIGH FIVES for everyone!

6.  You can channel your inner boy band and sing as loud as you want.

5.  You can hype them up and give em back to their parents.

4.  Kids can (and will) teach you how to use your iPhone.

3.  Walking among kids makes you feel like you are Dirk Nowitzki.

2.  You will speak God’s love to a captive audience (who wants to hear it…!)

1. You’ll be a part of God’s bigger story to the next generation.

I’m such a creature of habit.

I’ll do housework in the same order each week.  I order the same things off the menu at my favorite restaurants.  When I travel, it takes me a full week to get back to normal life at home because the normal flow of life is completely turned upside down.  And then when things feel REALLY routine, I’ll want to do something completely impulsive to try and break the cycle.  Because too much routine feels boring.

Worship can sometimes feel routine too.

I know it shouldn’t.  After all, it is an act of adoration and praise for who God is and what He has done.  But in selecting the music for the school calendar and scheduling out each week, planning the dance moves and how the music will reinforce the message…..well, it can quickly settle into a routine if one is not careful.

Kids can sense when things fall into a set pattern.  And after a while, it feels boring.

This past week, we scheduled our worship songs as a response to the message, rather than at the very beginning of our large group time.  To my amazement, it felt like we had more participation than any week prior so far this year.  And it wasn’t half hearted participation…..it really felt like the kids were authentically praising God.  It was a huge win.

The experience has made me reflect a lot on the need to balance creating familiar factors that help kids move beyond the learning curve and into authentic response while making sure that we vary up how or when we worship to keep it fresh and meaningful.

Personally, I think that changing up the position of worship can be extremely effective with older elementary kids and I’m wondering what you have experienced?  Do you always keep worship at the beginning of your teaching time?  Or do you try to change it up?