Cold Coffee? (Last Sunday to Grab Loving the Little Years)

 Little Ones, Parents, Preschool  Comments Off
Jan 272012
 

The best solution payday loans

Are there mornings when your coffee sits on the counter getting cold while you wipe bottoms, clean up the sippy cup of milk that exploded on the floor, or discuss with a 3-year-old why she can’t wear her swimsuit to church?  If so, I think you’ll more than appreciate our upcoming Legacy Mom’s Book Discussion.

It’s not too late to grab Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches from our bookstore, read it (it’s quick, I promise), and join our Legacy discussion on Sunday, February 5 at 11 a.m.  Here’s a review I wrote of the book a few weeks ago, in case you missed it. If you’d like to jump in, sign up here.  Hope to see you there!

 

January Worship Songs

 Elementary, Family, Music, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning  No Responses »
Jan 262012
 

It doesn’t happen very often but both elementary and preschool are focusing on the same topic for the month of January in Crossing Kids: miracles.  Kids are learning that Jesus is miraculous and can do things that we can’t do.  They are learning that Jesus performed so many miracles that not even all of them are written down, but the ones that have been recorded are there so that we will know that Jesus is God. It has been fun to witness both ages learning about the topic, preschoolers learning so that they can gain knowledge of who God is and elementary taking it even a step further and applying these truths to their own lives.

When we worship through songs on Sunday mornings, we sing songs that help reinforce what the kids are learning in their classroom or large group time.  This month, preschool is singing a song called “Powerful” by Phil Joel.  A song that talks about many of the miracles we are covering on Sunday mornings. Take a look at the lyrics below.

You are so poweful, you are so strong and mighty.  You are so wonderful you are the prince of peace

You parted the red sea, the enemy drowned
Your cloud and your fire led them to the promiseland
Daniel in the den with the lions
You shut their mouths tight
David with a slingshot, you brought Goliath down

Jesus, He walked on the water, out on lake Galilee
He fed five thousand people with five loaves and two fish see
The blind man, the sick and the leper, healed by His mighty hand
Jesus, He rose from the dead, He took the enemy down

You are the living God, the rock on which I stand.
You are the living God, yesterday, today, and forever the same. 

I love this song not only because it reinforces what we are learning in our lessons but it reminds us that Jesus is powerful and that the miracles He performed were amazing.  For elementary this month, we are singing “Here I am to Worship” by Tim Hughes. This song is an older song but a song that emphasizes that our God is a God that is wonderful and that deserves our worship.  Jesus performed miracles to show us that “He is the Son of God, so that by believing, we may have eternal life” – John 20:31. That is why we sing a song of worship.

Light of the world you stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you
Hope of a life spent with you.

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God
You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above.
Humbly you came to the earth you created,
All for love’s sake became poor.

You never know how much it cost to sin my sin upon that cross

For this song, elementary learned sign language to worship along with this song.  Have them show you and worship together at home!

Meet Our Interns, Part 1

 Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning, Volunteers  No Responses »
Jan 242012
 

Six years ago, Crossing Kids hired its first intern to help Rachel Tiemeyer run Sunday mornings at Rockbridge High School. This semester Crossing Kids has hired seven interns to help our staff to prepare for Sunday mornings and Family Events in our building! To say we have grown is an under-statement : )

But whether there are one or seven, these women are invaluable to our staff and to our ministry. If you know who they are, you know that they are all-star volunteers, babysitters, small group leaders, and students in our community. If you don’t know who they are, they are the ones bustling from room-to-room with armfuls of supplies in between services and calming crying babies in the hallway during lessons. Our interns are all-stars, and since a lot of you haven’t had a chance to meet them, we thought we could introduce them here. This week I’ll introduce our Early Childhood interns. Be sure to say hello and give them a high-five (if they have a free hand!) on Sunday morning:


 Jessica Watson

Intern for Early Childhood

Where are you from?

I am from Saint Louis, Missouri.

Where do you go to school and what do you do?

I recently graduated from the University of Missouri and I am currently babysitting and planning a wedding!

What did you study at MU?

My bachelor’s degree is in Psychology.

What excited you most about being a Crossing Kids intern?

I love being able to get to know the kids and families.

What do they hope to gain from this internship?

I hope to be able to learn how to more clearly teach children the Gospel.

What is a fun/random fact about you?

I can lick my elbow, which is supposed to be anatomically impossible.

 

Marissa Stewart

Intern for Early Childhood

Where are you from?

I was born in Plano, TX, but have grown up in Columbia, MO.

Where do you go to school/what do you do?

I am a freshman at Mizzou.

What are you studying?

I am a biology major with pre-medical intentions.

What excited you most about being a Crossing Kids intern?

I was most excited about being able to help kids learn about God’s word and see them grow in their faith and love Jesus more.

What do they hope to gain from this internship?

I hope to be able to grow in my own faith by serving, and also to be reminded of the childlike dependence and trust that Jesus has called us to have.

What is a fun/random fact about you?

I couldn’t decide which was better, so I am answering two of the questions.

1. Embarrassing moment: Last winter, around the time that we had a lot of snow and ice, my friends and I went to a late showing of a movie (I think it was around 10 or 11 at night). I am not a night person and fell asleep during the movie. When we left I was still a little groggy from my two-hour nap and I failed to notice a patch of ice. I, of course, wiped out, and I don’t mean just landing on my derriere, I went flat out on my back. Then, out of no where, this guy comes up behind me and says, “I’ve got this,” and grabs me around my upper arms, picks me up, sets me on my feet, and walks off. 

2. Weird fact: when I eat I have to have equal amounts or the same number of food items on each side of my mouth. For example, if I’m eating cereal and I chew three Cheerio’s on the left side of my mouth I then have to chew three Cheerio’s on 

 

Abby Farley

Intern for Early Childhood 

Where are you from?

Nixa, Missouri

Where do you go to school?

University of Missouri

What are you studying?

Pre-Nursing

What excited you the most about being a Crossing Kids intern?

I am so excited for an opportunity to work with the little kids and make their church experience fun and memorable! And I love being able to get more involved at The Crossing!

What do you hope to gain from this internship?

Hopefully, a new perspective on Children’s ministry. I am sure I will gain an appreciation for what happens “behind the scenes” to make Crossing Kids possible.  

What is a fun/random fact about yourself?

I played Belle in my High Schools production of Beauty and the Beast! It was such an exciting role!

 

Kristin Cooksey

Intern for Crossing Kids Large Group Teams

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Columbia, MO

Where do you go to school?

Stephens College

What are you studying?

I am a theater major and hope to open my own children’s theater company that performs in hospitals across the state of Missouri.

What excited you the most about being a Crossing Kids intern?

I am most excited to get to know the staff and members of The Crossing better and to learn more about the “big picture” of the ministry.  

What is a fun/random fact about yourself?

I have a bad habit of being too fast for automatic doors and often dressing like an 80′s work out video. 


Crossing Kids: Sunday January 22, 2012

 5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Music, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning, Volunteers  No Responses »
Jan 222012
 

Little Ones

Monthly Topic:  “M” is for Miraculous

Big Idea:  Jesus performed many miracles, proving He was God. He is Mmm, Mmm, Miraculous!

Memory Verse:  “With God, all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

Bible Story Focus:  Jesus calms a storm  (Mark 4:35-41; Matt. 8:23-27)

Teachable Moments:  
Jesus is so amazing! He stopped a raging storm with just a few words! Make your own storm this week and see how fast you can stop it. Get an empty water bottle and fill it halfway with water. Add two drops of blue food coloring and then fill the rest of the bottle with cooking oil. Put the top back on tightly. You can even hot glue or duct tape it. Now, give the bottle to your little one and let her make a storm by shaking the bottle. Shout “Stop!” See how long it takes the storm to calm down. Retell the Bible story using your storm bottle, your Bible, or the Jesus Storybook Bible (236-243).

Monthly Song

“Oh Yea He Can” from I Count on You 

 

Preschool

Monthly Topic:  “M” is for Miraculous

Big Idea:  Jesus performed many miracles, proving He was God. He is Mmm, Mmm, Miraculous!

Memory Verse:  “With God, all things are possible.” – Matthew 19:26

Bible Story Focus:  Jesus feeds 5000 people | Mark 6:30-44; Matt. 14:13-21;              Luke 9:10-17

 Monthly Songs

“How Great is Our God” from I Believe

“Powerful” from Phil Joel, Deliberate Kids

 

Dinner Table Discussion

Discuss the following questions as a family during dinner this week.  They’re meant to prompt further conversation about what was experienced on Sunday morning.

I Wonder Questions:

I wonder…what miracle did Jesus perform with bread and fish?

He took very little food and multiplied (or made more) of it until it fed thousands of people and there was even leftovers!

I wonder…how many loaves of bread and how many fish did Jesus start with?

            Jesus started with five loaves of bread and two fish.

I wonder…how did Jesus show he loved all those people?

Jesus showed he loved them by making enough food so that they wouldn’t be hungry any more.

I wonder…what did the disciples think when they started passing around the baskets?

They probably wondered what the people would say when the food ran out – or maybe how it was going to be enough.  Maybe they were afraid the people would be angry with them when there was not enough food.  Maybe they were amazed as the baskets kept having enough food for each group of people that ate out of them!

 

Kindergarten – 4th Grade

Topic: Miracles of Jesus in the Book of John

Dates: January 8-February 5, 2012

Memory Verse:  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.  John 20:31

Unit Overview: In this unit, children will study five different miracles recorded in the gospel of John.  Students will learn that these miracles were supernatural events or signs that pointed people to God.  Even more so, students will explore how each miracle tells us about who Jesus is so that we might continue to grow in our faith and relationship with him.

Big Ideas: Children will learn:

*       Jesus’ miracles reveal who He is and what He came to do

*       Jesus’ miracles remind us of our need to be spiritually healed.  God rescued those who believe and trust in him when he died on the cross and rose from the dead. —This is the ultimate miracle!

*       Jesus’ miracles are a sign to all people

*       God gives abundantly and works to a much greater purpose than we can imagine

*       God cares about our concerns

Ways to Follow Up at Home: 

Read the following passages on different nights and ask, “What does this miracles tell us about who Jesus is/what He came to do?”

Miracles:

-       Changing Water to Wine (John 2:1-11)

-       Healing at the Pool (John 4:46-54)

-       Feeding the 5000 (John 5:1-17)

-       Walking on Water (John 6:1-21)

-       Healing the Blind Man (John 9:1-41)

Check out a copy of our family devotional in the Children’s Ministry Registration Area.  This will walk your family through the book of John in 21 weeks.

 Monthly Songs

“Here I am to Worship” by Tim Hughes

“Glory to God Forever” from JUMP

“No One Like You” from Have You Heard? by Promiseland Kids

 

5th Grade

Grapple Question:  Why Did God Create Me?

Kids Learn:  Friendship With God

Dig Into the Bible:

Psalm 139:1-12; Romans 5:8-11; Ephesians 2:10

What’s your favorite thing about your child? Why not come up with a top-10 list of great stuff about your son or daughter? It’s easy for your child to forget in the midst of braces and Oxy 10 that God loves each of us, zits and all, and wants to have a friendship with us. God knows us through and through. The preteen years are full of fickle friends and insecurities—it’s great to have a friend like God…and a parent like you!

Must Read for Moms: Loving the Little Years

 Book Review, Parents  No Responses »
Jan 132012
 

I Like Order. Do You?

My poor sweet, patient husband.  I nearly read the entire book of Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches out loud to him a few weeks ago because I couldn’t stop laughing and relating to what Rachel Jankovic wrote.

You see, I have three kids ages 4 and under. Don’t get me wrong.  I like my kids a lot lot lot. But…I also like order. I like checking things off my “to do” list.  I like a good night of sleep. I like walking through my kitchen without crushing a rogue cheerio or stepping in a mysterious puddle of liquid.  I like an uninterrupted meal or conversation or shower.

Can you relate in any small way yet?  If so, you’ll understand right away why this delightful and pithy parenting book had me hooked from the first paragraph…

“If there is anything I have learned in the course of my fast and furious mothering journey, it is that there is only one thing in my entire life that must be organized.  The kids can be running like a bunch of hooligans through a house that appears to be at the bottom of a toaster, and yet, if organization and order can still be found in my attitude, we are doing well.  But if my attitude falters, even in the midst of external order, so does everything else.”

The State of Your Heart Is…

Loving the Little Years overflows with practical biblical advice and personal stories from a mother who not only is living the little kid chaos herself (she has five kids ages 5 and under!), but who is clearly wise beyond her years. Over and over, Jankovic beats the drum that “the state of your heart is the state of your home.”

She encourages us to deal with our own sin before dealing with our kids’ problems.  She challenges us to make spending time teaching, training, and loving on our children more important than keeping an organized and clean home.  She inspires us to relax and have a sense of humor in it all.  And, most importantly, she alludes again and again that parenting this way is all by the grace of God and not our own doing.

A Fresh Perspective

As the foreword says, “Sometimes…we need someone to open a window and let a breeze blow into the room that we didn’t realize had gotten so stuffy.  This book is about opening the windows.”  I would agree.  It’s not as if what Jankovic writes is new.  Instead, it’s age-old advice written through the lens of a witty, seemingly humble mother of small kids.

Since reading it, I’ve begun to refocus on what is truly important during these little years.  I’ve found myself being less resentful that I can’t sit down during lunch.  And, I’ve gained a bit more of a sense of humor about the intense chaos that inevitably ensues at least once (usually more times) a day.  This is one of those books I will be revisiting again and again while I’m in this parenting stage.

Join Our Book Discussion

We invite you to join our Legacy Book Discussion for Moms over Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches on Sunday, February 5 at 11 a.m. in Rom 201.  If you’d like to come, please sign up and/or buy the book at the table in the foyer this Sunday, January 15 or 22 or online.  We hope to see you there!

Story Street in the Classroom

 Family, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning, Volunteers  No Responses »
Jan 122012
 

On Tuesday Candace introduced us to Story Street, the new preschool curriculum we are introducing in Crossing Kids this year. Every Sunday at The Crossing preschoolers enter Story Street as they head to the large group room for a Bible lesson and worship through music and dancing. So far the kids and volunteers are loving the new lessons!

In Crossing Kids classrooms we want to help make the Big Idea “stick” each week. Whether it is a game, craft, or a purposeful conversation during free play, our volunteers have ways to bring up the lesson in the classroom each week. Here are a few new things we are doing this year to help make the Big Idea “stick” in new ways:

Letter of the Month


The letter of the month will be framed in each classroom as well as hung on the wall. The letter represents the characteristic of Jesus on which we are currently focusing. This month we are learning that M is for Miraculous because “Jesus is Mmm, Mmm, Miraculous”. Look out for a fun letter M in a frame on the counter as well as the “M is for Miraculous” poster on the wall.

Bible Verse Poster

The verse for the month is also on a poster in the classroom. Leaders will use this to review the verse as the kids play, do activities, and eat snack.

Word on the Street Stickers

During check out each week we now have round stickers that say “Ask me the word on the street”. We want each child to go home wearing one. This is a great way for parents to ask about the morning’s lesson on the car ride home. 

As usual, we will always have our take home sheet outside the classroom door that gives more details on the morning’s lesson.

New Activities

Just like our curriculum has been written by our new Preschool Writing Team, our activities have been created by our new Preschool Activity Team. Last fall we gathered a team of fun and creative volunteers to help us write classroom activities to accompany our new lessons. Each morning our preschoolers do a pre-lesson (Make it Fun) activity to prepare them for what they will learn in large group. After the teaching time they do a post-lesson (Make it Stick) activity to reinforce what they have learned. Here is what we did during the 8:00 & 11:00 services last Sunday:

Make it Fun :: Dead or Alive Graph

This activity should take place before large group.

Supplies:

  • Living/Non-Living T-chart on poster board (one per room) with Velcro on each side
  • Blue painter’s tape to hang the chart
  • Living and non-living pictures printed onto cardstock and cut out w/ Velcro on the back (5 of each for each room)

Directions:

  • Tape the T-chart to the wall
  • Sit in a circle on the floor and choose 10 children to pick a picture.
  • Talk about living and non-living things. (Ex: plants and animals are alive, toys and rocks are not, etc)
  • Help each child as a group decide where to place the picture on the graph. (Ex: tree under living, rock under non-living, etc)

What You Say:

Today we looked through our pictures to decide what is living and what is not. In large group we are going to learn a story about Jesus bringing something that was dead back to life again.

Make it Stick :: Girl Puppet

This activity should take place after large group.

Supplies:

  • Cardstock girl puppet (one per child: picture of a girl printed on ¼ piece cardstock and taped to a popsicle stick)
  • Yarn cut into small pieces (about 15-20 per child put in ziploc bag for each child)
  • Glue sticks (one per child)

Directions:

  • With children seated at the tables, give each child a girl puppet and a Ziploc bag of yarn pieces
  • Have children use glue stick to glue the yarn “hair” to the girl

What You Say:

In our story Jesus told the little girl to stand up. Can you lay your puppet down? Can you make her stand up? It was miraculous when Jesus told her to get up and she did.

I wonder…what miracle did Jesus perform for Jairus?

He brought his daughter back to life.

I wonder…can we bring people or pets back to life?

No, only Jesus has conquered (or has power over) death.  He can do things we can’t do because He is God and we are not.

I wonder…what other Bible story tells us about how Jesus conquered death?

The Easter story tells us about how Jesus died on the cross, but rose again and lives with us.  He was so miraculous and so powerful that death could not keep Him in the grave.

 

I am excited about all of the new things we are doing in Crossing Kids this year, and I hope that your family is too. We would love to hear how you make the Big Idea “stick” at home this week. Leave a comment and let us know!

Legacy Seminars

 Elementary, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool  Comments Off
Jan 112012
 

Every parent is going to leave a spiritual legacy whether intended or not. What will yours be? The Bible teaches that the heart of God is primarily communicated through the heart of the family. This means that spiritual leadership in a family resides mainly with you, the parent. So, Crossing Kids wants to help you understand the role God’s given you as the primary spiritual leader to your family, as well as equip and resource you to accomplish this weighty task. That’s why we’re offering the Legacy Series this semester.

All seminars will take place on Sundays during the 11:00 am service.

January 15 – Faith Talks for Preschoolers

For:  Parents of preschoolers (ages 2-5)

What:  Practical help to equip you to have spiritual conversations with your preschooler.

Led by:  Kermit and Nicole Summerall

 

Every Sunday in February – Discovery Class For Kids

For: 4th and 5th grade children AND their parents  *Parental involvement is required.

What:  This is a special four-week class designed to help kids take the next step in growing their faith in Christ and participating in the church. This class will not only help kids to grapple with the truth of the gospel but will also help them to understand the crucial role of the Bible, the church, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper in their spiritual development. Parents will have the opportunity to participate in facilitated discussions with their child in order to apply the content to the unique spiritual development of their child.

Led by:  Kermit Summerall and Ross Dixon

 

February 5 – Book Discussion for Moms

For:  Mothers with young children

What:  Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic offers moms with young children practical biblical wisdom, several “I can so relate” laughs, and a change of perspective for this intense time of parenting.  Pick up this delightful, quick read and sign up at the table in the foyer on Sunday, January 15 or 22 or online. Then, join us for snacks and discussion.

Led by:  Rachel Tiemeyer and Kelley Wampler

 

February 26 – God Gave Me a Baby, Now What?

For: Parents who are expecting or have an infant or 1-year-old

What:  Learn three essentials of spiritual leadership for every growing family.

Led by:  Nathan and Rachel Tiemeyer

 

March 4 – Faith Talks for Elementary Kids

For:  Parents of elementary-aged kids (K-5th)

What:  Practical help to equip you to have spiritual conversations with your elementary-aged child.

Led by:  John and Bissy Crosby

You can sign up for these seminars here.

Welcome to Story Street…

 Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning  No Responses »
Jan 102012
 

If you have a preschooler or little one, you have noticed a few changes taking place on Sunday mornings.  Beginning January 1st, Crossing Kids introduced Story Street; a mock of Sesame Street that teaches kids about God’s word.  The Story Street curriculum was created by our new preschool writing team (a blog on that coming later) and will be used for the entire 2012 year.

On the first Sunday of each month, kids are met by a mailman in their large group time that will bring a package containing the new letter of the month.  Each letter is the beginning to a word that we will focus on for the entire month, a word that describes God. This month (January), the mailman brought us the leter “M” because we are learning that Jesus is Mmm, Mmm, Miraculous.  We will spend this month focusing on five of Jesus’ miracles through out the Bible while we learn that Jesus can do things we can’t do because He is God. Check the take home sheets and blog to keep up with what letter we are learning about each month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids will be meeting lots of new friends on Story Street.  Fredward, our man in the can, has been with us since the Funky Bunk days and has agreed to a new home on Story Street.  He helps us remember our large group rules every Sunday.

We are also met with several other friends that live on Story Street.  These puppets are the “same age” as our preschoolers and learn alongside them every week.

When your kids leave their classrooms on Sunday morning, you will notice a sticker that says “Ask Me: the word on the street”.  During our lessons, kids will be memorizing scripture.  On Story Street, we say that this is “the word on the street”. This month, the word on the street is “With God, all things are possible” Matthew 19:26.  Help your kids memorize scripture by asking them to tell you the word on the street. You can also continue coversations at home by picking up a Take Home sheet that will not only inform you deeper on your child’s morning, but will also give you some “I wonder…” questions for your family to discuss during the week.

Story Street if formatted to, in some ways, mirror the big worship service.  We wants kids to grasp what it is like to attend a worship service, but in an age appropriate way.  They will be taking an offering, hearing a Bible Story, and worshipping with music.  We hope kids come to church on Sunday mornings, excited to learn from God’s word, the Bible.

 

The Image of the Invisible God (John 1)

 5th Grade, Devotional, Elementary, Family, Parents  No Responses »
Jan 092012
 

With the beginning of a new year comes the opportunity to start fresh. Perhaps you have spent some time reflecting on things you would like to be true of yourself and your family in 2012. For many Christians, reading the Bible more consistently often tops the list of resolutions to exercise more, eat less, budget, etc… Many of us believe in the importance of spending time in God’s word. We often understand the “why,” but in order for our good intentions to become a reality we must also consider the “when” and the “how.” We know how daunting this process can feel and would like to come alongside your family and help equip you in this process.

Each Monday this semester, we will post part of our new Crossing Kids Family Devotional: “The Image of the Invisible God.”  This devotional is designed to help families read through the book of John in 21 weeks and correlates with our elementary Sunday morning curriculum that also focuses on the same book of the Bible.  You can also pick up a copy along with the sticker page at the Crossing Kids Welcome Center or download the printable version.

Each week, your family will read one chapter, discuss a few questions, and discover what the Bible has to say about who Jesus is. One unique feature of this Gospel is that John uses word pictures to help us understand the nature and character of Jesus. As you work through this devotional, you will have the opportunity to keep track of these images in the “Making it Stick” portion.  Consider trying this before, during, or after a meal or right before bed on a designated night.

The central theme of this Gospel is found in John 20:31. It is also our prayer for you and your family as you spend time in God’s Word together this semester.

But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 

The White Couch

 Art, Elementary, Family, Parents, Preschool, Volunteers  1 Response »
Jan 062012
 

When I was a child, my parents had a white couch in our living room. White! I have no idea how they acquired this couch, but I’m pretty sure it wasn’t the best furniture choice for a family of with two active little girls. All I remember is that my sister and I (along with our pets) left our imprint on that couch over the years. Grape juice, dirt, finger paint, dog hair, spaghetti hands, chocolate milk, puke, glitter, you name it…we got it on that couch. When I was in fifth or sixth grade, we finally got rid of that white couch and I remember being a little sad to see it go. So many stains left from so many years of growing up. In some ways, that white couch was the tangible canvas of my sister’s and my childhood. If that couch could talk, it would tell stories of family movie nights, sleepovers, sick days, cushion wars, family meetings, and Saturday morning cartoons.

The memories of the white couch came flooding back when I came across pictures from the This is Colossal blog of an art exhibit by Yayoi Kusama at the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art. In this collaborative project, the artist staged a room for a canvas with white chairs, tables, lamps, and walls. Over the course of two weeks, she invited thousands of children to come and leave their mark on the room with colorful stickers. The once white room slowly transformed over time into a vibrant burst of color and movement. Here are some photos of the project from the Queensland Art Gallery.

Amazing, isn’t it? What strikes me most about this project is each sticker represents a moment in time for a child. Over time, this white room came to life because life happened in it. The canvas speaks because of the movement and life of little hands, thoughtfully and creatively leaving their marks on the white. Children cannot enter a white room and just leave it white. They are compelled to be a part of it, to collaborate in making it more lovely, and to add a piece of their thinking to it.

To me, this piece of art is a reminder that children leave their mark on the world. Every child you know will contribute something to this world of ours. They are created by God to do so. The question is: what will they contribute? And as their parents and teachers, do we have influence in their contribution?

God teaches us in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not turn from it.”

When we teach children about the gospel of Christ, live it out in our homes and at church, model it for them, and help their eyes see Christ’s beauty, we can be a part of God changing their hearts for His kingdom. When children live for Christ, they will impact our world for the Kingdom of God.

Imagine the white room is our fallen empty world and each colored sticker is the light of Christ being spread through the words and actions of children who growing up believing the Gospel. The stickers speak of hours of conversations, prayers, reading God’s word, and worshipping our King. The stickers speak of families talking about God over dinner, singing about Him in their cars and bringing their concerns to Him through prayer. They also speak of Crossing Kids teachers helping open children’s eyes to God’s love through endless hours of play, singing, conversations, and activities. The stickers are the impact children leave on this world. But as the primary adults in their lives, we help influence the color and hue of what those stickers say. Imagine if we could help each child want to shine the light of Christ in the world and live their lives in devotion to proclaiming His glory!  It takes time and effort and creativity and thoughtfulness and patience and even more time, but in the end, we will see the beauty of Christ, reveled through God our Creator, more clearly as His light and color explodes in our empty vast darkness.

Now, that’s a project I want to be a part of.

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