Swisherboy and Plungerman

Two Super Hero characters from Xtreme Feats curriculum.

Creating not surviving.

This afternoon I picked up a book- one in a stack of books I’m hoping to read during my 52 books in one year challenge-The Artisan Soul by Erwin Raphael McManus. I’m only on page 7 and so far I love the book. I can’t say I recommend it yet- since, yeah, only on page 7. But pretty sure this is going to be a keeper.

I had a thought I had to share. Before the weekend services start and we launch into another time of doing what we do.

McManus says, “To deny our creative nature is to choose a life where we are less and thus responsible for less. We see ourselves as created beings, so we choose to survive. When we see ourselves as creative beings, we must instead create.”

I love this.

How many of us are just choosing to survive in kid’s ministry or as parents? We were created to do this so onward we go with the task. Trying to do it and survive.

What if instead of surviving we create? What if we look at this Sunday (or Sat night or whenever you have your big event) as an opportunity to CREATE an experience for kids? To CREATE an atmosphere where they will connect with Jesus and with each other? To CREATE a venue that is safe and fun. To CREATE memories that they will carry with them.

Each of us is a creative being. We can all create in some way. The way we help kids develop relationships. The new administrative skills we use. The eye-popping props or sets that grace the kid’s ministry area. The energetic dance steps and moves we celebrate with. The stories we weave into imaginative minds. Whatever it is that is your strength, use it to create this weekend.

My desktop on my mac says simply, “CREATE” as a daily reminder. I don’t want to forget that I’m made to create. I don’t want to just survive.

How are you creating a space for kids to connect with Jesus and to each other?