Next Generation Ministry Blog

"When you count your weeks, you make your weeks count." ~Reggie Joiner

For some time now, families at Trinity who bring their children to be baptized receive a jar of marbles.  We do our best to remind parents that we actually want them to loose their marbles (It's what happens when you parent).  Each of those marbles represents one week in the life of your child.  When he or she was born, there were approximately 940 weeks until their graduation from High School.  Each week, the number of marbles decreases just like the number of weeks until high school graduation.

I get it.  For some people, this kind of knowledge makes their breathing both shallow and rapid.  So...

You ignore it.

You ignore the moments, the days, the weeks, the years...and before you know it, you daughter graduated high school as is moving to California to attend school and become a filmmaker.  And you wonder...

Where did it all go?

Reggie Joiner asks, "What if you could find a balance between living in denial that your kid will pack their bags and move out one day, and the sheer panic that makes you double-bolt and padlock the doors to keep them in?"

Visualizing time helps us stay focused on what maters.  Whether or not you realize it - you're making history.  

This is exactly the point.

As a next generation team - we are passionate about forming faith in another generation of disciple makers.  And make no mistake,  our prayer is more than a Sunday faith.  We want a spirit-powered, passion-fueled, love-giving faith.  And as parents, we're the number 1 teacher.  

Ask yourself - who do you want your kids to become? What do you want them to able to do when they leave your house?  What kind of character do you hope the exhibit?  The answer to these questions need to inform and shape how we disciple our children.  

I'll tell you want I want to see in my girls through the prayer I'm praying for them.  It comes straight from Ephesians 3.  I'm praying 

1. that from God's unlimited resources, they would be empowered by the Spirit
2. that Christ would make his home in their hearts as they trust Him
3. that their roots grow down deep into God's love in order to be kept strong
4. that they would experience, over and over, the love of Christ (which is too great to understand)

I dare you to join me in this prayer for your children as well!  As you do, find a way to visualize time...count it...so your weeks count.