Success or Failure...it's all in how you look at it!

Saturday Snippet! How do we know when one of our events is a success or a failure? First of all...any time that we put our all into serving God...our church...or our kiddo's...it is a success already...we are a success already. God rewards our faithfulness...not our "so called" successes or failures. It's the heart behind what we do that counts! Long before our event even begins...God has already determined that "We" are a success. Secondly, our definition of success and God's definition of success are two very different things. Our definition of success may include thoughts of: "Did I get accomplish everything that I wanted to accomplish?" "Did enough kids show up? If not, why?" "Did everything go the way that I had planned?" "Did the event go as well as everyone else's?" "Did the parent's approve?" etc.etc.etc. We need to get these thought's out of our head! These thought's are the seeds of doubt that Satan plants in our mind so that we are ineffective in our mission. Instead of dwelling on those thoughts, ask yourself these questions instead: "Did the children have fun?" (Because...if they did, you taught them how to love the church...love others...love God...and how to have fun in God's house. When they become teens, they may stray from time to time however, they will come back to the church because they have special memories, felt loved and were accepted. Proverbs 22:6, Luke 15:11-32) "Did any of them make a new friend?" (Because...if they did, that friend may be the one lifelong friend that sticks with them through thick and thin...the one friend who might help them through many of the difficult choices they will be forced to make while growing up. Proverbs 18:24, Proverbs 13:20, Proverbs 17:17) "Did any of the children bring a friend? (Because... if they did, your hard work and perseverance helped them to realize the importance of inviting their friends to church...and pointing them towards a life with Christ. Matthew 19:14) "Were the children having so much fun that you weren't able to fit in all the activities that you had planned?" (Because... if they were, then you were showing them the importance of enjoying life... along with all the hard work that life has to offer. Ecclesiastes 8:15) "Did any of the children ask if they could help with something?" (Because...if they did, then you were teaching them to serve others...and to serve the church. Galatians 6:10) "Did you play games that required the children to follow rules and be honest? (Because... if you did, then you taught them to do the right thing and to speak the truth. Deuteronomy 6:18 and John 8:32) "Did you serve snacks where the children had to be patient and wait their turn? (Because... if you did, you were teaching them patience and how to put others before themselves. Genesis 29:20, Mark 12:31) Did your event go as planned or as well as someone else's? (Perhaps not...and that is ok...because God is teaching YOU to put everything is HIS capable hands...Proverbs 3:5-6) These are the things that the children will remember...you are the teacher they will remember. The teacher who gave her all to make things fun, the teacher who taught them how much fun church can be, the teacher who accepted everyone and made them feel welcome, the teacher who took her/his time to let them be exactly what they are...a kid! When we can let go of what we "think" an event should look like...and just have fun with the kiddo's...when we let God take control...THAT is a successful event. Remember...it doesn't have to be perfect. It only has to be done with lots of love! I bet you will never look at another event quite the same way...will you? “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58 Have a super blessed day...remember to take some time for yourself! Keep doing the amazing job that you are doing! I'll be praying for you!