I'm a blessed man!

I love being a dad! I love my wife! You don't have to be around me very long to know that I love my girls and their husbands! I'm also pretty smittened by my grandson! He's mighty special!

I'm also proud of all my Timothy's and "church kids" who have allowed me to be a spiritual father! As I think about my life today all I can say is "I am a blessed man!

Psalm 112:1-3 (NIV1984) says: 1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in his commands.
2 His children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed.
3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

I'm so glad not only that I made Jesus my saviour my Senior year of high school but I'm so glad each day of my life I get to choose him to be my Lord and Master.

Today once again I choose Jesus' way for my life and I choose to find great delight in His commands!

That's my prayer for you parents, leaders & friends! Fear the Lord and find great delight in His commands!

I can't believe how sweet people have been to me lately. Down threw the years I've been honored by churches I've served and several organizations and Kidmin publications, they have been so kind and I appreciate their love but earlier this year my friend Michael Chanley and the INCM did something very, very special they honored my whole family. I could not be who I am without  my wonderful wife and children! INCM interviewed my family and presented me with the first ever LEGACY AWARD for my lifetime achievement in Children's Ministry.

Chanley asked Yancy to write me a song. This truly was the greatest gift I have every been given by anyone other than Jesus himself.

Here are the words she wrote and sang for me...

When your heart is filled with gratitude

What do you say

Do you write a letter or pick up the phone

So they'll hear it right away?

Cause there's one whose always been there

since my very first breath

There's a lot of thank yous now overdue

that are running through my head

It's not just what you said

but how you chose to live

You've made a lifetime of memories

And your time is well spent

Cause you taught us to

Love, love one another

Love, love God's people

and Love God's word with all our heart

Do what's right at any cost

Give, Give with open hands

Fight, press on to win

This race God made for you

Do what He has called you to

If every child had the parents I have, the world would be much brighter

It's not about being perfect or always right

You're the first to admit you're still learning

and lay down your pride

but You care about your family

and this world God made

and we're all better because of the seeds

you've planted each day

It's not just what you said

but how you chose to live

actions speak louder

and your volume is cranked to ten

Cause you taught us to

Love, love one another

Love, love God's people

and Love God's word with all our heart

Do what's right at any cost

Give, Give with open hands

Fight, press on to win

This race God made for you

Do what He has called you to

If every child had the parents I have, the world would be much brighter

thank you for believing in me

and saying I'm proud of you

and all the things you gave up

so my dreams could come true

There’s a part of me that’s just like you

And I want to make you proud

the words you spoke brought life to me

and I want to thank you now

Cause you taught us to

Love, love one another

Love, love God's people

and Love God's word with all our heart

Do what's right at any cost

Give, Give with open hands

Fight, press on to win

This race God made for you

Do what He has called you to

If every child had the parents I have, the world would be much brighter

If every girl had the daddy I have

This world would be so much brighter

Yancy

©2012 Dried Rose Music (ASCAP)

I never thought I'd hear a summary of everything I've tried to teach and live for my family in a song but the truth is we all do. It's in the song of your family's lives. 

I am one blessed man because of Jesus and I pray today you choose Him and His commands!

Take it from an old guy your children and family will be blessed if you do and you will be too!

Motivating Workers With Thanks

Tonight we are having our annual Worker Celebration. It's one of my favorite events of the year. When I first met the WOC folks was when they attended a conference I was hosting in April 2006. They ask if I could come and help them with their new building and they booked me for December 2006 and also May 2007. By the time I showed up in May 2007 to speak at the Worker Celebration I had begun a new chapter in my life.  Who new that in just 7 months later I'd move to Tennessee. Tonight will be my 5th Celebration in a row. My good friend Johnny Rogers is going to be speaking and I'm excited about kicking off our new recruiting year. I think one of the best way to motavate others is with thanks! Having a Celebration is just one way here's some others...

It is always the right thing to do to give thanks and be thankful.

It’s not just a seasonal thing. It should be a way of life for the Christian. Not only should we practice thanks living but we should also practice thanks giving. All of us like to hear thank you that includes your volunteers.

Here are some practical ideas to motivate your workers with thanks:

1. Begin to say it. Get in the habit of saying thanks. If the Apostle Paul can tell people he thanks God for them every time he thinks about them we can too! Walk around before service & thank workers personally. When you are in front of a group of workers- say thanks. Be on the lookout by catching people doing things right.

2. Begin to write it. The best purchase any children’s leader could make is a box of thank you notes. Write a heartfelt note to your leaders when they’ve done something thanks-worthy. A couple of times a year as well as after every major event send a letter to say thanks. Even a form letter is better than no thank-you at all. Always sign each letter personally and write a short note to personalize it.

Don’t forget Christmas cards, Valentine cards, Birthday cards and Anniversary cards. I’ve found that when I write a personal note on all reports, forms and checklist workers complete so they know you read them and know what they are accomplishing.

3. Begin to show it. Candy treats and little sayings are cute but nothing says thanks better than letting your actions speak louder than words. Things like special worker parking places, breakfast for your volunteers and their families before your earliest service, Worker Appreciation Day as well as a free CD of the service they work shows volunteers you really appreciate them.

4. Invest in them. Plan a retreat or special training event for your workforce that includes training, inspiration, and fun. Bring them as a group to a conference or seminar. Give them training products as gifts. I’m always purchasing books and teaching CD’s for my workers. If a book has blessed you bless someone else with it. I gave every key leader and coordinator in my ministry a copy of my book “Children’s Ministry Leadership-the you-can-do-it guide” sure they enjoyed the book but the fact that I invested in them spoke volumes to them. But the greatest investment is when you give them your time. I take key workers with me all the time; I look for ways to invest myself in them constantly.

It’s never the wrong time to begin to show thanks!

Make thanks giving and thanks living a part of your yearly calendar planning. Look for every opportunity to say thanks, write thanks, show thanks, and invest in your children’s ministry team!