Author Archives: Jeremy Lee
Schedule
Time Management for Your Family
Email 1
Subject line: Managing the Time Monster
Copy/Paste the following email
Parents,
Most families today will tell you they’re too overextended, too busy, feel like they’re running a rate race; yet we’ve all been given a gift from God, 24 hours in a day. If you’re like me you’ve often wondered why in the world God only put 24 in there! Each of us has the same amount of time each day, but we all get to choose how we use it.
This month we want to help you discover HOW to manage your family’s time well. Take a moment to watch the following video to see how to manage the time monster:
http://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/92234304/2643c29f03
We encourage you to take the time and really evaluate the 24 hours God has given your family. How exactly are you using the time given to you?
In the next couple weeks you’ll receive a second email from us that will include some steps your family can take to tame the time monster.
Thanks,
Children’s Pastor
Email 2
Subject line: Managing the Time Monster with my Family
Parents,
A ton of research associated with time management emphasizes setting goals so that you know where to invest your time most. An incredible resource that will help you identify family goals in a step by step process is “The 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family.” When we know what is most important to us it helps guide the use of our time.
Here are some very practical tools to help your family move from frantic hurriedness to calm predictability:
- Learn the power of NO. We all want our children to be great, and often it’s at the expense of family time. In an effort to make our children the BEST at something, we’ll over invest our time toward that goal.
- Stop trying to do it all and determine priorities. If eating family dinners together 3 nights per week is a goal, someone may have to say no to another opportunity to assure that happens.
- Be very intentional with the time you do have. Steer clear of cruising facebook or twitter without setting some time constraints on yourself.
- Give up on the idea of perfectionism and the idea that you can do it all.
- Make sure everyone in the house is sharing responsibility, that everyone has certain jobs/tasks.
- Think ahead and plan well/organize your time
The Bible has a lot to say about our use of time. There are many verses that lead me to believe
God desperately wants us to understand how BREIF life is. Psalm 39:4-5 says,
“O Lord, make me know my end
and what is the measure of my days;
let me know how fleeting I am!
Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,
and my lifetime is as nothing before you.
Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath!
Each moment of our families’ lives are measured out, and God alone knows the number of them. We each have the ability to choose how we use the ones we have by living in the present, being very intentional with the time we do have, and loyally following through with the goals we set as a family.
Thanks,
Children’s Pastor
Some of my favorite memories growing up as a kid are Saturdays that our family spent together at my Grandparent’s farm. Nothing planned, just a full day playing with my cousins on the farm. Those days were filled with exploration, adventure and a few cuts and scrapes! Building forts made out of hay, riding 4 wheelers, and fishing in the pod had our full attention every visit we made to the farm. When I think back about those days what was astounding was that as a kid one day felt like a week on the farm. Each of those days seemed so long and filled with so much wonder. As I grew up those experiences quickly diminished, as time seemed to move faster and faster year after year. Now as a parent it’s like time is suddenly moving at warp speed. It seems like when we start the first day of a new school year with my girls I blink and we are prepping for summer break. I look at our family calendar and it’s packed with activities, practices, and meetings. My kid’s schedules look much the same. We’re surrounded by time saving conveniences that have allowed us to live at a pace that is exhausting and many times makes us miss spending real time with the people we love.
It almost feels like time is a fast paced monster that we can’t seems to capture or control. Time can seem like Godzilla crashing through our lives. This month in our online parenting class we want to tackle the time monster and see if we can discover a better pace for our families. It’s been said that busyness is the enemy of marriage, but I believe it’s the enemy of the family as well. A strong family identity helps a child develop a healthy and strong self-identity. How we manage time has a direct correlation to our ability to be effective as parents because how we leverage time reveals what we believe is important. The way we manage time reveals our priorities.
Let me give you some good news. This month we are going to give you some hope when it comes to controlling the monster that time has become in our lives. God knew we would struggle with this issue so from the very beginning of creation we see God model the importance of managing the blessing of time. In the book of Genesis we see God actually take time to rest. Look at this…
Genesis 2:1-3 (NLT)
So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed.
On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from all his work of creation.
God had been busy. God had just created the universe. God has just invested 6 days of time creating and then God stops and rests. God actually took time to rest, process, and evaluate what he done. This is incredible because God was intentional with his time. God did not get ahead on His next project; He was fully present in this moment of creation and took time to rest.
The first critical step to managing time more effectively is to decide to be intentional about it and realize that when you manage time well you actually reveal how grateful you are for time. We are all given the same 24 hours in a day. The difference between people who accomplish great things, like being a great parent, those who just get by is that they recognize and leverage the time they have been given. When we decide to be intentional about time and choose to manage our families time, we have a better shot of living in the present verses always dreaming about that mythical some day when we will give to time to what matters most. When we steward the time we have been given we actually worship God because we are giving focus to what matters most rather that what screams the loudest for our attention.
We all have too little time and too much to do. We are all stretched thin but we need to remember that what gets most of your time is what is most important to us. We complain about not having enough time for our families, but we aren’t willing to truly evaluate HOW we use the 24 hours God gives us each day. This week we want you to take a step toward getting control of the time monster in your house and decide to be intentional about the use of time in your home. Let’s choose to be intentional and see what can happen we say yes to the most important things and no to things that are good but are acting as time detours.
This week you have one goal. Take one day and log how you spend your time to gauge what receives most of your time. Don’t freak out when you see the results. This process is just to inform us so we can start being more intentional with time in our families.
In a few days we will send you part 2 of this online parenting class and walk through some keys to help your family move from frantic to focused! Time is a gift from God so let’s use it well this month.
Weekly tweets from you to parents:
TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell twitter to store a list of your tweets in one place for later reference.
- TWEET #1-How we leverage time reveals what is most important to us. #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #2-Busyness is the enemy of marriage and family. #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #3-Let’s be good stewards of time, worshipping God through our wise use of time. To live intentionally, live fully in the present, not always planning for the future. #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #4-Ephesians 5:15-16 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time. #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #5-Look at the creation story in Genesis 2. God was very intentional with His time. #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #6-Children are a blessing from the Lord, take time to enjoy them. #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #7-Check out the book, 3 Big Questions for a Frantic Family #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #8-When you manage time well, you reveal how grateful you are for time. #urchurchparentministry
- TWEET #9-Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom. #urchurchparentminstry
- TWEET #10-Time is a gift from God, so let’s use it well. #urchurchparentministry
5th Grade
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
5th grade-An invitation to IDENTITY, ROPE-Identity symbol
As parents face that their child is getting ready to leave elementary school, fear can creep in. It’s clear that God doesn’t give us a spirit of fear, so how do we help parents embark on this new phase with boldness? The 5th grade ROPE will guide parents to help their child see WHO they are by inviting import- ant people in the child’s life to write a letter telling him/her WHO he/she is. Parents will take this a step farther by looking at the letters to discover an identity symbol that can be presented from the content. This RIte Of Passage Experience helps kids boldly carry on in life beginning to realize the INDIVIDUAL God has created him/her to be.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.
4th Grade
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
4th grade-An invitation to FRIENDSHIP, ROPE-Art of Friendship
Children in 4th grade are beginning to develop significant friendships. For the first time they may be telling their friends something they’re not telling their parents. How do we help parents navigate the process of coaching our children to choose the right friends, how do we make sure our child is being a good friend. This ROPE is designed to help parents have intentional conversations that will lead their child to be a good friend.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.
3rd Grade
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
3rd grade-An invitation to RHYTHM, ROPE-Time Gift
In talking with parents of 3rd graders, the constant theme of conversations was “life is just too busy right now. 3rd graders have begun to understand their talents and have jumped in full force to after school activities. Juggling school, ballet, soccer, piano, homework, chores, friends, church and family time is hard! This is the year to help children discover how to find rhythm in life and responsibilities.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.
2nd Grade
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
2nd grade-An invitation to THE BIBLE, ROPE-Bible presentation
Most kids are reading this year, so what better time to engage them in reading God’s love story! Reading opens up so many conversations and life experiences, and we want to help parents point children to the best book ever written and equip them in teaching their child HOW to read the Bible.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.
1st Grade
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
1st grade-An invitation to RESPONSIBILITY, ROPE-Blessing Box
1st graders are entering the “big kid” stage. The level of responsibility demanded between kindergarten and 1st grade is drastically different. These kids are riding buses, doing homework, carrying notes to and from home, etc. This is the year to help them understand what responsibility is and empower them to become a big kid by telling them all the ways they’re responsible.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.
Kindergarten
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
Kindergarten-An invitation to GENEROSITY, ROPE-Serving Project
They are beginning the phase of independence. Whether your child is at half-day or all-day kindergarten or is home schooled, they are going to be spending some amount of time away from you for the first time. This can be both scary and exciting for parents. But rest assured — your child is ready for this change. Here are some of the developmental changes they are experiencing right now.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.
Year 4
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
Invitation to Independence
This Rite of Passage will help parents set their child up to enter kindergarten with independence.It will give parents some steps to ensure their child is as prepared as possible.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.
Year 3
Why Should Parents Do This Rite of Passage?
How Do Parents Plan This Rite of Passage?
Big Kid Bed
Moving from the crib to a big kid bed is a big step. This Rites of Passage guides parents through a big kid bed ceremony where parents write a verse/prayer on the big kid bed and friends/family gather to read scripture/pray over the bed.
Included in this Rite of Passage Experience
Kickstarters to help give Biblical Background to the Rite of Passage. These Kickstarters will help inspire the Parents to see the “Big Picture” behind the Rites of Passage Experience.
Parent Planning Guide that will walk the Parents you serve step-by-step through the process of carrying out this Rite of Passage in their home.
Developmental Guide that will give the Parents you serve a snapshot of what is happening physically, mentally, and emotionally during this stage of their child’s life.
Resource Materials that include the Video Scripts for this Rite of Passage. You can use these scripts to make your own videos if you would like to.
Download Videos
Download Resources
What do I do now?
As a subscriber to ParentMinistry.net for Preschool you have a license to share this material to anyone in your church.
- You can download this material and make physical copies of it to pass out to the Parents in your ministry.
- You can download the content from our website and upload it to your church’s website. This will give you helpful content to offer parents of preschoolers in your church.
- You can email these resources to the Parents in your ministry and offer them the opportunity to do the Rites of Passage Experiences in their home.
- You can host an event at your church for the Parents to preview the Rites of Passage Experience and plan how they can do them in their home.
PARENT MINISTRY TIP: One of the best ways to start the Rites of Passage Experience is to recruit an influential family to try each Rite of Passage. These “early adopters” can share with other families about their experience.