Amazing!

Over the years in ministry, I have always sought out what I thought to be the most relevant curriculums available for our children and youth students.  Many times I took the time to write my own lessons as I felt that most of the products on the market would not catch the attention of the students in our church, due to the somewhat unique environment we live in within California and the North Bay Area to be more specific.

In the mid-1990’s though, I felt that I had found Nirvana with the introduction of Willie George Ministries newly upgraded Children’s curriculum which combined live Praise and Worship with video drama segments, puppet skits, a terrific, Word-filled interactive teaching and object lessons.  We built a two story puppet stage in our Children’s Activity Center and developed a ministry theme that excited our young participants as well as the entire church family!  During that fun period of time I enjoyed writing and directing All-Church programs that intertwined our Children’s Ministry’s musical themes with our puppet characters and adult actors.  Like the time we used our biggest church ushers to act as bodyguards escorting our ex-mafia-now-saved puppet Godfather through the audience into the puppet stage!

In one particular episode of Willie George’s children’s video series “The Gospel Bill Show” (Later upgraded to “Bill Gunter-US Marshal” and then renamed “The Cimarron Strip” when it was shown in select markets on national TV) one of the characters named Elmer Barnes excitedly replies to his friend Nicodemus when Nic gave him some ridiculous advice on how to keep his pet worms warm saying “Nicodemus, you’re amazing!”*

That video clip jumped into my consciousness this morning as I was doing a word study on the term “fear” from Proverbs 3:7.  The King James Version tells us to “Fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”  I believe the meaning of this word when associated with our relationship to our loving heavenly Father is not meant to be one of fright, but instead of reverential awe and respect.  It was one of Thayer’s definitions of the Greek word for “fear” in this verse that sent me down memory lane though!  He stated that it is like “those struck with amazement.”

That jumped started my thoughts about where I am in my personal relationship with Jesus.  I had to stop right then and there at my desk and honestly ask myself if I was still “AMAZED” by God in my daily life. As I fast-forwarded though my recent activities, I could see places where I still experienced the awesomeness of God and then other areas where He had sort of taken a back seat! 

As I mentioned earlier this month, my wife and I are currently in a place where we are making some significant changes in our lives.  What I realized this morning is that even though it was the Lord who has been directing us to do it, I was beginning to put more stock in the natural side of things as it makes good sense emotionally, physically and financially to go forward with the changes.  That’s not to say that we shouldn’t do things because they make good sense, but to always keep THE DIRECTOR in focus first and foremost over the natural wisdom of the actions.  I saw today, that as I focused strictly on the natural means, I was beginning to lose the excitement and zeal that had accompanied God’s original command to “Go!”

When I adjusted my focus back on how amazing He is, the former excitement returned!  In the past, many times His Word was all we had to go on as we followed His directions, so we were forced to keep our eyes solely on Him.  This time around though, many of the physical attributes of His plan are visibly in motion and I was reminded that I still needed to keep my eyes on Him!

So let me ask you today… Is He still AMAZING to you?  Are you as excited about Him and the plans and purposes He has for you as when He first began to show you what He has in store for you?  Does your heart skip a beat when you think on Him and His Word?  If not, then it’s probably time for some rearranging!  Knowing Him as AMAZING is an EXCITING place to be!  Have a great day.  Stay in tune to His Word, and keep asking yourself… “What AMAZING THINGS am I expecting today?”

Willie George Children's Ministry products are available at The Church on the Move website: http://store.churchonthemove.com/collections/kids-on-the-move-curriculum