GREAT READS FOR YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN

Many of you know Jenni Means from her ministry to your children at H@HKids! She is a wonderful encourager to us parents in helping our children engage with Father God. This list of her favorite books is a truly important resource for us all! 

Who doesn’t love a good book! As someone who has been a reading teacher and is a reading lover AND a lover of children, I love it when I find great reads for adults or for children. And what could beat a great book about children!!

Here are a few of my favorites that would be on a MUST READ list for those with a heart for connecting children with our loving Father. After you check out these, won’t you send me a list of your favorites?!

Illustration by Baiba Baiba for the Joan Ganz Cooney Center.

The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name (Sally Lloyd-Jones)

The tagline from the title says it all: Every Story Whispers His Name. A great lens for presenting the Old Testament to children of ALL ages!

Thoughts to Make Your Heart Sing by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Okay, anything and everything by Sally Lloyd Jones!

Eyes That See and Ears that Hear  (Jennifer Toledo)

This is THE book that I wish I had written! Jennifer Toledo reviews some of the many ways that God speaks to us, even from a very young age. This is a manual for parents to help guide their children in discerning the voice of God.

Children and the Supernatural: True Accounts of Kids Unlocking the Power of God Through Visions, Healing, and Miracles (Jennifer Toledo)

A must read for anyone in children’s ministry and for parents who want their paradigm to change regarding how God is using children of all ages in ministry today.

The Inside Story for Girls ages 7-11, from Because of Jesus Ministries

Love this devotional style book for young girls. Filled with stories and activities/puzzles this would make for a great mother/daughter time or personal quiet time for girls.

Here Comes Heaven: A Kids Guide to God’s Supernatural Power (Mike & Marilyn Seth and Bill Johnson)

This is a book FOR kids about kids in a similar vein as Children and the Supernatural, which is for adults about kids. Genuine experiences and wisdom from beloved forerunners in children’s ministry, Mike & Marilyn Seth

Castaway Kid (R.B. Mitchell)

One of the few books that I read in one sitting.  Picked it up and couldn’t put it down.  The true story of an orphaned boy who eventually ages out of one of America’s last children’s homes. A young man’s journey from orphan to his identity as beloved son of God. I have used this book with pre-teen and teenage adopted kids to help generate discussion and healing.

Somebody Loves You Mr. Hatch (Eileen Spinelli)

A top favorite children’s book! Although a Valentines story, I use this book all year round in many circles and age groups. It basically is a story of a man completely transformed just by the knowledge that Somebody loves him. LOVE IT!

Just a few ideas to add to your Christmas list or your shopping list to put some life-changing reading under your Christmas tree!!
So, now it is your turn--what books do you recommend? Share your favorites in the comments!

H@HKIDS! 2013

If you've been following us on Facebook (if you aren't then don't be left out! Click HERE and Like us for ongoing updates and encouragement) then you may have read that we are planning something really exciting and, as far as we know, quite unique for your children-- H@HKids!

Hope at Home Kids (H@HKids!) is an idea God gave us a few years ago as we were meeting to talk and pray about how we can best bring the strengths and gifts God has given us to this community of adoptive and foster parents, people who we truly love in the Lord. We began to imagine what a gift it would be to parents if we created a place where we could join the voices of parents in speaking the Love of God and Identity in Christ to their children. Being adopted or fostered, or being a biological child whose world has radically expanded and changed through adoption or fostering, is a unique reality-- and we are so excited to have the opportunity to walk alongside, to rejoice with and to love on these children, our children.

Identity and the Truth About Lies

Our focus this year on Identity and The Truth About Lies is one with eternal impact. Have you heard Matthew West's song, Child of the One True King? Our H@HKids! Team is excited to walk together with our children as we all hear more from God about who we are in Him, and let go of any lies about our identity that we have believed. This is good stuff! 

Parenting is a Team Sport!

In our church community we love to say that parenting is a team sport. I don't know about you, but the Hillis' and the Templetons have leaned heavily on others to walk with us through the joys and struggles of hearing the call to adopt, waiting for our children to come home, making those huge and significant adjustments for our families as a whole and for each individual in the family once they come home, facing some of the deep issues that so often come with children from a hard past...... You could add to this list I bet!

Hope at Home would love nothing better than to be part of your team as you go through the wonderful process of transforming an orphan into a Son or Daughter.

"Date With God" for Your Children!!

Those of you moms who have been to Created for Care know what this amazing time is that we call a "Date With God." What you may not know is that Jenni Means regularly sets up this time of encounter with the children in our children's church. I've asked Jenni to share more with you: 

Your children will have the opportunity to have a special "Date" with their Heavenly Father. Similar to the idea of dates with Mom or Dad, the purpose of the Date with God is to give children of all ages a chance to focus on their Heavenly Father and experience His love for them.  The children will encounter God as they move through various stations set up around the room.  Painting, sculpting, spending quiet time, looking in the Bible, drawing in a group collage are just some of the stations where they will can express their conversations with the Lord.  Everywhere we have held these interactive times, children experienced a fresh revelation of God's love for them personally.

Doesn't that sound like something you would want for your children?

Hearing Older Adopted Kids' Testimonies

A significant part of our H@HKids team are some pretty neat folks-- older adopted kids and their siblings. These are young adults (mostly college age) who know what it's like to be adopted or to receive a new sibling into their family and into their world. All have a testimony to share of God's work in their lives and all are really really excited to be able to spend time with your children. Your children will hear some of these testimonies and will get to spend some time having fun and connecting with them. We also have an adoptive grandmother, and adoptive parents on the team. And our worship team for H@HKids is led by a bio daughter from an adoptive family-- Beth's daughter, Emma. How cool is that?!

An adoptee from Russia prays for a precious adopted girl at last year's H@HKids!

Check out the Adopted Children and Biological Children Stories on our blog to read about some of the awesome young people who will be serving your children.
So, if you can make to Atlanta on August 10th, plan to have a Date with your Spouse while your children have a Date with God! 
Check In begins at 12:30 pm and the program runs from 1:00-5:00pm. Cost is $5/child with a $20/family maximum.
 
It is going to be a Fun Night!

We have limited space. So, Register your children Now!

HOPE AT HOME KIDS: H@HKIDS!!

If you've been following us on Facebook (if you aren't then don't be left out! Click HERE and Like us for ongoing updates and encouragement) then you may have read that we are planning something really exciting and, as far as we know, quite unique for your children. 

H@HKids!!

Hope at Home Kids (H@HKids) is an idea God gave us some months ago as we were meeting to talk and pray about how we can best bring the strengths and gifts God has given us to this community of adoptive and foster parents, people who we truly love in the Lord. We began to imagine what a gift it would be to parents to have someone minister the Love of God and Identity in Christ to their children. Being adopted or fostered, or being a biological child whose world has radically expanded and changed through adoption or fostering, is a unique reality-- and we are so excited to have the opportunity to walk alongside, to rejoice with and to love on these children, our children.

Parenting is a Team Sport!

We love to say at our church (Northlands Church in Atlanta, GA), that parenting is a team sport. I don't know about you, but the Hillis' and the Templetons have leaned heavily on others to walk with us through the joys and struggles of hearing the call to adopt, waiting for our children to come home, making those huge and significant adjustments for our families as a whole and for each individual in the family once they come home, facing some of the deep issues that so often come with children from a hard past...... You could add to this list I bet!

 Hope at Home would love nothing better than to be part of your team as you go through the wonderful process of transforming an orphan into a Son or Daughter.

"Date With God" for Your Children!!

Those of you moms who have been to Created for Care know what this amazing time is that we call a "Date With God" is. What you may not know is that Jenni Means regularly sets up this time of encounter with the children in our children's church. I've asked Jenni to share more with you: 

"Your children will have the opportunity to have a special "Date Night" with their Heavenly Father.  Similar to the idea of dates with Mom or Dad, the purpose of the Date with God is to give children of all ages a chance to focus on their Heavenly Father and experience His love for them.  The children will encounter God as they move through various stations set up around the room.  Painting, sculpting, spending quiet time, looking in the Bible, drawing in a group collage are just some of the stations where they will can express their conversations with the Lord.  Everywhere we have held these interactive times, children experienced a fresh revelation of God's love for them personally."

Doesn't that sound like something you would want for your children?

Hearing Older Adopted Kids' Testimonies

A significant part of our H@HKids team are some pretty neat folks-- older adopted kids and their siblings. These are young adults (mostly college age) who know what it's like to be adopted or to receive a new sibling into their family and into their world. All have a testimony to share of God's work in their lives and all are really really excited to be able to spend time with your children. Your children will hear some of these testimonies and will get to spend some time having fun and connecting with them. We also have a pastor and father who was adopted who is going to be telling part of his story, an adoptive grandmother, and adoptive parents on the team. And our worship team for H@HKids is led by a bio daughter from an adoptive family-- my daughter, Emma.

How cool is that?!

Check out the Adopted Children and Biological Children Perspective sections on our blog to read about some of the awesome young people who will be serving your children.

So, if you can make to Atlanta on August 4th, plan to have a Date with your Spouse while your children have a Date with God! Check In begins at 6:00 pm and the program runs from 6:30-9:30 pm. Cost is $5/child with a $20/family maximum (pay when you check in). 

It is going to be a Fun Night!

We have limited space. To register your child(ren) go to northlandschurch.com/hahk

Registration is required. 

HELP FOR ADOPTIVE AND FOSTER PARENTS

A Word from Jenni and Scott Means:

The Means Family

We are so excited to be on the team for Hope At Home 2011 and merge our two passions in ministry.  As a children's minister for over 25 years, my passion is to see children of all ages and backgrounds released from an orphan spirit through the Spirit of adoption, and receive their true identities in Christ as sons and daughters of our Father God. Scott, who blogs on marriage at www.surrenderedmarriage.org, longs to see hearts awakened to the love relationship that Jesus has with us as His bride and how that awakening is a key to a vibrant, passionate and intimate relationship between husband and wife.

Hope At Home 2011 is an event where those two passions merge.  A time when families can get help tuning in to what God is saying to them, experienceHis love and strenthening, which will impact every relationship in the family including marriage - the foundation God gives us for families.

Scott and I can't wait to see you September 23-24, when all of us can be refreshed and equipped as parents, as well as husbands and wives.

Scott and Jenni will be leading breakout sessions on "Nurturing Your Marriage Amidst Competing Demands," and "Connecting Your Child To God." Be sure to join us for these impacting teachings that will be life-giving to your marriage and eternally fruitful for your children!

Register for Hope at Home 2011 HERE

WHOLENESS AND HEALING

I want to introduce you to a dear friend, Jenni Means. She has been leading in children's ministry for 25 years and is currently on staff at Northlands Church in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. With a Bachelors Degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education and many years of teaching in both public and private Christian schools, Jenni is highly qualified to speak to parents. But Susan and I think that her greatest qualification is her heart for children and their parents. She has personally ministered to both of our families in ways that have affected us for eternity. How thankful we are for her! Jenni has partnered with No More Crumbs Ministries in training children, youth and adults in Georgia, Holland, Ukraine, UK and Malaysia. She has been married to Scott for 29 years. You'll be hearing from Scott later this summer on this blog, but while you wait, check out his blog on marriage, Journey To Surrender , Jenni and Scott have three daughters.

You will hear more from Jenni on how to help your child hear his Heavenly Father's voice at our HOPE AT HOME 2011 Conference, September 23-24 in Atlanta, GA.

For more Information and to Register, click HERE.

Wholeness and Healing Found in the Voice of the Father

I will never forget that long flight back from Holland, thanking God for His faithfulness and praying for more revelation.  As a children’s minister, I had spent the previous week with my teammate Colleen, sharing with children and other children’s ministers that they really can hear from God and how much He wants to speak to us.  Now as I traveled home, I was thinking about another group: pastors, ministers, and servants of the Lord, concerned about what God wanted to do regarding the orphans of the world.  In less than a month, I would be travelling with Dr. Susan Hillis to Ukraine to speak at the Eastern European Summit on Orphans and the Church.  What message could a Sunday school teacher from Atlanta offer those involved in the orphan crisis?

As I was considering this, I glanced at the seatback next to me where a movie was showing.  I didn’t have the sound but just the picture and it showed a Matryoshka doll.  This immediately caught my attention as I associate the nesting dolls with Eastern Europe.  On the screen someone was taking apart the matryoshka until the tiniest center doll rested in a man’s hand.  That was when the Lord spoke to me.  He said “That is what I want to do!  I want to supernaturally break through all those layers covering the inner, wounded, abandoned child and bring healing.  Every child’s name is engraved on my palm (Isaiah 49).  I desire for them to know that they are in the center of my hand.”

Breaking Through the Layers

All of us are made of spirit, soul and flesh.  We all have the need to be loved and nurtured, wanted and valued.  As the years go by, layer upon layer covers up our inner self but God sees beyond the layers, even if we appear to have happy painted on faces on the surface, to the raw reality of who we are inside.  And He wants to reveal His love, His desire for us and our destiny as a child of the Father.  This message is for the child inside of every one of us and is especially crucial for children who have experienced abandonment from their natural parents.  God wants to break through the layers around their hearts and extract the fear and pain of rejection that they faced, and pierce the lies of worthlessness with the truth of His love and spirit of adoption.

In my experience and observations, for the orphan spirit to be healed and replaced with the spirit of adoption as sons and daughters, it takes more than the love of a family.  It will take more than a commitment to Christ.  It is when the child hears the voice of the Father, speaking to them, that they are set free and healed. I feel this is especially important for the adolescent who is trying to discover who he/she is and does not want to hear things from the parent. 

Consider this quote from the previous post by Andrei Templeton:

“My faith is a constant struggle because of my past but God never fails to reveal something in my time of need. He has given me many words over the years from many people that I look up to. I have heard His voice and guidance on many occasions. If it was not for hearing His voice I would not be the person that I am today”

Hearing the Voice of the Father

I believe God wants to speak directly to His children of all ages, as in the days of Samuel, declaring His identity for them and equipping them to walk into their destiny.  In I Samuel we find the story of a boy being raised in a Godly environment by someone other than his birth parents, Samuel.  Eli is not Samuel’s father, but one who is trusted with Samuel’s care and spiritual training in serving the Lord.  Now we know that Eli made a lot of mistakes with his own sons, but he got it right with Samuel.

Most of us are familiar with this story. I Sam. 2:18 tells us that “Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child,” and verse 26 tells us that Samuel grew “in favor with the Lord”.  Then in chapter 3 begins the story we know from Sunday school,  Samuel is lying down and hears the Lord calling him but mistakes God’s voice for Eli.  And right in the middle of this confusion of going back and forth from Eli to his bed is verse 7 which states, “Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him.”  Here is Samuel ministering to the Lord and even growing in favor with the Lord and yet this verse tells us that Samuel did not yet know the Lord, nor was the word of the Lord yet revealed to him! 

Our children can be ministering to the Lord and not know Him.  What was lacking for Samuel just might be lacking for us and for our children. Perhaps they have yet to encounter the Lord by hearing His voice calling them, and we know the Lord is calling them.  If we can be like Eli and just confirm this to the children and show them how to hear from the Lord, then not only will they know Him and have His word, it will be said of them like Samuel in verse 19:

“ So Samuel grew and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.”  

You will hear more from Jenni on how to help your child hear his Heavenly Father's voice at our HOPE AT HOME 2011 Conference, September 23-24 in Atlanta, GA.

For more Information and to Register, click HERE.