Through HIS Rose-Colored Glasses
#kidmin #childrensministry #sundayschool #childrenspastor #childrenschurch
Hello Friends!
I'm sorry I'm a little bit late with this post. My weekend just got away from me. LOL
If you haven't checked out my Facebook group for Children's Ministry Tips, Training, and Discussion, make sure to do so. I'd love to be able to chat and share ideas. :D
CLICK HERE to check out the group.
We just finished a wonderful week of VBS...Pilgrim's Progress. We were so blessed to have someone with a heart for children that completely wrote the entire week. She included Dramas for each night, Object Lessons, Games, and Snacks. The story of Christian is such a moving story, and the children really connected with it. Already looking forward to next year's theme! :D
I've been mulling over some things lately, and this title came to me kind of suddenly: "Through HIS Rose-Colored Glasses". It seems this term can be used in many different ways...even negatively! But I just want to share some of my thoughts...hopefully, I can relay them to you in an organized fashion. :-P
Webster's Dictionary Definition of "rose-colored glasses" is as follows:
"favorably disposed opinions: optimistic eyes".
Grammarist.com explains "rose-colored glasses" as:
"...describes an optimistic, cheerful way of looking at life. One is said to see life through rose-colored glasses, look at life through rose-colored glasses, to wearing rose-colored glasses, etc....Someone who looks at things through rose-colored glasses looks on the bright side, sees the glass half full, and looks for a silver lining in all things...Researchers have discovered that those who think positively and have the ability to believe in the possibility of a good outcome from a bad situation, rather than dwell on negativity and pessimism, tend to succeed. A cynic may reject this idea, believing that to look at life through rose-colored glasses creates unrealistic expectation."
Now that I've gotten that explanation out of the way, let's chat about leadership and ministry.
As leaders, we are going to face soooo many things throughout the years. We are going to have good times and bad times, great events and flopped events, awesome staff and mediocre staff, etc. You are going to see every side of the spectrum, no matter which ministry you work with!
Even when you aren't a leader of a department yourself, you will still work with those that are at all different levels of Christianity, different levels of knowledge, different levels of experience, and so on.
Here we have a choice...We can critique everything we see someone else do...
OR...
We can get behind them and view things from the opposite perspective; through "rose-colored glasses"...encouraging and promoting them to grow in their ministry.
God's Word says:
"Hatred stirs up conflicts, but love covers all offenses." Proverbs 10:12
and
"Above all, maintain constant love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins." I Peter 4:8
It seems that in the modern day church world, we are more known to critique and judge a Brother or Sister, than to complement and love with no strings attached and preconceived notions.
Now, let me say...I understand there are times and situations that must be dealt with; this is not about ignoring wrongs and sins that need to be addressed. BUT depending on your position, it may or may NOT be your job to do so. Love must ALWAYS come first...even if it IS your job to deal with a problem.
Let's be honest...not everyone has a personality that is compatible with ours; not everyone is easy to deal with; not everyone approaches tasks the same way we do; not everyone can handle as much as we do...and the list goes on.
>>> NEWS FLASH!!!! <<<
WE ARE ALL DIFFERENT! And boy, am I glad we are! Can you imagine if we were a world full of just...YOU or...just ME?! Yikes!
I have my strong points, but I also have my weaknesses. The best way to handle that is to find someone else that has the opposite strengths than you. You might not always see eye-to-eye, but you can be sure that both your strengths and weaknesses will complement each other. Every ministry needs to have different personalities to best reach people...and WE ARE IN THE PEOPLE BUSINESS! But when you DO have different personalities, you'd better be ready to get out those rose-colored glasses. :-P
So after all that rambling discourse.... how do we see
"Through HIS Rose-Colored Glasses"?
I think that we, as Christians and ministry leaders need to start to see the best in people. If someone is struggling one day and acts a certain way that isn't really nice...consider whether it's something that needs to be dealt with and addressed...OR...is it simply that they had a really hard day and maybe reacted wrong? We must let people be people.
Let's show GRACE to those around us.
Grace to make a mistake...
Grace to not be perfect...
Grace to not be like ME...
Grace to not always be perfectly happy...
Grace to struggle with daily life...
Grace to have a weak day...
Grace to....well you get the point. :-P
Again, you must decide whether it's an action that should be addressed. But so many times, I feel we go overboard addressing and discussing every little action, every little word and expression that we see someone else make.
Get those "rose-colored glasses" on! :D
"Do not judge and criticize and condemn [others unfairly with an attitude of self-righteous superiority as though assuming the office of a judge], so that you will not be judged [unfairly]." Matthew 7:1 AMP
This verse is so true! When we criticize and judge others, we are literally saying that we think we are better than them, more experienced than them, etc. It is acting in self-righteousness.
Get those "rose-colored glasses" on!
See the good in others. LOOK for the best in others. Don't compare yourself to them, or your abilities to theirs.
We are ALL in this together. Are we here to win souls, or are we here to see which one of us is best at ministering?
What does Jesus see when He looks at me?
I certainly pray that He looks through rose-colored glasses...otherwise my flaws and failures will be more prominent than anything I try to do for the Kingdom.
If Jesus saw me the way others see me, maybe He'd never want to use me in ministry.
If Jesus looks beyond our failures, how much more should we look beyond the failures of others?!
I pray that these words have encouraged you in your relationship with others. I feel like I was rambling with so many thoughts in my head...LOL...but maybe one little nugget will be a blessing to you in your ministry. Apply it wherever you need...with staff, with children, with parents, etc.
Get yourself a pair of "rose-colored glasses" and keep them in your pocket every day!
Until next time...
God Bless,
Sara Vojtasek & Joel's Vision Ministries