Here are ten secrets I’ve found to stay renewed.
1. Get in the habit of feeding your spirit (Draw your strength from God)
2. Enjoy your family
3. Find friends who recharge and refresh you
4. Get a hobby (Stress relievers are important)
5. Exercise (Get some blood flowing)
6. Take regular breaks
7. Have people in your life hold you accountable
8. Be thankful for everything. (Count your blessings)
9 Laugh all the time. (Never forget the joy of the Lord is your strength!)
10. Always be learning

Thanks to Moms everywhere!
We wouldn’t be here without you!

Over the years I’ve heard every excuse for new over renew; It’s leadership’s fault, the size of your congregation, workers’ attitudes and on and on. The bottom line should be, “I know where God has called me; I won’t let the devil or anything, or anybody affect that. I will learn how to renew my thinking and my ministry as well as myself. Don’t minister from an empty vessel. Ministry is spending. You can’t live off credit, you must make deposits then spend. Remember we were made to worship not to minister. Invest in your relationship with God before you need it.

You’ve heard me say this before don’t think in leaps and jumps, think in steps. God leads us in steps. There are no shortcuts in the kingdom of God. (No easy button) Big things don’t come over night you must learn the power and importance of a step. Remember things of value take time to build!

A big enemy to art of renew is we start too many things too quickly. Watch out for too many babies in the crib. Let what you start get to growing before you start something new. There are four stages of birth. Conception brings anticipation then there’s birth, which brings excitement, then there is nurture. Here’s where the demand comes (poop, feeding, and teething.) There is a temptation to start something new rather than finish strong. Next comes maturity. This is where your leadership and influence gains momentum and credibility. People listen because you have a track record. Don’t just talk about building a great ministry, build it. I know ministers who are a legend in their own minds. Let things mature before you start something new.

Renew your thinking, that’s where you actions come from Romans 12: 2, says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (NIV) Evaluate you thinking by the Word (Just do it!) You can’t base you life off experiences alone. Strongholds develop in you mind by believing wrong information. There are common strongholds in Children’s ministry and you must choose to line up your thinking with God’s Word to be an effective.

Everything you manage has to be maintained and cared for if it’s going to last. To me the secret of longevity in ministry is to learn how to choose to be renewed. There is a difference between new and renew. Once I dropped my phone and broke the screen of an almost new treo. I was given a choice new or renew. To get a new phone it was easier and quicker, but it was more expensive. To get this one fixed (renew) it was complex, a longer wait, but less expensive. Too many people throw away good stuff because they don’t want the work involved in renewal. If you don’t practice the habit of renewal you’ll jump from one thing to the next. This is true in every area of life even ministry.

I just got back from the Orange Conference in Atlanta. It was tremendous. The response and the excitement was electric! It as great to see so many of you who read the blog and to get to hang out with some of the gang from Kidology.org as well. Reggie and team threw a fabulous party and I was so blessed and honored to be included. For me this was the last of a 12 conference run in the first four months of 2008. (I don’t do another national conference until October then I do 2.)It was also great to re-connect with my aussie mate Rob Bradbury and all my kidzblitz homies. I’ve already put next year’s dates on my calendar to hold for next year April 27-30, 2009. I am so glad I went to orange, it’s about time there was a relevant event for children’s and youth leaders to come together to reach and team with the family. Go ahead and make plans to be a part of Orange 2009, you’ll be glad you did.

I read on the wall in the breakfast area of the Holiday Inn where I’m staying today a very interesting thought…
“Half the things we worry about in life don’t come true and the other half are going to happen anyway so why worry?” I think today I’m not going to worry.

8. After you have turned a task over to someone make sure you inspect and evaluate what they’re doing. Remember to be understanding and motivating. Workers do what you expect they do what you inspect!

9. Don’t forget to check in with each key person. A simple call or email lets people know that you care about what they’re doing. Be a coach. Help them grow and make improvements. Be an encourager!

10. Tell people how much you appreciate them. Without them you couldn’t be as effective or accomplish the things you are doing for the Lord. Workers who feel good about themselves do a better job. Saying thank you is always the right thing to say.

After you begin to delegate, you’ll have to change your organizational structure. The one thing that I know will never change is that I need to make changes constantly. I realize now that I used to like to be the one who was working harder than everyone else. But I’ve leaned that it’s better to work smarter than to just work harder. (Why not do both?)

Well, what are you waiting for? Start today to build your dream team. You don’t have to minister alone in children’s ministry. Go delegate!