Christmas and Carols

Christmas is a special time for carols. They greet us like old friends each holiday season. For example, "Little Drummer Boy" is a perennial pick. This year I have been touched by a rendition by the Feat group. Their worshipful voices and new words draw the listener into the experience.

We know from the carol that the little drummer boy was poor. He felt he had nothing to bring before a King. The only thing he had was his drum. Then he started to play, and the words came to him. He worshipped. And he beat on his drum. And kept beating and beating, with his focus on pleasing the King.

When we think of giving as an act of worship, we need to stop and really think. Is what we are doing at Christmas centered on the King or more about other things that consume our time and energy? In fact, how much worship happens during the holidays to deeply satisfy us?

Perhaps we could learn a lesson from the Drummer Boy. The only thing we can bring to the King in worship is something unique to us. It is not a matter of money or tinsel on the tree. Like the humble Drummer Boy, we can only bring what we have that is part of us. God has a gift from him inside each of us that differs. And this is what you can bring in worship and awe!

If you can sing, you could lift your voice in a new song. If you like to dance, dance as worship. Dance to Zumba or waltz sedately around. If you are so distressed over something you don't know what to do, offer that thing to the King who listens and comforts. If you have been bad and mean to others, admit your hardened heart. Ask for His forgiveness. He will release you.

"Make clean my heart within me, Lord" So slow down now and take time to listen to what really matters. What can you bring to the King as an act of worship? "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." Colossians 3:23

Dream Big

 We all know that little children can dream. A little boy can become a frog, get small with his legs apart, and then spring up. But can they dream beyond what they see or know?

They have the capacity to dream, but they must have input! This is why we have adult speakers at every camp from many careers and trades. Last year, we had an engineer who talked about breaking the sound barrier. We had a guitarist who owned his own music shop. We had two nurses. We had a well-known Christian speaker who talked about Heaven.

After each speaker, the entire group of over 100 children had a chance with an open mic to answer specific questions. This is a sampling: "What is your favorite color?" "How many years of school did you have?" "How much money do you make?" Etc.

We know that year after year, speakers have inspired dreamers to make career choices that have motivated them to stay in school through high school and beyond.

Project Lost Sheep helps children to dream and then to keep the dream alive beyond all expectation, because God is with us and them.

Inside the local sponsoring church, Verbo in Redwood City, children become teen leaders. An outreaching church becomes an incubator for all dreams to become real.

Somewhere Along the Way...

Before Patty Cardona and her family arrived in California, a small non-profit group called Project Lost Sheep began meeting in the library of a local church.

We didn't know it then, but we would be waiting together for five years! I was the primary connection for most of the members, so for a long time, they were strangers to each other. As the president, they all assumed I knew what we were doing. I certainly didn't, except that our focus was on children.

Elaine Biser, Prayer Partner, Secretary of Project Lost Sheep

Looking back, I know I couldn't have accomplished what I did without the Lord's help, especially the public speaking. With the prayer support of many prayer warriors, particularly Jan Shockey, my prayer partner for many years, we prayed yearly for a combined seven children and for other endeavors, including Jan's significant work in Moms Together.

Jan Stockley, Joyce's prayer Partner

Month after month, as the group of strangers gathered in the church room, there was dinner: pizzas and salad. We came from different churches and workplaces. Somewhere along the way, a community of people, ready to serve children, was formed.

We prayed in a circle before dinner, and after the brief formal meeting, which I led, there was wonderful fellowship afterward. As time went on, a regular prayer group was formed.

God was preparing us for something BIG. Somehow, someone told a small startup church in Redwood City about us, and we were invited to help them with their children's ministry. They needed help packing backpacks. And somewhere along the way, we became partners in the adventures the Lord had for us, all so that His Great Kingdom could come and His Will be done for all to see.