This idea of rewards and punishments isn’t the gospel—it’s the prosperity gospel. And as a special-needs parent, I have found myself especially vulnerable to its influence in my life.
Balance is a Myth
Tips for Starting Sign Language in your Special Needs Ministry
Before you start selecting signs at random, think about what your ministry needs and start there. What do you hope to accomplish with the signs? Non-religious signs may help the children better understand what you want them to do, and could possibly be more helpful for classroom management. If you hope to encourage more participation in worship for those with limited speech, adding signs to songs may be a good starting place. Still another area of focus may be teaching signs based off of the main vocabulary of your lesson.
Interrogate Your Assumptions
On a day when I saw several miracles, I was reminded again that I never really know what's happening. My brain insists on thinking the thoughts it has learned to believe. I continue to learn to resist, reframe and redirect my thoughts, so I can see the new thing that's already happening right before my eyes that I’m just not seeing yet.
Pushing Out Into Deep Water as Our Special Needs Kids Become Adults
It’s always easier to stay with what is familiar than to venture out into deep water when we’re already tired, when we feel like we’ve been fishing all night to no avail. Pull in the nets and go home, get a good night’s sleep, and do the same-old same-old tomorrow. But Jesus commands us to throw the nets back in, right here, right now. This is always the turning point: the present moment. Jesus knows what’s out there, waiting for us: abundance, over-flowing abundance.
