"Jesus' Birthday is coming, and Santa's gonna bring me presents!" my sweet three year old boy announced with his hands clasped in excitement and a twinkle in his eye. He was sitting at the table while I prepared dinner and listened to my Jesus-Christmas music. One of my children's favorites started playing and it reminded him:



He has been watching for each birthday this year - ever since he learned which sticker was his on the calendar.

Jesus has a Birthday sticker too.

Christmas has been an odd kind of balancing act for me ever since I became a mother with children old enough to care. My husband has wonderful childhood memories of anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus. His parents took special care to make it exciting for the children, even going up on the roof and making noise. He loved that and wants his own children to have the same experiences.

I was raised differently. We talked about Santa Claus - but only as a story, a fairytale, an idea. Not as an actual person. While my siblings and I eagerly anticipated presents, my parents were intent on not allowing Christmas to make us narcissistic. We spent several Christmases at a homeless shelter serving dinner to those who came in off the street.

Tiny Boy's comment exemplifies the odd combination of traditions that we have in our home. Our children will set out cookies and milk. One might even write a note to Santa. On Christmas morning they open their presents - usually three gifts because that is how many birthday presents that Jesus recieved. On Christmas day, we will have Birthday cake and sing Happy Birthday to Jesus.

There is just one problem. I refuse to lie to my children.

And they know it.

Every so often they will corner me when my husband is not around for me to pass off the conversation to him. They want to know the usual questions:  Is Santa real? How does it all work?

I struggle desperately with these questions because I want to respect my husband's traditions but I also fear that my children may lump God into the category of mythological creatures when they are old enough to learn the truth (as many children have done before). Sometimes I dodge the questions. Often I change the subject and put it right back on Jesus-is-the-reason-for-the-season topics.

One benefit of all of this is that it makes me more diligent to pour truth into their lives. Intentionally.

They cornered me again the other day but this time my eight year old would not allow the subject to get off-point. Finally I blurted out, "Do you want to know what I don't like about Santa Claus?"

Of course they wanted to know.

"Santa Claus is a counterfeit for God!" I said.

I started to sing.
"You'd better watch out, you'd better not cry, you'd better not pout -
I'm telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town.
He's making a list, checking it twice, gonna find out who's naughty or nice.
Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you're sleeping.
He knows when you're awake.
He knows if you've been bad or good, so be good for goodness sake!"


 I began to explain how Satan loves to make counterfeits - something that looks almost exactly like the real thing. I pointed out the God-like qualities attributed to Santa: omniscience (knows everything), omnipresence (everywhere at once).

There is a HUGE difference, though. Santa only gives gifts to those who earn them by good behavior. God gives to people who do NOT deserve it!

The Bible says:

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:4-6

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. Eph 2:8-9

  I explained that one of the best distractions that Satan has is to keep us busy trying to earn our salvation instead of accepting it as a free gift.   At the biggest time of year for gift-giving, it is best to remember that the greatest and most unsurpassable gift that was ever given was a tiny Saviour, wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. This gift cost God everything, but it cost us nothing.   Whatever traditions you may have, remember this: CHRISTmas is for YOU!
 

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever. Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare His praise? Psa. 106:1-2

It's not happy people who are thankful, it is Thankful people who are happy! Are you happy? Then show it through your thankfulness. Joni Brummel

Using some cardstock and the same craft paper, I also made a few center piece cards with quotes and verses about giving thanks.

He who thanks with the lips thanks but in part; the full, the true Thanksgiving comes from the heart. J.A. Shedd

Fold the cardstock in half and decorate both sides so that folks can read those important words from either side of the table. This could even be done as a cube with all four sides decorated.I am planning to add to these each year.

Give thanks in all curcumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18

What traditions do YOU have for giving thanks on Thanksgiving?



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I went to bed Election night with a knot in my stomach and woke up the next morning with a heavy heart. First thing in the morning I went on facebook looking for a verse that my sweet friend Carrie had posted on election day. She uses facebook to encourage people in the Lord each day rather than to share personal moments. I thought that my kids might need the encouragement, too, and that was the fastest way to look it up.

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God... Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience' sake. For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God's ministers attending continually to this very thing..." From Romans 13

The stream was an odd mixture of despair and gloating.

One comment stood out to me. It was written by one of those celebrating victory, and said something to the effect of each group thinking that their person was "God's will" and that those who's guy did not win were saying with sighing resignation, "God is still in control."

- - As though He would now have to scramble to come up with Plan B.

This begged the question, "Is it God's will that Barack Obama should continue to be the president of the United States?"

I thought about that concept all day as I did mundane chores. The election did not have the outcome that I had hoped for - not because I thought that God's will should have been what I willed,  though I had hoped that it was, but because the outcome PROVED God's will - what the path will be for our country - and that is a path with which I am not entirely comfortable.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

This was on my mind when Chuck Swindol's series on the book of Daniel that is currently playing, came on the radio.

A few days earlier, he had preached about the writing on the wall and the fall of Babylon. He explained how Isaiah had prophesied its fall about 170 years earlier, and had said that this amazing city - one of the seven wonders of the world - would never, ever be inhabited again.

Ever.

He was in the library trying to find out anything that he could on current day Babylon and found nothing. Finally he came across something on The Ruins of Babylon and read that it is a completely barren and uninhabitable place. "Praise God!" He had said out loud, startling the man sitting near him.
It made me think of this verse:

"God is not a man that He should lie, nor a son of man that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19

I know enough of last-day prophesy to know what is coming: wars, natural disasters, one-world government, persecution of the Church, judgement... things seem to be lining up for all this to happen.

They HAVE to!


Last night the girls asked me if I think that we are living in the Last Days.
"I don't know." I said.
"Ever since Christ ascended into heaven, all Christians have believed that they were living in the last days!

"This is not bad thinking, though," I added. "Jesus said that it is really important to live each day as though it could be the last day, and be ready."

"But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet... Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is." Mark 13:7, 33

What if it is not the Last Days? What if the Earth continues on, business as usual, for another thousand years?

We still need to LIVE READY!

What does that look like in practical life?

Don't borrow from the future, and live a "ready" kind of life:

 "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law... Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts." Romans 13

Like Daniel, repent for the sins of the Nation. Even if you are not part of the problem, you CAN be part of the solution!

"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." 2Ch 7:13-14

Pray for our nation and our leaders.

WITH THANKSGIVING!

In her book One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voscamp notes that most often in scripture, giving thanks precedes a miracle.

Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. 1 Timothy 2:1-3

Face the truth about the reality of the world that we live in and prepare ourselves and our children to live in this kind of world by immersing ourselves in the Word of God.

"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! ...But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  from 2 Timothy 3

I have heard it said that the safest place to be is in the will of God. This is often said of those going on the mission field to dangerous locations, but it is actually true for ALL of us!

We can be SURE that, no matter what is happening around us, that God IS in control. He is orchestrating each and every detail of His plan and, though we may not be able to see how each thing fits, we can confidently trust in His knowledge, His love and His care.
Besides.

We know how the story ends!

"Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." Then He who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful." And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts." Revelation 21:1-6 

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:20

 Part two in a series. To read part one click here.


Moses chiseled out two stone tablets like the first ones and went up Mount Sinai early in the morning, as the LORD had commanded him... Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished..."

Moses bowed to the ground at once and worshiped...

Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant--the Ten Commandments.

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him. But Moses called to them; so Aaron and all the leaders of the community came back to him, and he spoke to them. Afterward all the Israelites came near him, and he gave them all the commands the LORD had given him on Mount Sinai. 

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 When Moses finished speaking to them, he put a veil over his face. But whenever he entered the LORD's presence to speak with Him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the LORD.
From Exodus 34

Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, fading though it was, will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? ...We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. 2 Corinthians 3:7-8, 13

Initially, Moses put on the veil because the "glowing" frightened the people, but once he realized that the radiance would fade in between his talks with the Lord, he would come out from the presence of God and speak to them unveiled, glowing face and all, and THEN put on the veil. It seems as if Moses was embarrassed for the people to know that the glory could fade. Maybe he wondered what they would say. They were rebellious enough already - would they see the fading and say that God's glory was leaving him? That God was removing His blessing on Moses as their leader? (Numbers 12:3 says: "Now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men who were on the face of the earth." He may have had a proper perspective of his own significance in relationship to God, but that does not mean that he did not suffer from the same kinds of fears of other people that we do!)

It can be pretty risky to make ourselves vulnerable - to say what we really think. It might rock the boat or cause someone to be angry.

This is a real fear for me. I do not like to rock the boat, and I really do not like people to be angry with me. I have struggled with this for as long as I can remember - because this is a fear based on experience. It seems that people expect me to always be accommodating and kind, so if I say what I really think about some things, people find it shocking. I've alienated people this way. I find that it is easier to keep my thoughts and feelings to myself - even avoiding relationships, than to be vulnerable and risk rejection.


And no one wants to be the only one who is vulnerable! So we all wear masks!

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But... Is hiding WRONG? Stay tuned for part three...

So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree desirable to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. She also gave to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings.

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. Then the LORD God called to Adam and said to him, "Where are you?"

So he said, "I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself."

And He said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?" Then the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate." And the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

...For Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them. Genesis 3:6-13, 21

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Last week we read John chapter 13 in which Jesus washed his disciples' feet. These are the words that got me thinking:

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. John 13:12-17  (emphasis added)

We got to talking about the person who had to wash the donkey poop off of people's feet when they came in off the street, and how it was the job of the least important servant in the house.

Jesus was the most important person in the house (or town, or universe...) but He chose to do the job of the least important servant to show us how he wants us to view ourselves.

Sometimes I enjoy riding these "thought trains" because they get me searching for the next thing to "see" on the journey. I remembered reading another passage not too long ago about the same thing:

"When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; and he who invited you and him come and say to you, 'Give place to this man,' and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted." Luke 14:8-11 (emphasis added)

  If we don't humble ourselves, we often end up humiliated!

hu-mil-i-ty n.pl.  quality of being humble; modest sense of one's own significance. Syn. lowliness, meekness. Ant. pride.

hu-mil-i-ate v.t.  to lower the pride or self-respect of; cause a painful loss of difnity to; mortify Syn. degrade, abase, debase; dishonor, disgrace, shame  Ant. exalt, honor

(I like using old dictionaries because they have more explanatory explanations so this is from the American College Dictionary published in 1948.)



So Moses and Aaron came in to Pharaoh and said to him, "Thus says the LORD God of the Hebrews: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, that they may serve Me." Exodus 10:3

"And I will be even more undignified than this, and will be humble in my own sight..." 2 Samuel 6:22

And he did not humble himself before the LORD, as his father Manasseh had humbled himself; but Amon trespassed more and more. 2 Chronicles 33:23

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions. Ezra 8:21

Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. Daniel 10:12

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James 4:10




You will save the humble people; But Your eyes are on the haughty, that You may bring them down. 2 Samuel 22:28

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18

A man's pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor. Proverbs 29:23

'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Remove the turban, and take off the crown; Nothing shall remain the same. Exalt the humble, and humble the exalted. Ezekiel 21:26

But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." James 4:6

When we do not have "a modest sense of our own significance," embarrasment is almost always in our future. Sometimes it is our own doing, and sometimes it is from the Lord. Maybe that's why we are also told not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought to think (Romans 12:3)

About 11 years ago, I participated in a "Young Homemaker" contest for the county fair in our state. I had entered the contest once before but when I saw the wonderful women I was up against, I knew that I did not have a chance of winning and decided not to try for it again - - until a few years later when some friends convinced me to try it one more time.

The day of the interview, I had another appointment afterwards, but the judges (who were travelling from another county) were late. As soon as they arrived, they were made aware of my situation so they asked me to accompany them into the interview room while they collected themselves. They asked random questions and apologized for being so unprepared. I assured them that they had not utterly ruined my day and set them at ease. This is the only thing that I can imagine must have stood out in their minds because, trust me, I am not a better homemaker than all of the other women there! (As I meet new women throughout my life, I am continually amazed at how God has created so much worth and value and beauty in women everywhere.)

The women who head up the program in that county told each of us to prepare a speech to deliver at the big event where the winner would be announced - just in case. I did not really think that I had won (though I hoped I had!) and I had done so much public speaking in 4-H and the ministry that I worked for that I thought I could just wing it IF I actually won.

The day came and, lo and behold, I won! I got up to deliver the speech for which I had not prepared and made a fool of myself as I searched for appropriate words. I still have no idea what I said except for calling it a "perk" of homemaking. I still cringe when I think about it. I had to give another speech the next year as I passed off the crown to the new winner. You had better believe that I was prepared that time! Not only was I prepared, but I was terrified and nervous - a feeling that I'd not had much experience with when it came to public speaking until then, and one that accompanies me (to a lesser degree) to this day because I know what a short walk it is from pride to humiliation.

I am sure that there are many Christians who will confess that their experience has been very much like my own—that we had long known the Lord without realizing that meekness and lowliness of heart should be the distinguishing feature of the disciple, as they were of the Master. Such humility is not a thing that will come on its own. It must be made the object of special desire, prayer, faith and practice.

Andrew Murray

What lessons have you learned about humility or humiliation?

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One of my favorite verses right now is a small sentence in a small book of the Bible. I never really noticed it before, but when I read it in the NIV it suddenly came alive for me.


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That's not the whole verse, but I just needed that first sentence, just 13 words, to cut me to the quick.

To convict my heart of what is truly expected of me -

That if I love my Lord, I will show it in ALL of my words, thoughts and actions -

 WHATEVER happens

If the children play with water in the bathroom and the peel-and-stick tiles come loose from the floor.

If I am late, though I tried to be on time.

If the children lie, or disobey, or annoy.

If my husband and I disagree.

If there's not enough money.

If I have to cancel a much anticipated engagement.

If the kids are sick again, so I can't go to church.

If my to-do list for the day did not include a trip to the emergency room.

Etcetera, etcetera, etcetera...

My natural reaction is to snap and bark and sigh, but what God calls me to do is "take off your old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowlege in the image of its Creator."(Colossians 3:9-10)

 In order to be renewed by knowledge, I must be regularly reading the Word of God.

But that it not all.

I also have to "put off" the old natural reactions and intentionally make a change. I have to put the Word of God into practice in my life.

What.
        Ever.
               Happens.

So. If you have seen these words written on my hand lately, it's just because I need the reminder!

CRASH!!!!!

My husband and I are jarred from sleep by the sound of the shelf in the kitchen falling to the floor, braking many of the porcelain dishes and nick-nacks displayed on it.


The alarm would have gone off in a few minutes anyway, so I dress and start cleaning up the mess. As I pick up little broken Delft windmill blades, a Delft-inspired miniature tea set now chipped and missing handles, and Blue china cups and saucers, I think about the journey that my heart has been on these last few years regarding my attachment to stuff.

I think of our house. The first (and only) home that we have owned as a married couple. It was a beautiful old home in the historical district. Well, it wasn't really beautiful when we first bought it - more of a diamond in the rough. Over the years we had worked on it, slowly bringing it back to it's former glory. Carefully choosing textured and floral wallpaper and appropriate paint colors. We had even hired a finishing carpenter to build custom fitted wood all around the bottom half of the dining room, complete with a plate rail across one entire wall. We slowly filled the house with antiques as we finished one room and then another. During the process, my husband had lost his job and in the struggles of finding a new job and regaining our fiscal balance, my husband considered selling the house. I would not hear if it. I loved that house and insisted on keeping it - even if it meant tightening our belts in other areas.



A few years ago, GOD changed my heart. We had travelled to my brother-in-law's wedding in the Autumn and I found myself saying out loud to my husband, "I would live here." Little did I know what God had in store for us. About a month or two later, my husband called me from work and asked if I had meant what I said. He had been offered a job here and wanted to check with me before accepting it. Two months later I had a "for sale"" sign on my beautiful house and an antiques dealer going through and buying things out of the home.

I was learning that WHERE I live was not really that important. Putting God first, following His plan, that's what I needed to do. I also started to see that a house should not be more important to me than my husband. I had really put a burden on his shoulders when I insisted on keeping that home.

I get out the broom and start sweeping up small porcelain fragments.
I think of my furniture.

My desk. *Sigh* My big roll-top desk. My husband bought it for me from a coworker while we lived in that big house. It is a modern roll top desk, designed to hold a computer, but I have a sentimental attachment to it because my grandfather had owned one. As a child I loved sitting way back under it or exploring the many tiny drawers and cubbies.

Unfortunately, it is a pain to move, and having moved it a couple of times, my husband started asking me how I would feel about getting rid of it. I am still not keen on the idea, but I am starting to think about it. Right now it houses my big, old, desk-top computer and I am thinking that at some point I will probably have to replace it, maybe with a lap-top - - something less bulky and space consuming. Easier to use. Besides, this big desk is a catch-all for clutter. UGH! It probably won't be long before I will be ready to let go of this cumbersome thing.

I pick up the shelf and examine it for any damage. Strange. None to speak of.
I set it on the dining room table.




A few weeks ago, I found myself telling my mom that I would be willing to sell it if I had to, under the condition that it would be replaced by a very strong, very large table that could handle the rigorous demands placed upon it my large family. Oh. And appropriate storage for my beloved china dishes!

Yes. You guessed it.

I LOVE dishes. I've mourned the loss of some of my favorites in various moves. I have kept them in a box, thinking that one day I might make a mosaic or something. The other day my husband was rearranging the storage room to set up a weight bench and the box fell to the floor. He picked it up and opened it, only to discover several beautiful china dishes, broken to pieces. With a sinking feeling, he brought the box to me to confess his deed and apologize. He was a little bit surprised at my reaction.

"That's OK," I said with a smile.
"They were already broken!"

I am sad to throw away these pretty things. I guess I'll go get that box from the store room and put these broken dishes in it too.

I remember reading this story on a blog about putting back together a broken piece of pottery and how it reminded the author of how God puts the pieces of our lives back together when we commit ourselves to Him. I've been thinking about the dishes in that box and wondering if my husband would have me admitted if I glued one back together and set it out on a shelf. Maybe someday I will throw them away, if I never get around to doing something with them.

Until then I'll keep holding on to broken dishes because just thinking about them reminds me that I am a cracked pot - a work in progress - and God is not finished with me yet!  He proves it day after day - - even in the fact that I could calmly clean up the broken pieces of things that I have loved, with this verse running through my mind the whole time:

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21 

Whispering into my heart. Reminding me deeply, Love people, Use things!

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Sometimes I wonder how my life started to look like this:

Wake up at 6:00 Monday morning pressed between my husband and a small child.
He has a child on his other side, too.
Get dressed. The first daycare child arrives early.
Spend a few minutes with the Lord.
Get teenager up.
Wake up two little children and put them in carseats.
Drive teenager to driver's ed on the other side of the county.
Arrive home 45 minutes later.
Wake up the rest of the children and feed them breakfast.
Other daycare child arrives.
Make beds. Put in a load of laundry.
Pick up teenager from driver's ed. Another 45 minutes.
Take too long getting ready to go to the beach.
Go to the beach for a little while.
Come home and make lunch.
Clean up kitchen, put away toys.
Put the kids down for a nap. Write for a little while they are resting.
Wake kids up for afternoon snack.
Feed the kids boiled eggs and toast to tide them over until "real" supper.
Daycare kids are picked up.
Husband comes home from work.
Go to the beach (with Daddy this time) to cool the kids down before bed because it's too hot to sleep.
Come home and make supper.
Wash dishes.
Hubby goes to bed. Two little ones climb into my spot.
Send the older kids off to bed - it's already 10:30
Check to see if the babies are asleep enough to move them to their own beds. Nope.
Pick up random laundry scattered around the house.
Take a moment to switch the laundry and put in a last-of-the-day, long-running cycle load.
Pray for the older kids who are now in their beds.
Go back upstairs to the kitchen and re-wash the table after a child who is in the process of learning.
Set the coffee maker to come on in the morning.
Sweep up the egg shells that are still on the floor from the afternoon.
Check to see if the babies are asleep yet. Not quite.
Turn off all of the lights, lock the doors.
Take a shower.
Move the now-sleeping babies to their own beds. How long with they stay there?
Ease into bed quietly to avoid waking hubby.
It is now midnight.

The sad thing is, most of my days go something like this, usually exchanging driver's ed drop-offs with my physical therapy exercises and trips to the beach with storytime or a nature walk. Most days there are many loads of laundry.


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I suppose that I never guessed what motherhood truly entailed when I "signed up" for it. I don't think I realized that I was forfeiting all personal privacy and that my children would riffle through my personal belongings, play in my jewelry box, come into the bathroom with me, and rummage through my neatly lined up collection of lovely shoes (which I rarely get to wear) so that they can thump around the house in them.

I've read books and I've even watched Super Nanny, so I know how to get children to go to bed on their own and sleep through the night, but I cannot manage to get my own two little ones to go to bed on their own and sleep through the night!

My husband says that it is just a passing moment and that I should not try to rush through their need to cuddle - some day they won't want to anymore. Besides, four of them do sleep through the night.

In their own beds.

*Sigh*

I know.

I've been finding myself becoming nostalgic lately when I see my last little child doing something somewhat babyish and I know that soon he will be a big boy and won't want to help with everything I do,

or run that sweet toddler-waddle kind of run, 

or give kisses.

I was watching my tall first-born walking hand-in-hand with my tiny last-born yesterday and thinking about when he was tiny, too.

 It wasn't that long ago!



Sometimes my husband likes to listen to country music when we are driving. The other day this song came on the radio. It brought tears to my eyes.

I've been reading Ann Voscamp's book One thousand Giflts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are. She talks about how each and every moment of our lives are full of precious tiny gifts - even the hard moments - we just have to take time to notice and collect them!

I am slowly learning how to do this. To savor ALL of the moments, even the hard ones. Moments that I would want back if they were suddenly gone.

Or eventually gone.

Which they will be.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit"; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that." James 4:13-15

I have been cherishing these busy days mostly in retrospect, but I want to be more intentional about my moments and cherish the gifts as they come - rather than trying to remember them later - because of what all of these small moments represent:  a whole life devoted to God and my family. Love. And a  legacy for eternity in my children.

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts. Romans 13:11-14

...Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. 2 Timothy 1:9



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Today's forecast was in the mid-to-high 90s - rather warm for Northern Michigan - so I decided to take the kids to the beach. By myself.  It should not be a big project since we live only three miles from the shores of Lake Michigan, but somehow it turned out to be a bigger project than I had bargained for.

I had a couple of hours between my teenager's to driver's ed and lunch/nap time (an inflexible part of the daily schedule).  We nearly missed this window of opportunity  altogether - it took so long to get ready! I could not find one child's bathing suit since it was still in a bag from a previous beach visit. Another child put on someone else's suit and had to change. The teenagers decided that they were bored with the beach and did not want to go at all. (I know. They are totally spoiled by our wonderful location and do not even realize how incredibly blessed they are!)


the beach by our house

Finally we got the four pre-schoolers and two bigger girls buckled, then stopped and picked up a neighbor girl on the way. When we got to the beach, we decided to set up camp near a little creek a short walk away, but the little ones did not care for the walk. When we arrived, we discovered that the creek had dried up. As I spread the blanket, the little children started to go into the water - fully clothed and sans sunscreen and life jackets (my requirement when I am the only eyes on them).

While I hurried to corral, change and lotion the little ones, the older girls began bickering over who would get to use the surfboard first. My hair was standing on end like a tense cat.

I said the most spiritual thing that I could think of at the moment:
"It will be a cold day in hell before I do THIS again!"

Soon things began to settle. The tinies splashed at the water's edge and rearrange the sand. The girls settled their quarrel on their own and shared the surfboard. I sat down on the blanket and watched them for a while. They were playing so well that I read a few pages of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. I don't believe that the author is a Christian, but the book was amusing and it gave me a chuckle.

The tinies had ventured in up to their tummies and were splashing around with some little speed boats. I waded over to them.

The sun shone through the ripples of the shallow water making a pattern on the bottom of the Lake like a chain-link fence made of pure gold. I faced the wind and took a deep breath, soaking up the calm. I often feel an amazing sense of  awe here. Like the polar extremes of God butted up against each other - the power of a mighty body of water, along with beauty and serenity.



the same beach near our house

 I feel Him in the wind.

Peace and power.

The trip had turned out better than it started and I thought, "Isn't it just like God...?"

I could not help but muse over the ways in which we resolve never to do something again - only to have the recollection of it's difficulties erased from memory and we discover that the desire to do it again returns.

Like giving birth.

Or like those little old ladies at the gocery store who say that they loved every minute of motherhood. I think that what they really mean is that they have forgotten the bad, and only the good memories remain.

And it IS just like God!


Joseph could forget his hard life.

"Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: "For God has made me forget all my toil and all my father's house." Genesis 41:51

Job could forget his tragedy.

"Because you would forget your misery, And remember it as waters that have passed away, And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. Job 11:16-18

And Isreal would not always remember their suffering.

"Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore." Isaiah 54:4

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philipians 3:12-14 NKJV (emphasis added)

In light of this?

You'll probably find me flying solo at the beach with a whole pack of kids again. But not this week - I have not yet forgotten...

Last night my husband and I were watching a re-run of an old sitcom where a child about ten years of age asks the parent about the meaning of life. "If we all go to heaven when we die anyway, why does God put us here first?" she said. The father fumbles around with an answer and then feigns a coughing fit and leaves the room.



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Soon you see the parents and other adult family members trying to come up with an answer to the little girl's question. One paced the floor, frantic over these thoughts of God and the deeper meaning of life which had formerly been pushed to the back of the mind. Another adult randomly selected unrelated passages of scripture and read them aloud authoratatively while yet another called and left an urgent message for the priest.

Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun--all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. Ecclesiastes 9:9

Eventually the mother decided that the point of being placed on this earth is to never know why! They decided to wing it and return to talk to the little girl, who has forgotten the question and is now playing with her younger siblings. The question is never anwered. "God does not put us here without an answer!" I announced. "If they would actually READ that Bible instead of  picking random verses, they would find it!"

"Then it wouldn't be funny." My husband said.

I did not think it was funny at all. I thought it was terribly, terribly sad. (As you can imagine, I am a whole lot of fun to watch TV with! *wink*)

How many people approach this question the same way? I wondered.

When I was a child, I attended a Lutheran school for a couple of years. One of the things that I remember was memorizing a catechism. Every once in a while, I think of this one question and it's answer:
Question: What is the chief end of man?
Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and enjoy Him forever.

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It is His desire to have a close friendship.

That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:3

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8

To enjoy and be enjoyed.

The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

Let all those who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; And let those who love Your salvation say continually, "Let God be magnified!" Psalm 70:4

To communicate.

Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered. Psalm 40:5 

Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21

To LOVE and BE LOVED.

"Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments... Deuteronomy 7:9

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us...But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:5,8

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:38-39

 

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1Jo 4:9-10

YOU were created to LOVE and BE LOVED BY GOD!

So there you have it!

Your purpose. The meaning of life.

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Not long ago, my little girl got a new book.

Little Pig Biddle Pig

Little pig, biddle pig, pretty and clean,

sweet as alfalfa and grand as a queen.

Little pig, biddle pig, not far away,

those pigglily piglets squeal, "Won't you come play."

Little pig, biddle pig, snout in the air-

too fine to behave like the swine over there!

They may look content; still, it isn't for you

to romp in the muck like those piggily pigs do.

Yes, biddle pig, you're the prettiest one.

But those wiggily wallowers pig all the fun.

Are you happy just sulking all day on your own?

Is it worth staying pretty and being alone?

Run, piggy run - do a nose dive and flop,

belly down, into the glorious slop!

Little pig, biddle pig, splashing with glee -

as happy as any small piglet could be.

Dancing for joy in the slippery crowd,

with your wiggily friends, ever piggily, and proud.

by David Kirk

Hmmm.
It has been a while since any book, much less a little poem for children, got my mind in such a tizzy!

On the surface, of course, this is simply a story that says it's more fun to splash in mud puddles than to sit with your hands folded in your lap.

Why does this book bother me so much? I kept wondering.
Preferring to be different than everyone else does not make someone stuck up. If a person chooses to be different wouldn't they be confident about it, not sulking and pouting?
This book remained in the back of my mind and came forward to roll around when I was doing mundane chores.

I have been reading the book of Ephesians, and one morning I read this:

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children... But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or course joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person - such a man is an idolator - has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one decieve you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret....Be careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is..." from Ephesians 5

...and I realized what was bothering me so much. It's that LIE again!

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis quotes a schoolboy who was asked what God is like. The boy replied, "The sort of person who is always snooping around to see if anyone is enjoying himself, and then trying to stop it."

It is one of Satan's most accepted and widely believed lies: That God's "rules" are intended to steal our fun!

It is extremely important to understand this concept if you want to have a correct perception and relationship with God! All you have to do is go back to scripture to see the truth. If you read:

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

OR

"My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in." Proverbs 3:11-12

...you are less likely to believe this lie. The more you read, the more you will come to understand that God gives us boundaries to free us from the negative (and sometimes terrible) consequenses of sin.

For example: One of the lies that is most widely believed (or "rules" that is most widely ignored) is abstinence before marriage, yet studies continue to show how this negatively affects individuals, couples, and families - long after the sin has taken place. The consequenses are numerous, and often perpetuate sin (as in the connection between un-wed pregnancy and abortion). They can be as serious as sexually transmitted diseases like AIDS, or as "small" as affecting the ability to connect intimately in marriage.

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When a child has a fenced yard, they are able to play freely - regardless of any dangers nearby such as a lake or a busy street. Cars may be whizzing by only a few feet away, yet the children will play right up to the fence because they know that it represents safety.

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 The converse is also true. If there is no boundary to keep them safe, the whizzing cars will frighten them (and their mother!) and they will huddle close to the house or only play on the porch.

This is a concept that our Father/Creator understood! He gave us rules to give us the freedom to enjoy life to the full!

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

This "thief" is also the father of the lies.

"...the devil...was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him.  When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44

Ever since the very first lie to Adam and Eve, when he sets out to convince us that God wants to ruin our fun, he has an ulteriour motive: to destroy us.

"Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8

When he comes to us with these lies, he is not looking out for us! He has no interest in whether or not we are having fun! His one and only purpose in luring us into enjoying the "pleasures of sin for a season" is to so distract us from God that we will not be drawn to Him and turn from our sin.

"The LORD has appeared of old to me, [saying]: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you [to Me]." Jeremiah 31:3

Satan understands our "free-will" and that we must choose God in this life to give us an inheritance in eternal life. But his goal is take as many souls to hell with himself as possible. And he will do it by any means and by any lie.


Why, then, do we so readily believe the lie?
Because we are not taking up the SWORD! The Word of God.
When you know the truth, it is easy to spot a lie!

I found it interesting to learn that bankers are required to study, handle and memorize money in order to spot counterfeits instead of veiwing various types of bad money that has been discovered. It is understood that it's best for the tellers to be so familiar with what is right that when something wrong comes into their hands, they will instinctively know that it is bad. It won't feel right. It won't seem right. Their senses will be so fine-tuned to the truth that they can easily spot a lie.

How can I, as a parent, put up these kinds of "fences" in my child's life?

1. Teach them the Word of God. There is no substitute for knowing the truth besides KNOWING THE TRUTH! The key word here is consistency. Notice I did not say legalistically. Nothing throws cold water on the embers of a relationship like guilt. The Word of God is compelling. Relevant. Interesting. Don't allow it to be a tiresome chore. Your attitude toward it will set the bar for what their attitude will be.

 Shoot at the goal of having a regular Bible time with your children - however it fits into your schedule, in whatever format works best. Something will always be better than Nothing in this case.

2. TALK to your kids calmly and rationally about WHY God gives us "Fences" (and why YOU enforce these boundaries). This will accomplish two different things: First, it will show them that these are not a bunch of rules that you made up about your own pet pieves and annoyances - these are God's laws for every person of every age. It makes them aware that each and every one of us is accountable to God - even children and teenagers.

Secondly, if given good reasons, most young people will want to make a good choice. My mom believed this, so it was not uncommon for her to share a medical fact, statistic, or news worthy article on any topic that proved why obeying God was a better choice. It is not uncommon to find me doing the exact same thing! We did not always make the right choices  but I will say that many times information was the key to helping me do what was right. The story is not yet written on my own children, but I hope that in the future they will be able to say the same thing. (Disclaimer: I am not a perfect mother. Sometimes I am not even a good mother! I am still on this journey, too, and hoping and praying for my children just as much as you are!)

3. Ask your child to describe what they want their life to look like in 10 years, 20 years 30 years. What kind of family? What kind of marriage? What kind of Job? A ministry? Help them to plan the path they want to take.

Our lives add up to an accumulation of small choices. No one ever wakes up one morning and says "I want to be a drug addict...a homeless person...get pregnant before marriage... have an affair that will tear my family apart..." If you are living hap-hazardly, making each choice as it comes your way, living moment to moment, these things are a possible outcome of that lifestyle.

This is what happens when we fail to look into the future while we are still young and choose the outcome that we want for our life so that we can take the necessary steps to accomplish that goal. If you help your child to do this, when a temptation to step off of the path arrises, you can gently remind them to look at their goal and see if that choice fits into the picture that they have for their life or not.

It would not hurt to do this every few years all through life. Ask your SELF: What new goals should I make this year? What steps should I take to accomplish my goals for my life...job...marriage...ministry?

4. Lastly, (but by no means least!)

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." Ephesians 6:10-18