The Santa Solution

I have wanted to write a blog post on this topic for a long time but thankfully, by God's grace He has made me wait until now because I believe in the past, my heart wasn't completely walking in love when it came to this topic.

This time of year has always been one of my favorites.  I love the smells, the music, the food, the fires, time with family, the excitement, its all just fun fun fun!  However, since Luke and I have made the decision to not do Santa with our kids, there has been somewhat of a dark cloud of controversy that has found its way into our season of celebration.  We have found quite a few people curious about our decision, so I will use this time to try my best to explain our hearts on the matter while driving home the greater purpose for this post.

I will start by saying that our goal as parents is to point our kids to Jesus. Period.  Whether that is at Christmas, Easter or your average day at the grocery store.  Our hearts as believers are overcome with excitement during this Christmas season awaiting the return of our Savior.  Christmas marks the date of the first fulfilled promise and now we are eagerly awaiting the second!  Our hearts are overwhelmed by the astounding love our Father has over His children that He would humble himself to the greatest degree to come suffer and save a wretched sinner like me.  While we were yet sinners... Man, I can't wrap this feeble mind around such a love!! We desire to share this excitement with our kids.  As they eagerly await Christmas morning, we remind them that we are eagerly awaiting a day when we will be fully restored with Jesus! Although Santa is fun for a lot of families, we just don't feel there is a void of excitement around here. We are constantly fighting for our kids attention and to add Santa is just one more distraction.  Frankly, "Sorry Santa we just ain't got no room for you". We don't demonize Santa, we just don't make a big deal about him. They understand he is pretend just like frosty.  

Another reason and probably the biggest is our kids trust is the utmost importance to us.  We want them to know that if Mom and Dad say something, it's truth.  No doubt about it.  These are our little disciples and the Lord has entrusted us to shepherd their hearts.  I fall so short of this call so often.  It's important that they see mom and dad speaking truth no matter what and walking in a constant state of confession and repentance.  We will fail often but that is more opportunity to point to Jesus. It is imperative that their little hearts have a voice in this world that they know will always speak truth to them.  That's our call.

Now I'm sure by this point there are some of you giving me a virtual high-five and others are ready to de-friend me on Facebook.  Out of all of the decisions Luke and I have made as Christian parents, this is the one that has caused the greatest controversy. I haven't ever told anyone that they are wrong for doing Santa, but somehow by us choosing not to that is the message it sends to a lot of others. Hear me when I say, that is not my heart. I have enough struggle on my hands in following my own convictions.

This topic has become such a huge divider in the church. This is the message I want to send through this post:  Whether you choose to do Santa or not, let us strive for unity in the body above all else!  Jesus' command is that we love our neighbor, how can we do that when we are walking in a state of defense?  That goes for both sides! As Luke and I felt the flack for our choice, my pride made it very difficult to not get defensive, but what good does that do?! What a power we would have if we all walked humbly seeking to learn from one another instead of measuring ourselves up against one another!

Believer, there is a call to follow the conviction of the Holy Spirit in your life. Encourage your brothers and sisters in this, don't be a hindrance. This season is not about you and me.  It's about the hope of the gospel. The enemy will stop at nothing to divide and distract.  Let us come together in love and share the excitement of the hope we have in JESUS.

Merry Christmas :)

longing for home

As I sit here this afternoon and reflect of my day thus far, no doubt it has been full of struggle and attacks from the enemy.  I praise my God and Father who is faithful to deliver me from my enemies!  He is my Father who fights for me!  Who can withstand His mighty arm?

It is so easy during the hard days to long for just a moment of solitude.  We are a people who have created a demanding, hectic and fast-paced lifestyle yet long for rest.  We spend thousands on vacations seeking to satisfy this longing.  While vacations are good and it is absolutely a biblical command to rest, I think we often miss the worship in this longing.  We look for the vacations to satisfy something that only heaven will.  Ecclesiastes 3:11 says "... Also, He has set eternity in the hearts of men..."  That feeling you get when you stand at the top of a mountain and look out to behold the beauty of creation, for a moment it takes your breath away and you are simply captivated by what your eyes can see, and for that moment you catch a small glimpse of His majesty.  We are created to recognize and crave things that are shadows of heaven. We long to be 'home', but for the believer, this is not our home.  Only a shadow. That is eternity set in your heart.  We need to understand that this craving for peace, rest, complete joy and unrestricted fellowship with the Father will not be satisfied while we are in these flesh suits.  To think otherwise will leave you chasing your tail.  The truth is, this is not heaven.  We are living in the struggle.  That's why Paul tells us to "press on" to "run this race with endurance".  This truth highlights the importance of God's command for us to rest (something that I often walk in disobedience to).  As believers, this struggle will not end until He calls us home.  We must rest first, work from that rest, and press on in endurance with the longing set in our hearts to finally be home with our Father. 

We must not chase after new houses, bigger houses, new cars, different jobs, vacations, better neighborhoods, or for some no neighborhoods (ha!), relationships or anything else to satisfy what only eternity in the presence of our Father can.  You will find you will just move from one struggle to the next, frustrated and unsatisfied.  Delight yourself in the Lord and rest in the finished work of Christ that there will come a day when our struggle will end.  But until then, beloved, press on with tenacity that your labor for the Kingdom is not in vain!
Blessings!

Dallas here we come!

As a little girl I asked Him to protect me- countless times and countless ways He did
As a teen I asked Him to bless me with a godly husband- His name is Luke
As a newlywed far from home I asked him to move us closer- Palestine, TX
As a newlywed I asked him to grow our marriage and walks with him- Grace Bible Church
As a young woman I asked him to bless us with a child- His name is Elijah
As time went on I asked him to bless me with a little girl- Her name is Halle
As a young wife and mother I felt led to ask him to move us back to Bossier- 549 Chinquipin Dr
I asked Him to provide us with friends and body of believers to grow and serve with- Covenant Church
I asked for another child with a happy temperment- His name is smiling Ezra :)
I asked to be able to give birth to him naturally- Aug 7, 2012 10:30 am I got to hold my little one for the first time
I felt led to ask him to bless Luke with a job that would utilize his giftings- Tech star here we come

I don't understand how God who is so holy, so infinite and so powerful could look on me, one who is so small, so unholy, so weak (without Jesus) and find favor.  I cannot wrap my pea brain around it.  I look back and can see His faithfulness over and over and over and over.  I am so incredibly humbled, so in awe.  There have been moments of pain along the way.  Moments that my heart has hurt so bad it physically made me ill, but through everything one thing has always remained, I trust in the Lord my God.  I know that in the joyous times He is faithful and in the dark times, He is faithful.  I can look back on my life and see how he has used every bit of it for His glory.  I am so humbled to even be able to be used in any way let alone this journey that he has taken me on thus far.  I am so excited to see what he has planned in this next journey.  It is all for Him, through Him and because of Him.  Whatever happens, I pray our life constantly shouts "Thank you!" back to him.  He is good!  He is faithful!  To this I will forever testify!  Let's go.

2/21/2013

It's been a busy season. Good. Hard. Busy.  As I sit in the floor of my bedroom in our apartment in Frisco Texas, all I can think is wow.  God has blown me away!  I never saw this one coming.  I am so excited for Him to reveal to us why he has brought us here.  There are so many things I have learned so far!  My head is spinning so my writing will most probably reflect that lol. 

Since we arrived here almost two weeks ago, we have been inundated with flyer's and invitations to different churches.  Right off, I see we may not be in Shreveport/Bossier anymore, but we are definitely not far.  There are mega churches on every corner.  "An experience so comfortable, you will never want to leave", "Come discovery your destiny", "Jesus wants you to be successful and happy!"  all statements from these invitations.  This place is consumed with false doctrine and heretical teaching.  Wolves in sheep's clothing seeking to devour the weak in spirit.  Leading them straight to the slaughter.  It's easy for me to be discouraged and think "how can I make a difference?" 

Sometimes I think it would be easier to be in a third world country where people are so hungry for Jesus... here people are so fat with consumerism and this Jesus that is so concerned with their destiny, comfort and success.  Newsflash.  Jesus died a horrific death and rose again.. that was successful.. that is the standard by which He views success... dieing to ourselves and living for him!  NOT this genie in a bottle gospel that says, pray hard enough.. speak and think positive enough and you will get that promotion..  that's heretical at best.  The truth is that success that comes from Jesus is so much greater than any job promotion.  It's joy that is unshakable even in the worst circumstances.  It's hope when this world is falling apart around you.  It's peace in this world of anxiety.  It's the heart of the son or daughter that says "Lord, if you so will to bless me with this job promotion, let it be, but if that's not your plan, I trust you.  Regardless, help me to make much of you and proclaim your gospel to a hurting and lost people.  It is well with me soul". 
This false doctrine has always stirred up such a holy anger in my heart.  It is going to take much seeking and praying on my part in order to discern how to speak the truth in love without ranting.  I am surrounded by wealth and glittering things.  The pull is so strong on my flesh to give in.. there have been many moments of repentance from covetousness.  God is so gracious and merciful and doesn't let me get far without gently reminding me of who I am and why I am here.  It's not for me.  I'm learning to walk the line of enjoying what he has given, without it taking up residence in my heart.  Oh Lord, protect this adulterous heart!

We are seeking out where God wants us to by a home.  We have asked Him, "Lord, do we buy something in a slum to minister there and look different than the rest of this world that is chasing the dollar or do we buy something nice and be surrounded by consumerism and a people who seem so disinterested in the real Gospel?"  Friend, I will tell you plainly, to me, going to the ghetto would be the easier road of the two.  Personally, I have always struggled with a heart of compassion towards the wealthy.  I am so easily annoyed by pretentious people!! It drives me crazy!  I had a feeling when we moved here that that was EXACTLY who God was calling me to minister to.  Not only for their hearts, but also for mine.  I don't want to be Jonah.  Rich or poor, we all need him!  I am committed to live each day on mission and love and minister to whoever he places in my path that day.  To make much of Jesus.  To bring attention to Him and not myself.  We shall see... this is only the beginning....