Changing the face of Christmas

Christmas morning was a blast. Well for the most part. There was a slight part where I was slightly saddened by my 5 year old's reaction to "I want to open more presents. Aren't there any more for me?" The morning had a slight cloud at that point. There had been many presents, clothes, toys, books, you name it. Don't get me wrong we don't ever go over the top with spending oodles of dollars on our kids but still, we spend a pretty penny.

A few days prior to this whole Christmas thing happening I was thinking how proud I was of him that he randomly had mentioned he wanted to go through all of his toys and give some away to kids who don't have any. I was thinking he was the sweetest boy ever and I must have been doing something right. However, we did not pick out any toys at that moment to give away.

But as Christmas morning progressed and we went on with life after trying to explain to him that Christmas wasn't about Santa Clause and presents and trying to remind him that it was really about Jesus' birthday he proceeded to mention a few more times how he wished he had more presents to open.

Finally as he was sitting there complaining that he did not have enough I was becoming discouraged. I wasn't upset because I couldn't give him more, on the contrary we could have if we wanted too. The point was that I really don't want my kids thinking that they need to be so selfish as to think they deserve all these presents and gifts.

I love my kids. I love spoiling them. But there is so much more to life than things. So I sat down and I was the cruel mom that put him on my lap and I explained things in a perspective that he could understand. I decided to not mention Jesus at all, instead I wanted to just try and explain love (as Jesus is so as not to always be feeding him the right answer)

I informed him that there were many children in the world who would be happy just to receive a cheese burger for Christmas, or a loaf of bread. I explained to him that there were several children out there that didn't have blankets to sleep with, warm food to eat or a nice roof over there head.

Then I explained there are children out there that have none of those things and they also would give anything to have a family with them for Christmas. He got all big eyed on that one and explained he understood, "but I really wanted more lego's for Christmas." he added.

So to make matters a little clearer I stopped his play time all together, pulled out a pair of  pants, a shirt and a little present of his sisters.  And I said "you see that?" He looked. "that there is sometimes all mommy got for Christmas when Grandma and Grandpa couldn't afford anything else."

He sat for a moment kind of quiet like he was thinking. I could tell it was sinking in.  Then his sweet eyes with tears in them said, "you mean when you were my size you only got two presents?"

I informed him that I was lucky when my mom made me an outfit to wear and I got a little gift under the tree just for me. I loved it! To me Christmas was about the fun stuff spending time with my family, eating fattening foods we normally didn't eat, watching movies and eating popcorn, and just hanging out with family and sometimes people from our church.

And then to really make it sink in, I pulled away the presents. Picked up and empty bag and handed it to him. "how would you like that for Christmas?"

He was silent. "it's empty! That isn't very nice."

"But, would Christmas still come without any presents? Would you still have fun hanging out with mom and dad and your brother and sister?" He nodded yes.

Of course it finally sank in. Though I want him to understand Jesus' Birthday is the reason to celebrate I also wanted my child to not sound like so many other kids out there. I want my child to learn to be thankful always at every season. Not looking for more but being grateful for what he has.

I asked him if maybe next year we should take some of the money we spend on nice things for ourselves and give it to someone who needs food, and clothes and things that help us live. (we did that this year too but he didn't really know about it) His response, "Jesus would be really happy if we did that." It's true He would be, but shouldn't we be doing that instead of pretending Santa Clause exists on Christ's Birthday?

And then as the day progressed I had time to really think. This whole celebrating Christmas thing, it was really turning into nothing more than a joke to the rest of the world when we proclaim that we are celebrating Christ birth.  We want to sound so Christian by keeping "Christ in CHRISTmas" But yet, when our kids wake up and run to the presents under the tree how many of us remember Christ as we watch them rip open their gifts in eagerness just throwing them aside one by one to get to the next gift?

I certainly didn't see Jesus anywhere in my living-room as I watched my kids open gifts. I saw eager, joy filled faces, but it wasn't because Jesus was born it was for the simple fact that they were being spoiled rotten with gifts. Showered with love from those who love them.

Now, I am not saying there is anything wrong with enjoying this moment of seeing joy on your kids faces and spoiling them. I am ok with that. What I am saying is that is not what celebrating Christ birth should really look like.

If we were really wanting to see Christ on Christmas morning we'd be working so hard to bring Him a gift. Part of me thinks that next year, though I enjoy giving my kids and family presents I am planning to celebrate His birthday way different. What if I made my kids buy others things like food, and shelter, and blankets?

What if for the whole next year every time I wanted to buy a throw blanket or a decoration for my house or something else that makes it 'homey' I put the money aside and buy a real blanket for someone who sleeps without one out in the cold?

There are so many people out there that need the love of Christ. As Christians we are great at saying how much we love Jesus. But the point is that is all we say. Our actions to reaching out to serve our community is lacking.

Sure we may give our tithe to the church. Shouldn't they be taking care of the poor? But lets be honest, most of the church money goes to pay the people who run the church, and to keep the lights on and the building heated and the mortgage paid for. When it comes to your tithe how much of it really goes to missions and to the community to feed the poor, needy, hungry, and parentless?

It's not the building where you congregates job to show the love of Jesus to the world. It's our job to get up off our butts, to stop being selfish and shopping for things we don't need. We should be handing out our free time and even our money to those who actually need it. Give a helping hand to those who are struggling.

Appleton Wisconsin has homeless everywhere. In my church alone there are over 1,000 attenders on a regular basis. If all 1,000 of those people gave up for one year buying Starbucks, stopping at fast food joints, buying items for their house to decorate it or make it feel more homey, taking expensive vacations, buying stuff that lets admit we don't actually NEED and gave all that money we would typically spend in a year on that stuff to someone who needed to clothe their kids, feed their kids, put a roof over their heads Appleton would NOT have a homeless problem.

 And that is just one congregated church. Imagine if all the people who were Christ followers all over the world did that? Could you imagine?!?! The orphans would have homes, the widows would be cared for. Everyone would eat and no one would go to bed hungry or freeze to death.

Time for Christians in this world to stop claiming the name Christian unless you actually plan to start acting like what that term means. It means "little Christ's," Or "Imitator of Christ." In Bible times when people were referred to as Christians it was meant as an insult. The people who followed Christ did not find it to be an insult they were flattered. But those who looked on who lived a normal life, with some decent morals and thought they were religious, threw that term at them to insult them and make fun of them. It was not something people claimed to hang onto just to make themselves sound good.

So this year, as I press forward with rearing my kids and working on building my relationship with Christ I plan to change my ways. There are tons of things I want. Trust me. But there are only a few things I actually need to survive. I have family, I have a warm roof over my head, I have food for my family. Those, are necessities, everything else is a want, or a desire. You could live without everything else you just have to choose to be willing to sacrifice your wants so someone else can have a need fulfilled.

I am not by any means saying take the joy and fun out of Christmas. But so many of us think that if we didn't spoil the kids rotten on Christmas day and give them oodles of presents and make sure Santa stopped by with a bucket load of toys for our kids that there wouldn't be joy or magic on Christmas.

Let me tell you something. I find more joy giving to people who need a helping hand than I do in almost anything else. Why can't we think our young children wouldn't be the same in experiencing that joy too? I highly doubt that having my kids help others in need would ruin their Christmas celebration, I believe it would make it a funner, more meaningful Christmas than any others.Why not change the way we as Christians celebrate Christmas?

 Why not take our kids somewhere and have them give gifts to others who otherwise wouldn't see one happy face on Christmas? Why not let your kids see those in need and give them a helping hand that day? That my dear friends is going to bring them such joy, and memories like you would not believe! It may even change the face of the world if we could just teach our kids to be someone other than the typical selfish child growing up in the world that tells them that it's all about them.

I only hope that next year, I can truly bring the life of Christ birth to my children's world. And though I will definitely give them a day of gifts of their own, I know for sure i am going to give them a "CHRISTmas Day!"

A moment to remember I am blessed

The other night as Matt and I were in our family room wrapping presents I sat back and just stared at the pile of rising wrapped gifts. The pile was growing bigger and bigger and I was just for a moment staring in awe. Matt caught my look and asked curiously what I was thinking about.

In all my years of life I have never felt more blessed. Truly those gifts, not a single one in the pile was for me, or even for my kids. They were for other people. I was thinking how blessed I am by God. I have this really awesome family with love that will never be taken away. I have a beautiful home, that has more than enough room for all of us to spread out in and find our own space. I have been blessed with enough money to help others, to buy gifts for people we don't even know.  I have been blessed with new friendships made and ones that existed made stronger. My family has been blessed with good health. We have been blessed in so many ways.

I am not writing to brag only to remember this moment so when I reread this and need to be reminded of how loved I am by God when I feel alone I will know by my own words just how blessed I have truly been in this life. I have been blessed this year in more ways than I could possibly count. God is so good, not just because He has blessed us with the ability to help others, but also because of the gifts He has given that could never have a price tag put on them.

I hope moments like these are the ones that I bring to mind on a bad day, the days I wonder if God is even there with me. I know He is when I can stop and look back and think about positive moments such as this one. But they are not always the easy moments to remember when I am feeling down. So today I write out the blessings I have found this year at Christmas time. The gift of love is forever in the home, not just love from my husband and kids, but the love of God is shining here as well.

Life is not always perfect and peachy, but in my moment today I am perfectly at peace with all the Love God has blessed to me and my family.

Finding the American Dream- easier than you think

As of late I have really taken personal time (yes even with busy children all over) to think about life and all bouts of it. Life in America seems so hard for people. As the rate of employment and home ownership seems to be back on the rise so does the rate of depression. The things we have seem to be more cause of depression than cause for joy and peace and satisfaction.

So why do we as American's strive for more?
Why are we so depressed if the world around us is supposedly improving and getting better?
Why are we so sad and miserable with all this stuff?
Why does America, the leading country in the number of Christians, have one of the highest depression rates in the world?

The more I thought about it the more I realized I was wanting something more. Something different. I wanted a life of happiness and joy and to not be like everyone else in my world. I wanted to be the one that stood out to make a difference. I don't want to live in the land of 'it's ok to be depressed." I wanted to live in the land of the happy and joyful living.

I wanted to give my kids something better too! I didn't just want to be like every other parent out there and raise my kid so they fit into society. I want to raise my kids so they will be the light that is different that makes the world around them want to be someone better.

I didn't want a life of perfection but I wanted one of simplicity and joy and filled with love and happiness.

And then it hit me. I do want the American Dream! The real American dream is to find pure happiness and joy. We just go looking for it in all the wrong places. We look in other people and in things. But I wanted everything to be more simple. The kind of simplicity you would find while reading Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. The kind of simple that has long been forgotten.

The simplicity where the only thing I have to worry about is making sure my kids are clothed, fed and knowing they are truly loved. A life where my husband is my ultimate world and him being happy is more important to me than keeping up with the American dream.

So my goal for the upcoming year, and starting now is to become simple. To become the joy filled, loving, Christ centered Christian. Where everything I do doesn't have to be drastic and showy. Where my home is filled with love, not objects to make it look good or too much activity to keep me from forming real bonds with those I love most.

My steps to a simpler life have really taken my brain to places such as; figuring out who to place first in my life instead of myself;  or stop caring about what other people think of me and how I choose to live life. I use to be that person that looked to others for my happiness. I wanted them to all think I was great. I wanted people to think I was wise, I was smart and Biblically intelligent. I wanted them to see me as a good wife and mom.

 But in all honesty while I was seeking everyone else's approval for my life I was missing the whole point.

I missed the part of actually caring what God thought. I wasn't trying to just act like a good person but that was what I was doing. When I was seeking approval from others I found that deep down there was never great satisfaction with anything I did. Why? Because frankly there was always someone out there who seemed to think I could do more, something different, or something better. It was true, I couldn't please everyone.

Though my focus deep down really was to please God I kept surfacing to thinking that if I was pleasing the Christian's around me it meant I was pleasing God. On the contrary, I have found that pleasing the Christians around me was only taking me to the road of difficulty, depression, lack of self-worth and many other negative places. This does not mean I think these Christians around me are terrible people, it means that my focus was wrong. Those people were not the One I need to please and try and make happy.

When I give up trying to impress the people around me and I just focus on pleasing God my life becomes simpler. Truly the cross I bare is so much lighter. The weight on my shoulders seems like it isn't even there at all. The things I do to please God are so easy for my heart to decide to do. It really makes the verses in Matthew 11:29&30 seem so true  "Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

This does not mean my natural instincts jump right on this idea. It may go against every grain of human nature that is in me. It doesn't mean every day is perfect, especially the days I am not being God focussed. But, when I focus on living my life only for God all the things He requires of me to do really do become Simple, Easy, and can even be FUN!

I have stopped trying to get my home to be picture perfect. I use to think I needed a spotless, gorgeous, always picked up home without any signs of dirt in it. I even tried to make it look like toddlers weren't running a muck in my home. I was constantly trying to find things to fill it with to make it look 'better.'  I did this thinking a clean home meant a happy home.

When I stopped focusing on the stuff to impress the world around me and started focusing on how God wanted me to run the home I have learned I was totally wrong. My kids are kids, they are going to make things dirty. They want me to play with them and read books. They are not going to grow up and wish I had spent less time with them and more time trying to make our house look like a Better Homes and Gardens magazine cover. A toy scattered home means I have love flowing through it.

The picture perfect dinner table has also stopped happening. My husband seems way more relaxed to come home now that I have made most dinners more simplistic. I don't try and make fancy meals that the kids won't eat because let's face it, they are little they don't want pretty food, they want it to taste good, fancy food to a kid is pointless. My husband doesn't care if the meal looks perfect or classy, he just wants food and happy kids and a happy, less stressed wife.

When I apply simple to my life it may mean my kids don't get a bath one night because we decide to let the kids go outside and run around and play in the dirt. It may mean that my house goes in disarray for a few days in order to make more time to play with my kids. It may mean saving the dishes that should have been done earlier for even longer so I can read a book to their ever growing little minds.

There is always tomorrow to get things clean. I am not saying I leave my home in such disarray that my children, husband and I are always sick. I am saying that letting things be without worrying what it looks like to everyone else is more important. I'm relaxing and letting the joy of life fill my home. I am not going to concern myself with allowing how others think a perfect home should be run rule our home anymore.

God's first calling in my life is to serve my family. He is not asking me to be more than I can or to make sure I look like the ideal wife, or mother. God is asking me to focus first on taking care of those He has entrusted to me to care for the most, those living under my roof. They can't live joyfully and lovingly in my home if there is always worry that they are going to say or do the wrong thing that may just be what sets me over the edge.

Living simple in America is truthfully hard at times. It's hard not to see the displays of beautiful, well put together, picture perfect homes  all over the internet and not wish that I had a moment of quiet in one of those.

The truth is I know that some day, when my kids are a few years older than they are now, they aren't going to want to have me hang out with them. They aren't going to need me to get on the floor and build train tracks with them. They aren't going to ask me to build the Lego set again and again or play dolls or whatever. One day, a day coming all too soon, my children are going to want to be more independent.

And when that day comes it means I'll have more time to tidy my home, prep nicer meals, work on art projects for my home to make it look more inviting to strangers. It means there will be less toys scattered and the idea that a toddler lives in my house will one day be a distant memory.

So today I choose to live simply. If for nothing more than to keep my children feeling joyful, loved and happy. I want my kids first memories of me and my home to be one of love and fun. Not one of mom freaking out because they just messed up my perfectly neat home.

Simple is not always an easy choice. It's not always the first thought I choose when something goes wrong. But I am learning with practice. The more I practice simple in my home the more joy that seems to flow. The more innocent giggles I hear and the more memories I have made that I will cherish for a life time.

My goal in life is to live as much like Christ as possible. Christ always lived simple. He didn't live to impress anyone other than the one He loved the most, His Father. Today I choose to live simple so that I may also impress the same Father. I will choose to live a life of quiet ease. I choose to live a life where I care more about the 4 wonderful people He has blessed me with under my one roof than I do about making an impression to those who would soon forget me if I were no longer around.

Blessed to be a blessing

Today as I was going about my morning minding my own business I was heading home from the gas station where I had just stood out in the cold weather praying the car would just hurry up and fill. It was freezing! So as I am driving home I see this old man he was walking with bag in hand, he had a jacket, hat and gloves but he was literally shuffling his feet as though that was all the faster he could walk. I drove past.  Yup I did I kept driving even though I had this little voice tell me to stop and pick him up.

As I kept driving of course I was watching in my mirror, feeling annoyed because frankly I didn't mind doing the right thing, after all it was cold but surly one of the three cars following me would stop and get him. I drove about 5 blocks and could see that no one had stopped. Grrrrr I was frustrated was no one kind hearted enough to pick the man up?! I at least had an excuse I had two little kids in my car I shouldn't have to stop! But then it hit me, I was just as selfish and self absorbed as all the other people who had just driven by. Too worried about getting on with my day to stop and help a stranger.

So I did a u-turn in the middle of the road, went back and picked him up. Poor guy was half frozen by the time I got him in the van. My 2 year old looked at me funny at first and then once he seemed to realize what was going on gave me a big ol' smile as in approval.  The man was ever so sweet! You know the kind of old man that is like the grandfather figure to everyone and just pleasant and chipper. He had such a good attitude reminding me that there are soldiers in freezing cold places who stand out on cold days like this one without a shelter to keep them warm. He made me smile all the way to his destination, even got to stop and drop off his mail for him. It was fun, and I am glad I stopped to the urgent calling in my heart to give the man a lift.

It was funny, I didn't think until I got home to even think to wish the man a Merry Christmas. Why? Because frankly I shouldn't care if it's the 'season for giving and caring,' I should just be reaching out doing small acts of kindness every day to those I see in need. I think I was blessed today by being able to help him out  more than he was by me stopping to pick him up. And to think, I almost missed this moment of happiness and joy by being selfish, not wanting to stop with my van of kids in the cold to help a stranger in need.

Forever grateful I got to help out today! I will officially be looking for new and more ways to reach out to those in my community, in my neighborhood and around me. It's a blessing to be a blessing!

A stress free Christmas season

I love Christmas and everything it brings, everything it means. What I don't like is the stress so many of us encounter. So this year I  decided before the season began to try my best to not be stressed at all during this entire season to just find ways to enjoy it. And you know what? So far, so good. 
I stopped trying to be the image of perfection. I stopped planning to go to too many things. I stopped trying to make sure I was making everyone else happy and I stopped trying to make sure everything looked perfect in my house as well as outside of it. 
I refuse to feel rushed or bombarded with things to get done or to do lists that if I don't get to them no one but me will notice. This year is about having fun with my children, seeing the fun of Christmas through their eyes. And let me tell you something, it's been the least stressful and most fun Christmas I can remember. 
Jesus didn't come so we would make a big deal out of everything this time of year. He came to bring us peace and joy and love. So that is what I am sticking with making sure is around me and my family this year, love, joy and peace. 
Don't let the ruckus of the season overwhelm you. Relax and enjoy every little part of it you can. Sit back and enjoy the snowy weather, the lights outside, the lights on your tree, a warm cup of hot chocolate wrapped in a blanket snuggled up with your kids. Stop trying to force it into a Christian thing by making a big deal about the difference between Santa and Christ. The point of the season is to be free of hate, free of condemnation free to live in a joyful mood with love abounding everywhere. The reason for the season was a Savior who came to save us from it all, not start petty fights over Christ vs Santa. Yes I stress Christ birth first but I don't deny my kids the joy that a little imagination brings to their hearts as well.
May you be blessed this season and all seasons of life with the remembrance to not stress about the stuff that doesn't matter but to embrace the Savior that came to save you from it all.

To be like the Poor Widow

Mark 12: 41-44 Jesus sat down near the collection box in the Temple and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.  Then a poor widow came and dropped in two small coins. Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I tell you the truth, this poor widow has given more than all the others who are making contributions. For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she had to live on.”

 I am not going to lie; I LOVE this story!! It is a short one but holds so much meaning to it, not just back when Jesus was alive but also to learn from today. So, what I am going to do is tell a story, much like this one but put it into terms we would recognize if it were to happen today, and if you look around your church moments like this happen all the time.

A well known man walks into the big bad Christian church. People are dressed in their typical up to date, dressed to impress, fashions. He sees an old widow, clothes are a bit old looking and warn, they are far from new. At closer view point you could smell that she has not had a luxury of a shower in a good week, her close have small holes in them and her shoes, well if you want to call them that, they are falling apart and her glasses are tapped together on one side barely holding the lens in place.

The man takes notice that no one in the whole building is stopping to talk to her, to see if she needs help or see if they can assist her in any way. They don't even seem to be noticing that she is in the building at all. The man proceeds to walk into the sanctuary where there are instruments up on stage, people smiling and singing praise songs as loud as ever boasting of their care and love for God.

The time comes for the offering to be passed around. Nice velvet bags with sturdy brown handles are passed from person to person. The place is packed and about every third person or so places an envelope full of money into the bag, thinking not much about what they just did. The looks on their faces are all mixed emotions some are happy, some are a little down cast but not too sad but none look as alone as the lady who had come in ratted clothes and torn. 

As the collection bag comes to her the man notices how she touches the soft velvet, something she was obviously not accustom to wearing or touching. She places in what appears to be a $10 bill. As she puts the money in the bag and passes it on the woman has a smile on her face, very serene and almost holy. 

The man stops to tell the close friends around him, "you see that woman over there, the one no one else pays attention too? Though she may appear to not offer much she has offered more than those who gave in song, more than those who smile all day in passing to the strangers who are easy to look at, more than those who gave their normal 'tithing dues.' This woman has shown the love she has for the Father God because she has sacrificed her meals for this week to give all she has to the Father. This woman has given everything she has to God. This woman is a woman of faith and love, for she knows that God will take care of her."

I have to stop when I think about this story and question myself. Have i given fully of myself to God as this woman has? Have I left no question in God's mind that I am fully devoted to Him, believing that He will supply all my needs as it says in Philippians 4:19?  If Jesus were to walk into my church could He look at me, pick me out of the crowed as the one who truly gave it all for the cause of the Kingdom of God?

I'd love to say yes, that for sure I know God would look at me as one who has sacrificed all for Him. But truth is day in and out I don't give everything to Him. I definitely don't give all my living expenses to Him, or my time. 

I can say though that I am not going to totally jilt myself either. I am a stay at home mom. I do know that I have given up the worldly pleasures of having all sorts of extra money so I can stay home with my children and raise them in a safe and healthy Christian environment. I know that I dedicate my time to serving my husband and working on and being devoted to our marriage. 

I know that I have given my time to serve God in areas where he has called me, but I can honestly say I have not always done it with a pleasant and willing and faithful attitude that God will provide for me. Instead usually when I feel God prompting me to give more of my time or more of our finances I often feel more stressed and worry about not having enough of both to make me and my family happy. It almost becomes a fight because I think I have given enough, why do I have to forfeit more? I can not always say I do things with an attitude that is pleasing to God. I am not always in a attitude that is sold out for Christ, wither in serving in time or serving with money.

I need to be less worried about earthly desires and personal gains and just focus on making sure the light of Jesus shines through my actions. I need to be the candle in the dark to everyone around me all the time. I need to always act the way I would if Christ walked into the door and saw me, I would be the one He pointed out as the one who truly gave all I had to the cause of the Kingdom of God.

More than the American Christian

I am becoming frustrated with the 'Christians' that call themselves that who live here in America. It seems like it's the new fad. You know once the schools started banning anything to do with God Christianity seems to have taken off as the new dare devil thing, which of course makes it cool. Now, I am not saying I am not glad that God is considered cool, because He is, but there needs to be more of a realness to it. A real full on relationship with God, a personal experience with Him, not just once when we first offer our lives to Him but a daily open communication with Him.

Now a days it seems that we as Christians are the people that think as long as we are nice, and friendly and giving and sharing and caring and all those other fun things that any moral person would do anyways, that we are showing 'the love of Christ.' So, are we really showing Christ to be any different than the atheist who lives down the street? The atheist who lives down the street still has moral values, he believes in sharing, and caring for the less fortunate, and he believes in being kind always to others and loving those around him. So, sounds to me like Christians are sharing nothing different than a man who doesn't believe that God even exists let alone sent a Savior who died for us.

So how as Christians can we really stand out? How can we really be different? Is just congregating on Sunday's and occasionally with our churchy friends throughout the week the only thing that makes me different from the guy down the street? Because if it is, let me tell you that really really sucks. To put it bluntly that means there is nothing different other than a bunch of wasted time congregating with a group of people who are trying to prove who is more spiritual than the next. If there is nothing deeper than what seems to lay out there for the world to see as we portray Christ then we as Christians are in a world of hurt! And to put it as kindly as possible the rest of the world who doesn't know Christ on a personal level is screwed!

So how can we be different? How can we show even an atheist that we are different? How can we show that God really exists with us and in us? That God is there, that God cared enough to send His one and only Son to earth to die for them? How, especially at this time of year, can we open the door for all the world to experience salvation through Jesus Christ? How can we be more than the average American Christian?

If you don't have an answer for this then it's high time you ask God to really show you how. If you are that serious that you want others to see Christ through you then you need to find a way to be different. You need to find a way to be stretched beyond human limits, to face anything that you fear, and accept that you may just need to step out of your comfort zone and go above and beyond with God being your strength, not relying on your own logic. If others salvation really means that much to you, which it should, then you should be far less concerned with blending in and fitting in with everyone including your Christian friends. You should be more concerned with making sure you are always living your life 100% sold out for the cause of Jesus Christ.

Too many of us are worried we are going to look weird, or be rejected. But here is the thing, if people are rejecting what you stand for and what you have to say stop worrying about it being about you. They aren't rejecting you they are rejecting Jesus and that is to be more of a concern than you looking good to them. Some of those people out there that you are worried about looking weird in front of are looking for the person who is different the person who isn't just nice on their own accord. They are looking for the person that smiles even on a bad day, that has pure untainted joy that flows out of your mouth, your smile, your very being of a person.

Does that mean you have to be overly bubbly and annoying people walking around saying "Jesus loves you, Jesus loves you." No! of course it doesn't mean that. But it does mean that you can show you are different than the atheist, or the person who is just nice because they were brought up to have good moral values. It means that even when human nature would crumble you do not. When others are stressed out, you are not because you are relying on the God of the universe for your strength to hold you together. You have offered your body as a living sacrifice, if God is flowing through you His power and strength reside in you at all times so even when you are physically and emotionally drained on a human level the miracle of God is that He can make you stand strong and speak for you.

Don't keep relying on the logic, and personal human understanding and strength to be kind, to be compassionate. Don't do things just so people can see, and just so people think you look good, or you look like a fully devoted Christian. Do things that are out of the ordinary. Do things that are nice, but do them because God asked you too, not because your church friends will think you are amazing or other onlookers will see you as a nicer person. Ask God to flood you with Joy, His Joy so that when the worst and best of circumstances come in your life everyone around you can see that Jesus really is your sustainer, that Jesus really is the reason you sing, the reason you smile, the reason you share, the reason you love. Don't go through another holiday just being kind to people because it's the right, Christian thing to do. Go through the holiday doing those things because God asked you, then you will grumble less, you will not have the desire to wish you hadn't volunteered and you will do it out of pure joy in your heart.

Joy this season will not come because you have everything it will come because you give everything!

All I want for Christmas-simplicity

Through the years I have looked back and really learned to appreciate the simpleness that my parents gave us at Christmas time. When I was little I guess I probably didn't understand it all that much, at least not the gift part. My parents were never rich, could never a ford huge presents or big parties. I was brought up where even the little things were to be appreciated. Christmas was always simple in forms of gifts but in time spent with family and each other it was priceless.
Now, Christmas has changed for me. I have a family of my own. I have gotten caught up in the same routine of Christmas as every other Christian in America has. I have bought into the need to buy everything to try and see my kids be happy. I have been caught up in the need to make sure everything looks just so. I have been caught up in the thrill and the fun and the 'magic' of it all. I have been caught up, in Satan's tools of lies, forgetfulness, depression, and comparisons. Unfortunately because of these tools he uses I look around and I see unhappiness.
Sure, everything in the world looks beautiful, it looks like we are all happy. But truth is the happiness is only for a fleeting moment. We are happy to see others, while secretly we are at the store hoping that this year we get just the right toy for our child to make them happy for longer than a week, make them truly appreciate the things they have. Truth is we are all spending money looking for happiness and acceptance this time of year.  The sad part is we have all bought into that lie that those things are what are going to get us accepted and appreciated.
We aren't happy because frankly, come January 6th or 7th a week after the festivities die down, we all get our bills for the money we have spent, the lights come down and the 'joy' is gone. We all realize that life is going to go back to the mundane boring old routine. We all realize that our kids are going to still throw fits, find no value in objects because they don't really comprehend what it means to go without something and they don't know the value of money. (in there world that stuff just appears in mom and dads wallets to give them what they want.)
But this year for Christmas I am having the same problem. I have been out looking for the best decor for my new home. I have been shopping aimlessly wondering what to get my husband for Christmas and my kids, and my in laws and my parents. Why? Why does everything seem so empty to me? I want to buy things for them and give them gifts but why do I get more joy out of giving clothes to a complete stranger than I do buying something fun for my family? I care so much about all my family and want them happy so why is Christmas becoming so hard and almost depressing?
The answer is simple. The stranger needed the clothes while my kids, my in-laws, my husband, my siblings they don't actually have a need for anything. It's hard to give something to someone when you know it's only half way appreciated. Why? Because the gifts we give are not gifts those people can live without, they are gifts that they like or wanted but didn't actually need. They are gifts that will just clutter up their already full wardrobe, or another toy to be added to the barely touched toy bin or another gadget that will hang on the wall where there are already too many decorations hung.
I can't help but realize how far I myself have come from the true meaning of it all. Sure Christmas was originally a pagan holiday set up for people other than Christians to celebrate Christ's birth. But as a Christian I claim to celebrate Christmas to honor the joy that was given in a manger so long ago. The truth is I can say that until I am blue in the face, but if you look at all the gifts I have already bought for people you would see that there is really not much about Christmas in the gifts that belong to celebrating Jesus birth.
So, what do I want for Christmas? I want simplicity. I want to give gifts to people who need them. I want people to stop buying stuff for me that though I am grateful that they think of me and want to get stuff for me I want them to share their wealth with someone who needs it. Those gifts that I get could feed kids who are starving. They could benefit the warming shelter or help an orphanage stay warm one more month.
I want a simple Christmas where I can really revel in the glory that was sent years ago. I want to bring it all back, back to the way it was when I was growing up where I may have only gotten a few small none expensive gifts but I enjoyed the time with my family just celebrating the happiness that comes and the real joy that comes from celebrating the birthday of a true King.
Does that mean I won't be buying things this year for my kids? No I have already bought things. But it does mean that next year and years to come there is a thing called simplicity that needs to be taught at this time of year. We have the rest of the year to spoil our kids why just do it one day out of the year? I plan to bring Christmas in my house back to the manger, where there were two poor people who couldn't even get a room in an inn to give birth to a King. I vow from this year out to make Christmas more simple to bring back the meaning of what Christmas is about. To show my children that Christmas is about bringing hope to a broken world, not just saying it, but doing it. Not just pretending to help but really helping. Not just in front of people so it looks good but behind closed doors where no one knows it was you.
I want Christmas in my house to be fun, to be joyful, to be full of hope and inspiring to my kids that they can see Jesus in me, especially at Christmas. The best gift I can give my kids is the joy of simplicity and the excitement of realness in knowing that Jesus came with a purpose to die, and raise so we could all have the one and only gift that we take with us when we die. All the other gifts of the world are futile when you look at the gift we should be giving and showing and sharing with everyone in the world around us. May my heart of this Christmas remain with me all year through, not just on Christmas, but may it shine extra bright to those who need to see the hope they are looking for.