It's Showtime!

If you have little ones, then I'll bet you have sat through a "program" or two...and maybe even one or two already this Christmas season.  The kids are all excited about being on the big stage, they are so cute in their tiny little dresses and sport coats and curls...  You have your phone camera, your real camera and a video camera charged and ready for the big moment when your child will stun the entire audience with his good looks and charm.  Perhaps even his talent.

The first song begins...you get some out of focus and wobbly shots of the kid, and then you notice, "I feel like I have been here before..."

Here are some landmarks that you recognize, signaling to your brain, that yes, you have indeed been here before.  The world of the little kid "program."

1.  The Princess.  There's always one, if not multiples, wearing a hugely frilly dress with sparkly tights and sparkly shoes and sparkly hair doodads.  They each are so adorable and they know it.

2.  The Flasher.  You know you're going to see somebody's underwear and somebody's belly button during this show.  They're usually my favorite kids.

3.  The Statue.  There's always that one kid who stares out into space and doesn't move.  Won't sing, won't dance, won't even attempt the motions.  Juuuuuussssst a statue.

4.  The Nose Picker.  No public performance is complete without one.

5.  The Blasted Cacophony.  God bless the kids who just can't find the note.  They provide us with such an... interesting, shall we say, buffet of tones to choose from.

Oh, there are other landmarks to let you know you're on the path, but those are some surefire signs that you're trapped in a seat for at least 30 minutes at a Children's Program.  Buckle up, slap on your smile and keep the camera rolling.  These moments will become priceless as soon as you blink an eye.

Especially at the end of a children's Christmas program, I really feel like standing up and saying the Pledge of Allegiance like Aunt Bethany at the Griswold family Christmas dinner table.  It's so cute and festive, and they have done a great job.  But it's just a little wonky.

So, here's to many more off-key, Santa + Baby Jesus, nose-picking, belly-flashing moments with your kiddos!

Ho! Ho! Ho!  Away in a Manger, and God Bless America!

Some Sparkle In Your Christmas

Christmas is the best.  It's my favorite.  The season where people think of others more, where the name of Jesus is uttered by countless lips - from believers and non-believers alike.  The time when people open their hearts and begin to see the true beauty of the Love that appeared on our scene one cold night in a stable.

Every year, our family gravitates to someone in need during the Christmas season, and this year is no exception.  All the planning and dreaming of how we can bless this person and their family is truly the highlight of the whole thing for me.  This December we have been unusually consumed with schedule stuff, so when I saw the spiritual neon sign over the family the Lord was highlighting for us and heard the little "ding-ding-ding" go off in my heart, I just tried to ignore it and move it farther down the books.  Like, a week from next Tuesday.  But alarms kept going off in my spirit and I just couldn't ignore it.  I wanted to lean into the voices that whispered in my ear, "You are in no position to be taking on a family and spending tons of money on them right now.  This is way beyond what you're capable of."  But the Holy Spirit's tug in my heart was stronger.  He kept re-routing my life to run smack into this family and their needs.

So, I finally got in line with Him and reported for duty.  And the angels sang!  I got a download of heavenly strategy, made a few connections, who made a few connections, who made a few connections...  And ba-da-bing!  We have a really fun, sneaky surprise Christmas coming for this family!  (I keep saying "this family" because I can't let the cat out of the bag yet!)

Who is the Lord highlighting for you?  Will you just toss the "you can't do this" voices aside and report for duty?  The Lord is amazing.  He is not asking you to singlehandedly fund someone's whole life.  He is asking you to say yes to Him, and He will then give you ways to bless and care and love like you never imagined.

The way we're doing it this year:  mobilize people who know this family, and friends of friends who like to give and bless.  Create a list of needs and tell people to get after it.  We have already had several gifts come in, gift cards, cash...it's SO CRAZY FUN!  We're working on the details of delivery...sneaky, sneaky...  And it is going to absolutely blow these people away.  You have GOT to get on board, friends!

Ask God who, in your own life, He is wanting to bless.  He will definitely show you.  Then gather up some friends, co-workers, enemies - whoever - and just see what God will do through you!

How are you blessing people this Christmas?  I'd love to hear YOUR story!

The Spirit of Fear

You know what gets me riled up?  Halloween.  The culmination of darkness, fear and death - and the celebration of those things.  Every year at this time, people I know and love take part in the celebration of Halloween and it irks the living snot out of me.

"Why?  It's just a silly holiday.  There's nothing wrong with it.  We're just having fun", one might retort.  In fact, that is the most common response I hear when I challenge anyone on the subject.

Here's my first point:  If you believe in Jesus and profess to know Him, then you have no business reveling in darkness.  I don't expect all the rest of the atheists, agnostics and non-Christian people to think anything is wrong with Halloween, just people who say they know Jesus.  Jesus is LIGHT.  Jesus is LIFE.  Halloween is darkness.  Halloween is death.  Do you see the incongruity here??!!

Second point:  Fear is a torment from the enemy (Satan, the devil, is your enemy in case you weren't clear on that).  What is the biggest emotion people experience when they take part in Halloween festivities?  Fear.  The Bible even talks about "the spirit of fear", meaning that there is a spiritual force behind the feeling.  Fear is not just some little game for a thrill.  Fear is a spirit.  And it's not a good one.

I have spent so many conversations, prayer times and ministry sessions with people who are TORMENTED by the spirit of fear.  I have battled against the spirit of fear for myself, my children and many others.  Why on earth would you willingly play his game, people?  Satan is a liar.  He wants to lure you into his grasp with "fun and games" that seem innocent enough.  But Halloween has become a culturally acceptable invitation to the forces of spiritual darkness into our homes, thoughts and lives.

I'm sick of it.  I'm sick of seeing a shopping cart of little kids at the grocery store who are crying and begging their mom to go away from the scary masks and bloody costumes.  I'm sick of the Christian culture embracing anything to do with darkness.  I'm just sick of it.

So, here's the thing.  If you celebrate Halloween, I'm not sick of YOU.  I'm ready for you to see the goodness and blessing that God has for you, and that it is so much better than anything "fun" you get out of Halloween.  Our family seems SO counter-culture on this, but we're not backing down.  We are convinced of the awesomeness of our God, and we have decided to let go of everything else that doesn't line up with Him and His ways.

If you're worrying about not having any fun, DON'T!  There are so many wonderful things going on during the fall!  Pumpkin patches, carnivals and lots of fun family things that don't involve the symbols of evil.  You just have to ask the Holy Spirit to transform your thinking.  He can, and He will...when you ask.

I pray that you will have eyes to see and ears to hear what God is communicating to you.  Don't be fooled, friends.

May the light and life of Jesus rest on you and yours this Fall!