Every Christmas season, I take my kids to purchase things for a child their age to put in a shoebox and donate to Operation Christmas Child.  I always lay down the ground rules before the shopping trip: pick out things you would like and everything we buy goes in the box.  We keep nothing for ourselves; instead we give it all to those less fortunate.

Before you award me with "Mother of the Year" for teaching my children such a valuable lesson, I should share with you what happened two years ago.

I pulled up to the local dollar store and announced that we were filling our shoebox for a little girl that did not have all the things we did.  I knew we could stuff that box full at a discount price.  As we perused the aisle of dress up beads and plastic tiaras, I suggested a few items to my daughter that might be suitable for a girl her age.  She nodded but nothing excited her.

As I was digging through the disarrayed piles of low-priced loot, my daughter walked over to me, leaned in quietly and asked, "Mom, if every good and perfect gift comes from above, and we are trying to show God's love, then why are we sending them this junk?"

I was so ashamed.  She was right.  I wanted to fill up my box with cheap trinkets that were sure to break tomorrow so I could feel good about myself for helping someone in need, and all at a discount price.  

I loaded the kids back in the car, and we headed over to Target.  We passed the dollar discount bins, and went straight to the stuff seven year old girls really like.  We found some things that would fit in the box, and I saw a light in my daughter's eyes as she experienced the joy that comes from sharing Jesus.

But I was the one that really learned the lesson that day.  God is the giver of every good thing.  And He gave us the perfect gift when He gave us Jesus.  If I want to show His love to others, I have to be willing to love like He does…extravagantly and sacrificially.

Promise for today:
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17

Every Christmas season my family and I look forward to visiting a local church's live nativity.  The production features beautiful music, authentically costumed characters and live animals.  It's a wonderful reminder of the true meaning of the holiday.

Because my family enjoys attending, I have seen the performance many times.  But this year I saw it in a whole new light.

I was feeling the weight of holding a heavy toddler on my hip right about the time Mary and Joseph knocked on the inn keeper's door.  I watched as the inn keeper shook his head, shrugged his shoulders and told the weary travelers there was no room for them.  And my heart sunk for Mary.

I'm sure her feet were aching and her back was burning as her swollen ankles took step after step.  I imagine she willed her weighted body onward as she counted down the paces to Bethlehem where she could find rest and comfort.

But there was no comfort awaiting her.  No room in the inn.

Did Mary cry when she heard those words?  I'm sure I would have.

In fact I shed a tear or two for her last night as I thought about the true Christmas story.  I thought about how uncomfortable Mary and Joseph must have felt knowing false accusations of infidelity rushed the rumor mill and how Mary must have struggled as she traveled pregnant and on foot for days just in time to give birth in a barn.  Then I considered the greatest pain and discomfort of all, when Jesus chose to leave the pleasures and comforts of Heaven to come to this earth where he would be publicly disgraced, beaten, crucified, and left alone to pay for my sin.

The story of Christmas is not comfortable.  It's the story of how God left a perfect place, to dwell among desperate people, to pay a precious price because He loves us.  It's the story of self-sacrifice and saving grace.  It's the story of a love worth celebrating!

Promise for Today: 
Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

My daughter loves to run, and despite her pint-sized frame, she is fast!  When she was in first grade, her coach encouraged us to enter her in the town's one-mile fun run.

The day of the race, she took off strong, but around the second turn, her foot caught another girl's ankle, and she took a violent tumble.  Because the route circled around several blocks, I didn't see her fall.  I didn't know what had happened until she came across the finish line with blood dripping down her face and her left eye swollen shut.

As she passed the finish line, I ran to her.  "What happened?" I nervously asked.  She began to cry and recount her painful experience.  After hearing what she had gone through, I was surprised she finished the race.  I asked her why she had not stopped running when she fell.

Her answer surprised me, "I didn't know I could stop running.  I thought finishing the race was my only choice."  God gave Mackenzie strength, endurance and character because she kept her eyes on the finish line.

I have thought about that day a lot.  As Christians, I think that is how we are supposed to live. Sometimes the race is hard and painful, but quitting is not an option. God will provide us the strength to run it.  He also promises that great reward awaits us at the finish line.  

Promise for Today:
2 Timothy 4:7-8 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing.

I am reading through 1 Samuel in my quiet time right now.  Much of the book chronicles the life of David.  David amazes me.  He had so many huge accomplishments - killing Goliath, leading Israel to numerous victories against their enemies, and writing tons of beautiful Psalms.  And despite making some big mistakes, he was also known as a "man after God's own heart."

He's someone I'm sure I will never be like.  He's important, influential, and inspiring.  There are people I could compare him to in our time.  People who have been called to a place of power and position, and who are making a difference in the world.  People like Beth Moore, Franklin Graham, even my own preacher who makes an impact in the lives of hundreds every week because he has such an anointing to preach the Word.

And then there's little old me.  Do you every feel like a "little old me?"  

Today as I read 1 Samuel 20, I thought a lot about Jonathan.  He was David's best friend and the son of King Saul.  He had a right to the throne, as far as birth was concerned, but God had different plans.  God had chosen David to be the next king.  This didn't make Jonathan jealous. Instead he loved David dearly. On a couple of occasions he even saved David's life when he told David that Saul was trying to kill him.

It made me think, wow Jonathan was pretty important to God's plan.  He may seem like a "little old me" compared to David, but his part in God's plan was crucial, especially when you consider David is an ancestor to Jesus and Jonathan's warnings helped preserve his life.

God showed me today, there is no such thing as a "little old me."  We may never have our name in lights, but our obedience can still make eternal differences.

Promise for Today:
Isaiah 43:4a Since you were precious in my sight, you have been honored and I have loved you.

My kids love Frozen!  I bet we have seen it a hundred times.  They love the movie, and they love the music.  A few months ago my son went through a phase where he refused to wear his socks on his feet.  He felt they were more properly suited as gloves because they had the power to transform him into Elsa.  

Luckily, I have convinced him to keep his socks where they belong, at least in public.  But I cannot keep him from singing the song.  In fact, as I was getting dressed this morning, he was entertaining himself with a bravado performance of his beloved soundtrack.

His concert was annoying me.  As I was fixing my hair, I was trying to make a mental list of all of the things I needed to do today.  After all, it's Christmastime and schedules seem to be busier than ever.  I put down my curling iron with the intention of instructing him to quiet down.  But just as I approached him, his little brown eyes locked with mine and with a smile, he said, "Hey Momma, wanna sing with me?"

I laughed as I considered the words of his song, "Let It Go."  I think I really needed to hear that this morning.  Sometimes I do need to slow down just a little, let my "to do" list wait a short while, and enjoy the blessings right in front of me.

We were five minutes late to Mother's Day Out this morning.  That's five minutes less I have for my long list of errands.  But it's also five minutes that I spent laughing, dancing and singing with my son, and that may be the most important thing I do today.

Promise for today:
1 Peter 5:7 Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you.

Every night before we put the kids to bed, we say prayers as a family.  A few nights ago when my daughter finished her prayer, my two year old son looked over to me, tilted his little head, and asked, "Does Sissy love Jesus?"

"Yes," I answered, "Sissy loves Jesus, Daddy loves Jesus, Mommy loves Jesus and you love Jesus."  Quickly he replied, "No I don't love Jesus.  I love Mommy."

As soon as those words left his little mouth my throat went dry and my stomach turned upside down, not because his thought was so terrible that it would send some flash of lightening to strike, after all he's two. Instead it reminded me of the awesome responsibility God has entrusted to me, the most important job I will probably ever have - showing Jesus to my kids.

His simple declaration of affection caused me to pause and seriously consider…

Do my words point to the loving kindness a Savior?
Do my actions paint a picture of a God who is slow to anger and full of mercy?
Does my discipline demonstrate a Father who cares more about my character than my capabilities?

I am not perfect, I will never be perfect, and I cannot show them Jesus by trying to be the perfect parent.  But I can do my best to serve and obey Him, and when I mess up I can ask and receive His forgiveness.  And as I do this, my kids will be watching.  Lord, help me look like Jesus.

Promise for today:
Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

I have a two year old.  Some days I am tired and frustrated.  If you've been there, you are probably grinning right now because no more words are needed for you to understand exactly how I feel.

This week has been particularly challenging because my little ball of energy learned how to jolt from his baby bed, run full speed into my room, and awake me from a dead sleep to a heart racing startle in .2 seconds. He's been a little extra moody; I've been a little short on patience.

My husband thought he would help yesterday.  He suggested I read this book.

You want to know what his suggestion made me feel like.  It made me feel like screaming!  

But after I calmed down, I considered his intentions were pure.  I decided to forgo the book and go directly to God's Word because Lance was right I needed a little peace, and the only place that's going to be found is with the Giver of Peace.

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Peace - The Greek word used in that verse is a verb that means "to join or to make one again."  

Peace happens when I relinquish my control to God, I rest in knowing that I am not alone, and I find comfort in the fact that Someone better than me has control.  It's in those times that His character has a stronger influence on me than my own sinful nature.


I'm praying for more peace this week, and I realize that means I have to bring my frustrations, anger and fears to God because if I try to work alone, the result is impulsive screaming.  Ask my kids!


Promise for today:
Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

Yesterday we decorated our Christmas tree.  It's a tradition I look forward to every year.  We cut down the tree at a local farm, drape it in bright lights, and adorn it with beautiful ornaments that each have a special meaning.  Last year, the experience wasn't quite what we had hoped for.  We ignored the sign at the Christmas tree farm that said, "Trees will appear larger in your home than in the field."  Instead we went with the idea that bigger is better.  And what we got…was a fallen tree hanging by a thread, or more literally, a tree hanging by a strand of lights wrapped around my dining room chandelier.

Sometimes I feel like that tree.  Sure I may be covered in "I've got it together" lights, and I may be displaying ornaments of confidence and capability. But inside I feel too weighted down to stand, like I'm hanging by a thread.

But the truth is the only way I can stand is on my knees, the only true light in me is the light that shines through Jesus Christ, and the only ornaments that I should be boasting about are those of His redeeming works in me that result from His great love.

Being a parent, a spouse and an obedient child of God feels hard some days.  But trusting in His promises should be easy because God keeps His promises.  Sometimes I need to be reminded of that.

Promise for Today:
Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28