Rethinking Santa
I have often wondered how I will teach Santa to my children. I was raised on Santa and I don't think it's hindered my faith to any degree for having believed in him for a time. But as I've gotten older and as my faith has deepened, I have come to believe that there is ultimately no room for Santa, if we are truly to believe that Jesus is supreme. And then John Piper had a recent podcast that I think helped me additionally articulate this thought process. I appreciate his firm words on the topic.
So there is no contest here. I cannot see why a parent, if they know and love Jesus, if they have found Jesus to be the greatest treasure in the world, why they would bring Jesus out of the celebration and Santa into the celebration at all — I mean, he is just irrelevant. He has nothing to do with it. He is zero.
So my counsel is to give all your efforts to making your children as happy as they can possibly be with every kind of surprise that is rooted in the true meaning of Christmas. Let your decorations point to Jesus. Let your food point to Jesus. Let your games point to Jesus. Let your singing point to Jesus. Out-rejoice the world, out-give the world, out-decorate the world, and let it all point to Jesus.
If being Jesus-focused is a killjoy for your Christmas, you don’t know him well.Six Options for Godly Single Women Wanting to Marry
http://marshill.com/2013/12/13/6-options-for-godly-single-women-wanting-to-marry
Mark Driscoll's recent blog post was a breath of fresh air in its honesty. He outlines six options that we have as single godly women: sin, surrender, settle, suffer, strive, or solace. I'll take solace, please.
iPersonic
http://www.ipersonic.com/
I took this personality test recently and it was a bit frightening how four short questions unveiled a rather accurate portrait of myself. A Reliable Realist through and through. Some of it I laughed about it. Some of it I winced about, having those moments when I know the description is so true of me, but so desperately wishing it wasn't. Case in point: "Their strong points are thoroughness, a marked sense of justice, doggedness bordering on pigheadedness and a pragmatic, vigorous and purposeful manner." The pigheadedness is when I winced. I apologize if any of you have had to hear the brunt of that pigheadedness. "You don’t appreciate too much commotion around you." This is when I laughed because that is probably a bit of an understatement for me.
The Greatest Gift, by Ann Voskamp
http://www.aholyexperience.com/
I've been thumbing my way through Ann Voskamp's latest book The Greatest Gift. Granted, I haven't been methodically working through like intended, but it's had an impact nonetheless. I was so struck by Day Three, "We only find out where we are when we find out where He is. We only find ourselves...when we find Him." Mmmm. In these days of feeling like I am just entirely unsure of what I am doing with this life I've been given, I needed this reminder. Just find Him. That's all I need to know.
Christmas Greetings
Last, but not least, Christmas greetings from my pony, Bud.
Don't take offense. Her backside is usually all she shows me as well.
