Seeking Jesus...By Mistake

I sent this letter out last Christmas and got such an encouraging response I decided to post it on my blog...

Several years ago, when Courtney and Isaiah were both under five years old, our church hosted a Christmas craft night. One craft our family made together was a wooden nativity set. The pieces were made out of blocks of wood, painted, and then covered with fabric to represent Mary & Joseph, the Shepherd, the Wise men, and Baby Jesus. The set was perfect for little hands to recreate the Christmas blessing. The only problem...the pieces kept getting misplaced.

"WHOEVER FINDS BABY JESUS GETS A PIECE OF CANDY!" I said in exasperation. Once again, the nativity set was incomplete and all of my searching was in vain. Candy was a great incentive to the children. They ran all over the house and searched with all their might. In a few short moments Courtney's delighted squeals could be heard, "I found baby Jesus!"

The next morning a very interesting thing occurred. Courtney asked, "Mom, could you hide Jesus again so we can search for Him?" I knew my sugar-loving children were in it for the reward but I began to see how right they were with wanting to search for Jesus.

Christmas is ALL about Jesus. It is the celebration of His birth on the earth. He is God's gift to us...the way the truth and the life...the only way to God.

That Christmas my children taught me a lesson. They taught me that I need to daily seek Jesus with all my heart. They also showed me the JOY that comes in finding God's precious gift. The frustration of lost nativity pieces soon became an incredible blessing for our family as our children searched for Jesus each and every day!

This Christmas it is our prayer for you to find the Joy that comes from knowing Jesus and seeking Him with all your heart!

"Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews?

We saw his star in the east and have come

to worship him."

Matthew 2:2

Teenagers and Toddlers

A few weeks ago God spoke to me through my baby crying...

I was praying for wisdom with what to do with one of my teenagers. Our cross country move had been God's plan but one of our children was having a very difficult time and I knew that keeping God's word fresh in her life would be best. A friend had told me about the evening Bible Study Fellowship class in town and that there was also a student study. I decided to join and to bring my school aged kids so they could be in the word, and hopefully make some new friends as well.

When I told my daughter about it she wasn't excited. In fact, she said, "I don't want to go!" I told her to pray about it and listen for God to speak to her. (Inwardly I thought I would be off the hook because of course God would want her to go.)

In the morning I asked her what God had said about the study. Her reply was neutral. "He didn't say yes or no." Now I was in a dilemma. I wanted her to go but I didn't want to force it. I began to pray and after lunchtime I put my 18-month old down for a nap and thought I'd get in some quality alone time with God to sit and pray.

And then the crying began...

Actually, it was more of an all out fit. The storm in that little bedroom could be heard throughout the entire house. My little one had decided that she was not happy about a nap and there was no way she was going to take one. I tried all my parenting ideas but nothing worked. The crying intensified and my frustration grew.

I went in to her room and calmly said, "I am the Mom and I know what is best for you. You might not want to take a nap but you need one. You need to stay in here and be quiet."

As I walked out of the room and shut the door it was as if God spoke directly to my heart about what to do with my teenager. "You are the Mom and you know what is best for her right now. She is fighting with what is best for her right now just like the baby. Stay strong and do what is right."

I was so thankful for my baby crying and for God using an ordinary day to teach me that I could hear His voice in the midst of chaos!