Sacred Mundane: The Blog

Isn’t it crazy that overnight the stores shelves went from Halloween costumes to Christmas lights?

The Word says we live “from strength to strength” but the World says we live “from shopping season to shopping season.” Guaranteed the minute the Christmas lights come down the Valentine chocolates and teddy bears will line the shelves. Not that I blame them. Truly, if we didn’t have the joy and wonder of Christ to celebrate of course we’d have to buy stuff to celebrate!

But we have something so much greater to celebrate, don’t we? And don’t we also have to be intentional every single year, to actually honor Christ at His birth instead of being swept along in the sea of consumerism, forgetting Him altogether? I know I do. And doing so doesn’t mean we can’t have a Christmas tree or bake cookies or give meaningful gifts, but it means deciding–ahead of time–exactly what kind of holiday you want to have.

How can we do this?

First, decide Why your family is celebrating Christmas. I recently read a book by an author who very openly opposed to Christianity. Her words,

“Some of the major holidays are not ours, including any that commands its faithful to buy stuff nobody needs.”

Ouch.

But this is why I like reading non-believing authors. They give an honest critique, and we are guilty as charged.

It is sad that “our” holiday can be described in that way. That when the world looks at us, during the holiday season, they see nothing that distinguishes us from the rest of the world?

So, as we head into the holiday season, take some time to consider: What kind of holiday do you want to have?  Try to remember what material items you received last year. Where are they now? What toys did your kids “HAVE” to have that they’ve forgotten about now? What were the highlights of years past, and how can you capitalize on blessing others, worshiping Christ, and making family memories?

Go ahead, today (before you see the Black Friday ads!) and set your course for the holiday season. Spend time in His Word and prayer and ask Him what sort of holiday you want to have. How can you be intentional with how you spend your time, energy, money?

For today, will you please watch this brand new Forgotten Christmas video, and share it with others. Consider also reading No Longer a Slumdog over Thanksgiving (click here for a free copy!). {Thanks for watching, considering, and reading.}

He doesn’t need socks (though you might think he does).

He doesn’t need Call of Duty Black Ops 2 (though he might think he does).

He doesn’t need more power tools, gadgets, or even a new iphone case.

He needs praise.

Gary Chapman, author of the legendary Five Love Languages,says that the single best way to directly influence your husband and help him grow, flourish, and succeed, is to praise him.  Chapman says,

Men respond positively to praise. One of the most common complaints men make in my office is: “Dr. Chapman, in my work I am respected.  People come to me for advice.  But at home, all I get is criticism.”  What she considers suggestions, he reads as criticism.  Her efforts to stimulate growth have backfired.

Give him praise.  The fastest way to influence a husband is to give him praise.  Praise him for effort, not perfection.  You may be asking, But if I praise him for mediocrity, will it not stifle growth?  The answer is a resounding “No”.  Your praise urges him on to greater accomplishments.

My challenge is to look for things your husband is doing right and praise him.  Praise him in private, praise him in front of the children, praise him in front of your parents and his parents, praise him in front of his peers.  Then stand back and watch him go for the gold.

So no matter what your holiday budget is, consider one extravagant gift you can give your husband (or anyone you love), but you need to start today:

A Thousand Things I Love About You

We all know how to do it right? The 1,000 gifts. We jot down our lists each day, every day, knowing it’s the key to health, happiness, and a renewed heart for God.

Can you imagine what it would mean to your man if, on Christmas morning, you presented him with a THOUSAND things you love about him? Sound impossible?

Just 25 per day from now through Christmas Eve. 

I just started a few days ago. Each morning, during your quiet time, jot down 25 things you love about your man. Character things, one-time actions, silly things, anything.  Do it everyday for the next 40 days and on Christmas Eve you will have your list.

And he will have his dream-come-true. (Especially if you read it to him out loud, wearing *ahem* something special.)

Now, not only will you have the joy of giving this gift, I guarantee you will receive the gift of receiving a new set of eyes for your husband. A renewed appreciation, respect, love.

As you write your list, your heart will change.

As he reads it, his will too.

{Do you have ideas for extravagant no-cost gifts for special loved ones? I’d love to hear your ideas so we can all get started soon! Thanks for reading… and DON’T let Jeff see this post!!!}

My mind swam and the tears I held back stung my eyes. Why this struggle? Why am I facing all these fears and feel like my heart is tossed in a storm?Knowing the safest place to go, I left the kids eating their dinner, crept to my dark room, and bowed low.

On our face is the only place from which we can never fall. And however you want to credit it, as clear as a voice one word filled the room.

“Lose.”

The tears fell now, now happy, now release. Of course. The ball inside instantly unwound. Now there was peace. The storm was stilled.One word from Him does just that.

Of course. The call to discipleship can be summed up in just one word.

Lose.

The call to joy, the call to peace, the call to hope and everlasting life. Of course, hadn’t Christ already said it and continues to say it today?!

Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. (Matt. 10:39)

Whoever loses his life, will find life. The way to be rich is to give. The way to glory is humility. The way to be exalted is to bend low. And we cannot trick God or short-cut His process. Pretending to lose our life won’t yield the rich results.

Only when we actually lose will we actually find.

The finding is only real if the losing is as well. 

How, then do we lose? In every situation Christ can translate that one word into the perfect application. He can show you exactly what it means to lose and find true life. Perhaps,

• Choose to lose the competition.
• Choose to lose money.
• Choose to lose comfort.
• Choose to lose control of others.
• Choose to lose entitlement.
• Choose to lose the argument.
• Choose to lose the American Dream.

It is real. The life we find when the loss is real. Yes, there are eternal rewards in heaven, but there are indescribable benefits right here too. Why?

Because losing is freeing.  

Because losing is finding.

Because losing is winning the greatest victory of all.

Is this for you today? It speaks to me this time, just as it did the first time.  And cnce again, I believe, someone needs this word of hope today. If your heart is wound up inside and tossed in a storm. Perhaps this is the word you need to hear? I never thought I’d find such hope and joy from just one word, I pray the same for you today. {Thanks for reading.} 

Remembering Heidi’s dropped s’s and this lesson I need again this week! Enjoy.

The LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures forever: forsake not the works of your own hands. (Ps. 138:8)

The mind-battle-lie I fight daily:

Why are we the only family that struggles with this? 

The “this” changes with the weather. “This” can be eating-their-vegetables, picking-up-after-themselves, waiting-for-dinner-without-whining, going-to-Sunday-school-without-a-panic-attack. There’s no end to the variety of shortcomings we face each day and all too often that’s all that I can see. 

All I see are all the things that aren’t there. The missing things. The vacuum of what’s missing is visible.

Kind of like the “S” in Heidi’s words. 

You see, my sweet Heidi-girl cannot do an s-blend to save her life. The “s” sound alone is fine, but blended with another consonant and the “s” never fails to fall.

The result is the cutest thing in all the world.

“Mommy, may I please have a ‘nack?” You better believe I’m fixin’ up something good. I love me a good ‘nack.

Then of course as she climbs up on her chair at the table: “Mommy, please ‘coot me in.” I ‘coot her in and nibble a few kisses near the edge of her mouth, inhale her apple-breath and say I’m going to eat her for a ‘nack! She turns hungrily to her bowl of applesauce and asks nicely for a ‘poon. I melt.

My favorite perhaps is reading the book about ‘piders. She thinks ‘piders are a little ‘cary, but still loves to read about them. Almost as much as she loves to count all eleven ‘tars in the ‘ky in her Dora book. Today on our nature walk she asks me to find her a ‘pecial ‘tick. And of course she also asks for help up the ‘tairs and asks to not have a ‘pank when she’s naughty.

Does it bother me one bit that the “s” fails to show?  Not a bit. Do I worry and fret about her future, plagued by fear for her SAT scores? Not at all. I think her missing s‘s are adorable, age-appropriate, and endearing.

I’m not bothered at all by what’s not there.

Every illustration breaks down, but don’t you think our Heavenly Father feels the same? Yes, the Patterson children haven’t arrived. And to no one’s surprise the Patterson mother hasn’t either. We’re in progress. Not slacking, not celebrating mediocrity, but still learning our letters.  I’m just so stinkin’ blessed by Heidi practicing her words, by Heidi continuing to grow …

By not letting her ‘lipped s’s ‘low her down. 

I know when I teach I say things wrong. I write things wrong. I do things wrong. There are more things “undone” every day than done. But I think the missing letters are endearing to our God as long as we don’t let them get us down.  You think? Of course it’s always pride that presses us into perfectionism. Humility isn’t surprised by dropped s’s … but also believes that God is great enough that in His timing He’ll perfect that which concerns us (Psalm 138:8).

God will bring back every dropped “s” in our lives. He will never forsake the work of His hands — that’s us. His mercy endures forever.

For all the things we inevitably drop, there’s grace.

{How does this bring rest to your soul today? Thanks, friends, for reading.}