I'm not Keeping CHRIST in Christmas...

Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. Always has been, always will be. Because it's more than about one day out of the year, it's a season. The Christmas season has always been a time when we could have hope in the feeling of joy and peace among everyone.

It's part of why I look forward to thanksgiving every year because I know we're that much closer to peppermint everything and singing Christmas carols off key. Down comes the giant box of Christmas decorations, off to the Christmas tree farm to chop down our tree, random lights decorate the neighborhoods, Christmas music starts playing way too soon for some peoples taste and I love it! 

The smells, the sounds, the cheesy movies...I love it ALL. Even that creepy little Elf on the shelf that people do strange things with...ok maybe not that.

But more than all the lights and eggnog (mmm eggnog), what I love most about this time of year is the JOY it brings. The smile it puts on the faces of people young and old celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. All because of one word...CHRISTMAS. 

And yet somewhere along the way that very word has brought so much controversy.

I'm not really sure when it started happening but I'm amazed by the media and businesses concern about offending people by having them hear or read the word "Christmas". 

I remember my first personal experience was when I worked at the outlet mall in college. Our boss was very adamant about us saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" when we answered the phones. "We don't want to offend anyone" she said. So I did what any self respecting student employee who needed the money would do...I smiled and nodded and when the phone rang I picked it up and said "MERRY CHRISTMAS, how can I help you?" It was one of those moments when my stubborn sarcastic nature was for a good cause.For you Jesus;)

I'm a christian. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, if that offends you than so be it. I won't shove it down your throat but I'm not going to hide it either. The way I see it Jesus Christ faced the shame, the ridicule, the judgement, and punishment that should have been mine when he sacrificed himself for my sins on that cross. He had my back then, and he has ever since. Whether you believe in that or not, I do and therefore I will choose to live for Him.

I understand if people don't wish to say "Merry Christmas." They have free will and the right to their beliefs. However, I know some Christians are outraged by society's attempt to take Christ out of Christmas. How can people be offended by someone like Jesus?"

But maybe it's not an offense to Jesus Christ at all, maybe it's an offense to Christians. As a christian I realize there are a lot of people that don't agree with my beliefs. I understand that. I don't judge or condemn people that don't feel the same way I do. I can even understand why people are so against Christianity. Maybe a lot of that is not because of Christ but because of Christians. 

Maybe we as Christians are the ones that started taking Christ out of Christmas long before society did.

When we started caring more about what we want than what other people need.
When we started thinking we had the right or authority to judge other people just because they're not like us.
When we started taking, taking, taking, no matter what the cost to others.
When we started thinking calling out people's flaws was "doing them a favor."
When we hurt instead of heal, take instead of give, have pride and arrogance instead of humbleness.
When we started making people feel that they weren't "good enough" for our grace....for God's grace.

Yeah that's on us Christians. That's on me. So no, I'm not keeping Christ in Christmas....not the way I should be anyway. Saying Merry Christmas out loud to people, hanging signs in our yard or writing it on cards doesn't make it true if we're not living out the very meaning of it in our lives.

Maybe instead of trying to force people to believe in Jesus we should live our lives in a way that accurately reflects who he is. If people saw who Christ really was I believe they'd want him not only in Christmas but in their lives and isn't that what we should care most about anyway? He didn't have to force people to follow him they wanted to simply because the way he lived his life.

Maybe for those of us that truly believe Jesus is the reason for the season should honor him most by pointing to him the best way possible. How we love and treat others.

Instead of focusing all our attention on keeping Christ in Christmas maybe we should focus on keeping Christ in Christian. (I'm talking to myself here). I'm far from perfect, I mess up A LOT (no amens here please and thank you) but the biggest desire of my heart is to portray Jesus to others. The REAL Jesus.

Let's face it people need belief and hope in something all year around not just during Christmas time. And there is no greater hope than Jesus Christ. At least not in my book. That's why I want to keep Christ not just in Christmas but in everything. That's why no matter what is deemed "socially acceptable" I do and will choose Christ. I will say Merry Christmas. Not because I'm trying to offend others but because I don't want to offend Christ.  Because He is more than a story I believe of a boy that was born in a manger...he is my savior, my hope in life. He brings me peace in chaos and hope when there is every reason in the world telling me not to have any. At the end of my life, JESUS is the one I'll stand before.

I want my actions to speak louder than my words in my life. That's what Jesus was about right? Not just talking the talk but walking the walk. That's what Christmas represents. The hope of a savior. The life of Jesus, in it's entirety...not a baby in a manger. He came to save not to judge. He wasn't picky about who he helped, he didn't turn his back on the ones that didn't believe in him, he didn't even hate the ones that mocked him...even the ones that beat him and hung him on a cross! He loved in the face of hurt, healed in the face of pain, and brought hope to a hopeless world. HE is joy and so we should be too. That's what Christmas is about. That's what people need to see most. Hope and true love. Maybe by keeping Christ in our lives first, others will want to keep him in Christmas. Merry Christmas all.

 

God ain't Santa...

I'm not really sure at what age I stopped believing in Santa. At least that he is who he says he is. A jolly fat man that spends all year in his workshop of elves and somehow flies around to every house in the world in one night. We all want something to believe in don't we, even as crazy as it may seem. That Magical fairy tale.

The irony of Santa is not lost on me. As responsible adults we spend all year trying to instill in our kids a valuable lesson: Don't talk to strangers. And yet this time of year we not only encourage them to talk to a stranger in a red suit, we urge them to climb up in his lap and tell him their deepest desires so that we can get a picture. And by golly we're getting that picture even if they're screaming bloody murder. {disclaimer:those pics are my favorite}. Kind of a weird concept if you think about it. And yet it's a tradition many participate in every December. I know we did when I was little and quite honestly I'm sure I'll be that mom one day telling my kid to "tug on his beard to see of its real."

Santa is a nice guy. Jolly even. But nobody wants to talk about the judgmental side of Santa though do they? Unless it's to coral a kid's crazy behavior.{been there, seen parents in the store do that....I probably would too} It's the naughty or nice mentality. Santa's watching you. Elf on a shelf has nothin on old Saint Nick. If you're nice and do good things then you'll get stuff....if you're naughty, you get nothing, nada mi amigo. You choose. Ouch Santa. Really? That's a little harsh.What happened to the jolly old man?

I'm not writing this blog in some opinionated rant to get you to ban Santa from your household. Not that you'd listen. I like Santa. I do. I'm here to plead with you...can we stop treating God like he's Santa?

Religion has made him that. If your "good", God will bless you. If you do and say what's right then he'll give you what you ask for. If you're a " good person" then God is happy with you and you deserve the best from Him.

It's no wonder people are so turned off by 'religion'. Christianity Especially gives the impression you have to do more or be better for God to accept you...to make his "nice" list.

The truth is God owes us nothing, but yet gives us everything. Even when you're "bad" he chooses to bless you. Why? Because he ain't Santa folks. Never has been. His goodness isn't based on our behavior. Can I get an AMEN? But how often do we feel that we have to earn God's goodness. Because of what others say or have said or just our own skewed way of thinking we constantly beat ourselves up for not being "perfect" enough, mistakenly convinced God is doing the same. He hasn't answered my prayer...I must be doing something wrong. Been there, thought that. Religion makes it about law not relationship. Religion makes it about OUR failing works, instead of HIS unfailing grace. The greatest tragic fairy tale.

God doesn't say, "Well I was going to send you this peace you've been praying for but I just saw you lose patience with your kids so I'm just going to put it back in my bag." He is waiting for the right timing to answer your prayer, not the right behavior from you.

The truth is God wants to bless us because HE is good not because WE are good. It's one of the things that's hardest for me to grasp about his character and one of the things I love the most. We don't have to earn his gifts, he simply gives them out of the love he has for us.

God doesn't withhold his gifts from us when you mess up. He's not making a list and checking it twice before he can bless us...if he was we'd all end up with coal from heaven. Thankfully, God ain't Santa.

Pumpkin pie doesn't love me...

Thanksgiving food.

Those two words make your mouth water don't they? If not there's something wrong with you. Just saying.

I love Thanksgiving, I always have. I remember that day would come and I'd wake up to the glorious smells coming from the kitchen.You know the ones. I couldn't wait to pig out with my family and fall asleep on the couch. What thanksgiving is about right? Year after year I became so comfortable in that. Looking forward to that constancy. Knowing it would always be there, the same thing, just the way I loved it...every November.That special meal...That one you can have any day of the year but something about having it just on Thanksgiving day makes it more special, more amazingly delicious.

All things change though don't they? At least in some way.Thanksgivings have changed some over the last few years in our family. Extended families, coming and going, living in different states.

It also changed since I started to get sick a few years ago. There's certain foods I can't enjoy anymore, not the way I used to anyway.The pumpkin pie, the cheesy broccoli, the melt in your mouth yeast rolls... My three favorite things since I was a little butterball myself. The things I never thought twice about shoveling into my mouth I now cant enjoy the same way anymore. Without having a reaction to anyway. Stomach pains, muscle flareups, burning skin, just a few of the strange symptoms I get from eating certain foods. I never realized how much I took food for granted.

I have to admit the first year was hard, really hard knowing those foods I looked forward to and had become so accustomed to eating I wouldn't be able to anymore. My mom pulled out all the stops to make as close to everything as possible and it was amazing don't get me wrong, my mindset wasn't right though.There was still disappointment because that often happens with change doesn't it?

This year I'm actually thankful to be sick for Thanksgiving. No I haven't lost my mind....well not all the way. I'm thankful because it's the swift kick in the thanksgiving stretchy pants that I needed. It shifts my focus back to what's really important. It's not the food. Shocker I know. I'm not saying enjoying the food is a bad thing, it's not. But it shouldn't be the main focus.

Being sick actually makes me stop and think about the things I do have instead of what I don't. Crazy how that works. So this Thanksgiving I can't have regular pumpkin pie or broccoli so covered in cheese it makes it not healthy anymore. At least I can eat. At least I have food. So many people are so less fortunate than that.

And it reminds me the REAL reason why I love Thanksgiving, why I realize I've always loved Thanksgiving. Despite what may be different about the day, one thing has remained the same.  It's not because of what I'm eating but because the people I get to share it with.

I love everything about the day. I love seeing my mom in the kitchen selflessly cooking like she always has since the day I couldn't see over the counter. I love seeing my dad running around cracking jokes and trying to help but still stay out of my mom's way. I love seeing my beautiful sisters and their sweet husbands because no matter what distance separates us or how old we get it's like no time has passed.

I love looking over at my husband who said he'd be fine to have "Just one more roll" but is now passed out on my parents couch in a bread coma. Yes, I sure did call you out Jeremy Roth.

I love my family. We may look at things differently sometimes or had our disagreements over the years but I have never lacked love from them. I have that this Thanksgiving and I've had that every Thanksgiving before this. No matter what things change, that never does. I need to appreciate the people in my life more, not just on Thanksgiving but every day. Anything I don't or can't have doesn't compare to everything I do have. A love that never fades. God's love. His unconditional love shown through the people in my life. Let's face it, as much as I LOVE me some Pumpkin pie it's never loved me back.

Why Beauty Sucks

Beauty Sucks...

     We've all heard the statement Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.Something someone sees as beautiful someone else may see as not.

What is Beauty anyway? Real Beauty?

     We all have at least that one thing...that thing our eyes narrow in on when we stand in front of the mirror.That thing we wish we could change or try to cover up, convincing ourselves we'd be more beautiful, more desirable if we did. But by whose standards? Usually our own based on what society has drilled into our brains is "Beautiful". The magazines,commercials, billboards all portray ideas of what beauty is. If you wear this...you'll be beautiful. If you have this... then you'll be beautiful. If you look like this...you're beautiful....Trust me, as a photographer I know just what photo shop can do for a person...     

     
    
    Even at a young age girls are already striving to 'look prettier'. Desperately wanting approval and thinking they have to change who they are to be beautiful, to be accepted. Society and the media play on our insecurities. THAT is why Beauty sucks. Society's definition of Beauty. It sucks the life out of us, using all our energy and resources to reach the standards society has set for Beauty. But are they really to blame?

    We are so often our own worst critics aren't we? We look at ourselves so critically seeing ourselves one way and thinking others see the same. You know what I've learned is that most of the time the way we think people see us isn't at all how they do. The people that matter anyway. And at the end of the day how others see us isn't nearly as important as how we see ourselves.There are people in my life who I look at and I'm just amazed by.I see nothing but incredible beauty when I look at them and yet I know there are insecurities they deal with all the time.Things that make them see themselves as anything but the beautiful treasure they are.It breaks my heart because what they see as flaws to be fixed I see as beauty to be cherished. How can they possibly see themselves as anything but Beautiful? And then I think how often I've done the same thing to myself, Time and time again.

    Insecurities are a tricky thing. Sometimes we joke about them, try to deny them, or just try to hide them. We think our imperfections already stick out like a sore thumb so the last thing we want is to draw attention to them. We look at others thinking if I only had that body, that hair, that face I'd be happy...Id feel beautiful. All the while having no idea what insecurities that person faces themselves. Because lets face it, we all have them. I can promise you even the most confident woman has something about herself she struggles with. Comparison will steal our joy and our confidence every time. We so often base our worth on what we perceive to be true. Spending so much time focusing on our flaws that we miss embracing the things that make us one of a kind. 

     I think about the way God sees us. How he made us each so uniquely different with nothing but BEAUTY in mind. Knowing exactly how we'd look, right now, in this moment. He loves every single thing about us. Especially that thing you despise. You see, the truth is GOD DOESN'T MAKE JUNK. He doesn't mess up. He didn't make a mistake when he made your ears stick out a little more or your toes a little longer than every one else's.(me;) That makes you, YOU. No one else like you in the entire world. You're imperfections aren't something to be despised, they're things to be embraced. They make you rare, they make you Unique....and so Beautiful.

     Let's be real though, sadly there will always be people who try to bring you down. Most of the time to make themselves feel better. Often times hurt people want to hurt other people. So that person you come across that wants to point out your flaws is probably just facing insecurities of their own. Just smile and shake them off. You're fearfully and wonderfully made by the creator of the universe.You ARE Beautiful. Women need so desperately to hear and believe that, especially today. In a world where it's so important for us to set an example for the younger generations. To not just tell them but show them that they're beautiful just how they are.That there are people out there that will see them as a beauty to be cherished and they're worth waiting for. We all want to feel beautiful.So let's let go and focus on the things we do like rather than the things we don't.Let's try to see ourselves the way God does and help others to do the same.

It's time to embrace our imperfections...

Life is not a Snapshot

"He has made everything beautiful in His time.

He also set eternity 

in the human heart; 

yet no one can fathom what God has done 

from beginning to end." 

Ecclesiastes 3:11

I love being a photographer. Having the opportunity to capture moments in people's lives that will never happen again is such a rewarding privilege.

Our life is made up of it's own snapshots, some we long to cherish and some we cant wait to fade away. Moments both good and bad weave there way in out out of our lives on a daily basis.

We try desperately to hold on to the good, those moments that make us smile and bring us joy. Craving the snapshots that make us see our life as a Beautiful experience.

Then there are those moments that shake up our world causing our vision to blur and our beautiful outlook on life to become a distorted mess. It's easy to do in a world that's constantly throwing curve balls our way. Financial struggles, sickness, emotional hurt, daily demands in our jobs or relationships.

It's all a part of life, isn't it? But without the bad moments we wouldn't be able to truly appreciate the good moments. We wouldn't know what beauty was.


Every choice,every experience may lead us to where we are going but they don't define who we are.

The only thing that matters to God is who he is creating us to be. I love that about him! If we love him we can trust he's using all things in our lives,the beautiful and not so beautiful snapshots, to work together for our future good. He sees the potential of who we CAN be not who we used to be. 

Just because we may have a bad day, an off week, disappoint other people, make bad choices, or react poorly to things at times doesn't mean God is upset with us. Our mistakes are not our identity. Maybe in other people's eyes but not in God's. Through his amazing grace His view of us doesn't change in those bad moments.That's what our savior Jesus did for us.

One of my favorite songs says: "Life is not a snapshot,it might take a little time but you'll see the bigger picture...Because the pain that you've been feeling, it cant compare to the joy that's coming."

If we are in Christ all God sees when he looks at us is Beauty because only he can see the big picture.And he'll reveal it to us in his perfect time. In his eyes our life is more like a filmstrip than a snapshot. The things we face do not define us nor do we have to stay stuck in the rough spots or hold onto the ugly snapshots. Trust God with the good and bad moments. You are his beloved and nothing that happens day to day will make him see you any other way.

Prayer Starter: Dear God, I lay all the moments in my life at your feet, the good and bad. I trust that you are using them to mold me into the person you know I can be.In the challenging moments help me rest in knowing you're in control and only you can see the big picture.Help me to appreciate both the good and bad and find the beauty in every day.Thank you for this life.

Shrunken God

Have you ever tired to fit something in a place it didn't belong?

Let me tell you growing up as someone with hoarder-ish tendencies and a lack of and just right distaste for anything organization related....I was a shover....

I'd shove stuff here and shove stuff there, rarely in the right place, hoping that my attempt at "cleaning" my room would be sufficient.

When I look back now I think how much time I would have saved if I hadn't wasted the energy trying to fit things in places where they didn't belong.Especially since I couldn't find them later.I know mom, I know, You....were...riiiight.

How often do we do the same thing with God? How many times do we lose sight of how HUGE God is and try to shove Him in a box he was never meant to go in!Why are we so determined to serve a shrunken God?

Our human nature can be so logical sometimes can't it?We look at a situation and if we can't rationalize it or see any logical explanation or way out we think there isn't one and start to doubt. Doubt then leads to worry which leads us to fear causing us to live a life God never intended us to live!

We shrink God down to the point we can fit him in our neat little comfortable box.God has no restrictions in Himself but we give him restrictions within us.Which often leaves us stuck in the same circumstances,with the same struggles and fears but hey at least we're in control right?...or so we think.Why are we so often content with a mediocre life?

We dont think about the fact that by doing that we limit an unlimited God. We are putting restrictions on what we believe he can and can not do in our lives.

The bible says He is "able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think."Eph  3:20

I cant comprehend that verse and thats exactly why I love it!I don't know about you but I'd rather have a God I can't fully understand.A God that I can't shove into a box because he's just too dang HUGE for that. NOTHING is impossible for him, NOTHING is too Big.No restrictions,no limits.

It's not what we face in life that holds us back or keeps us from victory it's how we view God in the midst of facing it!Stop wasting your time and energy trying figure things out and put them in place, chances are you're wrong anyway! You don't have to have it all figured out because God already does, that's why it's called faith. He'll reveal to you exactly what you need and when you need it.

"Be still and know that I am God" such a simple verse but one that can have such great impact if we can learn to rest in it regardless of what we are going through.

There are no limits to what God can do. No limits to his power.There are no limits to his saving grace.So stop focusing on how big your trial is and start trusting how much Bigger God is!


Prayer starter: Dear God, I may not understand what I'm going through, it may look impossible or endless and I may be exhausted and ready to give up at times but help me know that you are so much greater than what I'm facing. Help me to focus my mind and my heart on just how powerful you are instead of on how big my circumstances appear to be.Nothing is impossible for you.

Behind the Scenes

"Wait for the Lord;

    be strong, and let your heart take courage;

    wait for the Lord"

psalm 27:14

Wait. That word alone evokes all kinds of unwanted feelings doesn't it? We don't like to wait. For anything. We want what we want and we want it NOW. Waiting requires the one thing that makes our face twist into a very unattractive cringe... Patience.

We went to eat the other night for my aunt's birthday. Now there's a strange fact about me. Most people probably don't do this but I like to look in the kitchen of a restaurant. I'm not saying I sneak in there like some food creeper I just mean if it's one you can see into the kitchen from where you're sitting, I always look.

It's not because I'm worried about them spitting in my food (not really) it's because I like to see behind the scenes.

When I look around at the people carrying on their conversations I realize they have no idea how hard the people in the kitchen are working to prepare their food just right for them. Some of them get anxious, annoyed, or even rude waiting for their food.I'm sure you've never done that;)

How often do we do the same thing with God? We pray for something and have faith it will come but then when it doesn't come right when we hope or expect we start to lose patience. We start doubting it's ever going to come. We start getting anxious and frustrated wondering what's taking so long.

It's so easy to forget that we can't see the whole picture.We think we have it all figured out how we think it should go.We are so hungry for what we're craving that we feel nothing but disappointment when it doesn't come. It often feels like God isn't "doing his job"...at least not the way we'd like. Like somehow he's there to serve us.Wrong.

The truth is God is always working. HIS way.For HIS Glory. He doesn't take a break. He's not purposely trying to hold something from you to be mean, he knows how much it means...better than even you do.

He's making things happen for you. Even when you can't see it, even when you don't feel it, even when it's not evident. He's working on your prayers. because we know he has a much bigger and better plan than we could ever imagine. Don't give up.

One thing I have learned is that God works on you while you wait. He's building your faith, strengthening your character, developing your perseverance.Those are things that last a lifetime.

I don't know what it is you've been praying for. Maybe a loved one, a financial situation, healing. In our family it's been health and a baby. I can't tell you how many times Jeremy and I both have been heart broken when it hasn't happened how we hoped. But if we say we trust God that means trusting his timing. As hard as that can be.

Only he can see the Big picture.He knows what's best and we can have faith that even though we can't see it he's working behind the scenes.He's getting everything just right, making sure no components are missing and in the right time He'll answer and it will be better than you ever hoped for!



Prayer Starter: God I feel like I've exhausted myself praying for the same thing for so long now. Help give me rest and peace knowing you're working behind the scenes even when I can't see it. I might not understand what you're doing but help me to trust in your timing.No matter how long it's been I know nothing is impossible for you.