We're Expecting! - FAMILY PLUS Children's

We're Expecting!  As a matter of fact, you probably are too...

Expecting your kids to have a pinterest-perfect Christmas.

Expecting hours of blissful family time.

Expecting a family photo with matching outfits and smiling faces.

But the truth is: Christmas is probably not going to be what you expect.  As a matter of fact, the first Christmas was full of shattered expectations.

Mary expected to become pregnant AFTER she was married.

Mary expected to have her baby somewhere other than a barn.

Mary expected her son to live longer than she.

But, you know what she didn't expect?  She didn't expect to go down in history for her obedience to Christ.  She didn't expect to have an intimate relationship with THE savior of the world. She didn't expect to be chosen.

So my challenge to you (and myself) for the coming week is this:  Don't expect anything.  Be present with your family and let God work through the details.  For He is in the business of exceeding our expectations in ways we will never see coming.  For the memories that your family will walk away cherishing are not the ones that we orchestrate, but the ones that He orchestrates.  So, the pressure's off!  Celebrate Christ this week and enjoy the difficult moments as reminders that broken expectations are not always so bad.

"This is why I stay home." - FAMILY PLUS Children's

My wife, Katie, has got me thinking this week. We have had some really cruddy and sick boys lately, which has made our home life a little more difficult in some ways. This past Monday when I got home my wife was tired from being constantly tugged and pulled and wallowed by 3 especially needy kids. Once we got to talking about it she said something very profound and encouraging that has stuck with me. This is especially encouraging to those of you who have made the decision to be stay at home parents. 

She said, "You know as tired as I am, days like today are the reason we chose for me to stay home, so I can be there when my kids need me most."

The truth is I'm not elevating the lifestyle choice of 2 working parents vs 1 working,1 stay at home. I'm a product of two working parents. I am choosing to elevate the lifestyle choice of creating a life in which your kids can find you when they need you most. My sons need to see me be a man. They need to help me dig holes, see me throw a ball, and help me build with my hands. My daughter needs me to take her on dates, see how I treat a lady, and watch how I care for people. They need to find me when they need me. All I know is that my Heavenly Father is available; therefore, I should be available. 

This week's details:

Scripture: Luke 2:1-20

Life Point: Jesus was born to die for our sins.

I Have an Announcement - FAMILY PLUS Children's

"Excuse me. Excuse me. Joseph, I have an announcement to make." That's what it seemed like that angels were saying to Joseph and Mary when they share with them how they were going to be a part of God's plan. That honestly sounds great to me. I want God to be that clear to me. I want Him to use an angel to tap me on the shoulder and give me the specifics to the future of my life. Actually, if you know me at all, you would know how true this is for me. My biggest struggles come because I can't know or anticipate what's going to happen; however, the greatest moments of my life happen when I least expect it. 

For instance, God called me to children's/family ministry out of the blue. I didn't have experience working with kids when He called me. In fact, I did not even know there were jobs called Children's Ministers until 2 months previous to that call (I grew up in a small church in a rural area). I was 19 when that happened, and I didn't expect it. 

Or the time when Katie and I surrendered to follow God to go to seminary. We moved blindly to Louisville, KY. Before we moved God provided a church for us to serve in and paid our first semester of tuition in full. To this day we still don't know who paid my tuition that first semester. (We actually know who did it. We have never met them. They were friends of a friend.) I can't tell you how affirming this was for us.

I'm summarizing John MacArthur from his book "Found: God's Will" when I encourage you to take steps in your journey when you don't know what else to do. After you've sought counsel, prayed, and looked for the next step in Bible study, you just start moving in a direction you think you should go. God will show up and direct you. You will find out what works (like seminary for me because I really wasn't sure until we took the step) and what doesn't (youth ministry didn't work for me). 

When I look back on my journey the thing I love to celebrate the most is that I couldn't have planned my journey so I know it must have been God who has led me to this point.

This week's details:

Scripture: Luke 1:26-38; Matthew 1:18-24

Life Point: Jesus was God's plan to save people from their sin.

Duck Tape and Jesus - FAMILY PLUS Children's

Can you put together an elaborate plan? I'm not saying a plan that is elaborate, as in expensive or over the top like Richard Branson. I'm saying a plan that is elaborate, as in complex and has multiple layers and facets. Something you would find in a James Bond movie or Oceans 11, 12 or 13. 

Let's just think about the world as we know it. God's plan is elaborate with multiple layers and He is the orchestrator of it all. In order for God's plan to work He must have created the world, sustained the world, set in motion the events of each day in our history, and known the choices each person would make. Knowing all this in advance. He had a solution waiting to implement. A solution that He tried to prepare the known world for. That's part of what the prophets Isaiah and Micah shouted to the crowds...a new day is coming! A king will arise!

Jesus was God's plan all along. If that's the case, shouldn't He be yours? Jesus should be our "duck tape." I mean we joke that duck tape is the solution to many of our problems, but in reality Jesus is the answer. Our problems seem to shrink we when we truly focus and think of Jesus. Our problems seem to fade when we consider those around us like Jesus considers them. Think about how you view your problems. Does your view include Christ, who is God's solution? Or does your view include yourself, which is lonely and discouraging?

This weeks details:

Scripture: Isaiah 7:14; 9:6; 11:1-5; Micah 5:2

Life Point: Jesus was God's plan all along.