Should You Ask God For A Sign This Christmas?

It's the season of signs.  And the virgin birth is one of the greatest signs of all times – foretold over 700 years before the birth of Jesus.  So, how did this sign come about?  Did somebody ask for it?

Just the opposite.

Back in the 8th Century BC, when the virgin birth was foretold through the prophet Isaiah, God actually tells King Ahaz to ask for a sign.

Ask the Lord your God for a sign. (Isaiah 7:10-11)

Remarkably, Ahaz blows God off.

“I will not ask; I will not put the Lord to the test.” (Isaiah 7:12)

On its face, it sounds like a pretty good answer.  After all, who wants to test God?  Maybe we shouldn’t bother him by asking him for signs.

But deep down, Ahaz didn’t want a sign.  Underneath his pious answer, he was probably thinking, I don’t need to hear from God.  I already have it figured out.  I'm going to get out of this mess without God's help.

Let’s just say God wasn’t very happy with his response.  The prophet Isaiah scolds Ahaz, “Will you try the patience of my God also?” (v. 13b)

But God doesn’t stop there.  He goes on to reveal his master plan.  He tells Ahaz about the sign of all signs.

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (v. 14)

But Ahaz misses it.  He acts against the counsel of Isaiah.  He strikes a deal with his enemies, the Assyrians.  They turn on him.  And history tells us that it costs him his kingdom.

All because he wouldn’t ask for a sign. 
The good news?  God doesn’t stop with Ahaz.  Some 700 years later, he brings the sign to pass through a young virgin.  With or without Ahaz, he continues his plan.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to be like Ahaz.   Maybe it's time to ask for a sign.

Why not ask God to show up this Christmas? 

Suffering From Holiday Guilt?

Something has gone terribly wrong.  Christmas – the sacred holiday that is supposed to celebrate freedom and grace --  has become poisoned with guilt.  And I’m not just talking about ordinary guilt.  I’m talking about deep-seeded, lingering guilt that keeps people up at night.

Here are a few recent examples.

• A young mother won’t be enjoying Christmas morning with her husband and four children.  Why not?  Her mother-in-law insists on hosting Christmas Eve out of town.  Never mind that the children won’t be nestled in their beds when Santa is supposed to arrive!
• Another mother just couldn’t find the time to make homemade Christmas cookies.  She buys some store-bought dough and her husband jabs “That’s what bad mommies do!”
• A colleague in her 30’s finds herself still exchanging gifts with her adult cousins.  She suggests that, in lieu of gifts, they make a charitable donation in memory of their grandparents.  She is accused of trampling on family traditions and dishonoring the dead.
• A child is crushed when he finds out that another boy in his class has given his teacher an almost-identical Christmas present. He is embarrassed and ashamed of his gift, especially since the other boy’s gift is much nicer.
• A group of colleagues plan a Christmas lunch.  Only the “cool” people are invited, and the office nerd feels hurt and left out.  He vows to drop his unwelcoming colleagues from his Christmas card list next year!

I could go on.  And on. 

Is Christmas guilt getting the best of you this year?  If so, try replacing it with some holiday grace.  After all, Christmas is about salvation and freedom.  Start acting like it!

The Working Mom’s Guide To Saying Yes!

This post was supposed to be about saying NO!  After all, if you’re a working mom, the word no probably isn’t in your vocabulary. Most of us need to draw some serious boundaries.

So why on earth am I writing a post about saying yes? 

It’s simple.  We need to start saying yes first.  We need to start saying yes to the things that are really important.  

Ok, maybe it’s a bit more complicated than it sounds.  I’ll admit, I really don’t have this whole yes/no thing figured out.  But I do know that I’ve probably had it backwards.  And I don’t think I’m alone.

Most weeks, I let my schedule fill up with lots of “stuff.”  Most of this stuff is good -- ranging from work, school, activities, exercise – but at the end of the week I find myself asking, What did I really accomplish?

I’m not suggesting that my daily routine isn’t productive or worthy of my time.  I am suggesting it’s not always intentional.

And this holiday season – when my schedule typically blazes out of control – I want to be intentional.  So, how does this translate into saying yes? 

[Click here to continue reading at Work, Wife, Mom ... Life!]

Are You A Social Media Loner?

Most of my friends don’t blog.  Few of my family members use social media. My husband has vowed to never join Twitter or Facebook.  (And my kids are too young to participate!)

The result?  I’m a social media loner.

And those of us who are loners need to think through our options.

Option #1 Beg Your Family and Friends to Join You

You’re a constant nag.  You frequently beg your family and friends to join the blogging world.  You apply peer pressure and say things like “You don’t know what you’re missing out on!” and “When are you going to join the 21st Century?”

Option #2 Hide Your Social Media Use

Nagging hasn’t worked.  You’re tired of begging, so you simply act like you’re not a social media junkie.  You downplay (or hide) your online activity -- “I’m just finishing up some work again.  Me? Blogging again? Of course not!”

Option #3 Set Boundaries

Your family and friends think you’ve gone mad.  They’ve attempted an intervention.  So you set some serious boundaries.  You turn off your blog on the weekends.  You don’t Tweet at the dinner table.  And even though you miss out on a few posts, it’s worth the trade off.

Option #4 Live in Two Worlds

You’re comfortable in your social media skin.  Hey, it’s just another part of your life.  You let your family and friends know that, while they are welcome to join you, they will never be replaced by your online world.  You choose to lead an “integrated” life. 

Are you a social media loner?  If so, what are your coping mechanisms?

Have a good weekend!

Why I’m Just Saying “No”

It’s not in my nature to say “no.” 

But this is the time of year when something has to give.  When I can’t do everything I love to do.  When I have to set some serious boundaries.

What are some of the things I’m saying "no" to?

Here’s the short list:

• I’m not spending time in shopping malls and check-out lines.
• I'm not putting bows on my presents (wrapping is also optional).
• I’m not making a business trip to New York this week (even though I really wanted to!).
• I'm not going to be able to get my hair colored before Christmas.
• I’m not in charge of my kids’ holiday parties at school (but I am planning to show up unannounced and empty-handed).
• I’m not blogging as frequently this month (even though I really miss it!).

So, you might not hear as much from me in the coming weeks.  (Heck, I might even re-circulate some old blog posts from last Christmas and completely check out.)  Just please don’t take my short-term "no" as long-term disinterest. 

What are you saying "no" to this Christmas?