Putting up the Christmas Tree

 Today, we started Christmas decorating. We all kind of have a cold so it was a little interesting but the girls had SUCH A BLAST! I know the older they get the more fun it will be year after year and that makes me so excited for them!

 Annabelle is such a great little helper and she helped daddy put up the big tree.

 Of course Adelyn had a snack or two

 and sang us some songs :)

 Annabelle decorated the little tree for the bathroom and

 they both decorated the "sentimental" tree.

I loved every second of it! Holidays are so so fun! I pray all the time that they will understand really what Christmas is about. It is a HUGE responsibility for a parent to teach children these things! I ask God for wisdom every day and that He will search my heart for what doesn't please Him...

Occasionally I will go through this funk with blogging. I write about it periodically. I am just such a thinker, maybe even an over analyzer and I think about why I blog. And sometimes I take breaks because I want to make sure I know why I blog. So anyway, I had been on one of those "thinking breaks" when I went back through some of the posts I had written and was so thankful to God that I had periods of my life and events in writing, that I had "saved" memories via blogging etc and I had a renewed focus on making a lasting memory book for our family. I loved looking at how THANKFUL TUESDAYS started and how God has transformed my life through them. I loved looking at all the scriptures He had brought my way during hard times.

As I was putting these pics up and trying to rest and was thinking, I decided to listen to a John Piper sermon. He has an app and you can literally pick a topic and listen to one of his many sermons by topic or scripture. 

Anyway,the scripture is John 2:15-17:
Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh [craving for sensual gratification] and the lust of the eyes [greedy longings of the mind] and the pride of life [assurance in one’s own resources or in the stability of earthly things]—these do not come from the Father but are from the world [itself]. And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.

It reminded me of my whole blogging struggle and even the struggle so many have been talking about around me and I have been thinking about myself of how we make sure Christ is in the middle of Christmas for us and our kids. I definitely don't have all of the answers but I one of the things John Piper said so resonated in my soul. He said something to the effect of:  "We cannot compartmentalize God. It is not possible. We don't 'get life' when we do because God is a part of every single thing we do. Our goal and mission in life no matter what we are doing should be to glorify God."

So, I am thinking about that in my own life, practically. I feel like I cannot make it here in Ohio without constant dependency on God but that is not the issue at hand. The issue is why do I do the things that I do? Are they to glorify God or are they to satisfy me or glorify me? The hard and awesome thing about this question is that no one can answer this question for me but me (or God revealing the answer to me) and I cannot look into someone else's heart and judge their motives as to why they do what they do either. So the question remains. 

I put up Christmas decor because I think it is fun. I plan parties, fun birthday parties because they are fun. These are hobbies of sort and I know God loves to watch me enjoy the creative side of my brain because that is how He made me but I can only glorify Him through it by literally giving Him all the credit for everything I do and by consciously abiding in Him, asking Him what I should and shouldn't be doing with my time to most glorify Him or so my life will display His life through me the best I know how. So, then, the answer loops back around to not compartmentalizing my God. If I choose not to compartmentalize Him but allowing Him to speak and live through me in all areas of my life I am glorifying Him. 

  

I realize this type of analyzation might drive some mad because it you just love God these things flow somewhat naturally through you without having to think so hard on them but for me thinking through things is always beneficial.

I believe all of this totally knocks out the argument that you can "overspiritualize things."

Growing up I heard so many times the the term "overspiritualize." If we allow God into every "compartment," every part of our life, we will be "thinking on things above." We will be "praying without ceasing" we will be talking about God in all areas of life and to some we might even be "overspiritualizing,' but I believe this is what God wants from us. It doesn't mean decorating for Christmas or throwing parties or blogging or reading, running, watching a movie are bad things..sheesh no! It means we should allow God into all of these areas of our life, to be the Lord of those areas, to rule them for us. 

If you are reading this, you should just really listen to the sermon. It is so good.

 Whom have I in heaven but You? And I have no delight or desire on earth besides You (in comparison to my delight and love for You Lord.) My flesh and my heart may fail, but you God are the Rock and firm Strength of my heart and my Portion forever. Psalm 73:25-26

Any thoughts???