Winter Snow

So even if we don't have winter snow here, I still really like this song. It's definitely one of my new Christmas favorites. I saw it performed live [it's sung by someone named Audrey Assad] at Chris Tomlin's concert & it was incredible - it sounded even better live than it does in the recorded versions. To listen to it, you can go to YouTube and type in Winter Snow Audrey Assad.

Could've come like a mighty storm
With all the strength of a hurricane
You could've come like a forest fire
With the power of heaven in Your flame

But You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below

You could've swept in like a tidal wave
Or an ocean to ravish our hearts
You could have come through like a roaring flood
To wipe away the things we've scarred

But You came like a winter snow
(Yes, You did)
You were quiet
You were soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below

Oh, no, Your voice wasn't in a bush burning
No, Your voice wasn't in a rushing wind
It was still
It was small
It was hidden

You came like a winter snow
Quiet and soft and slow
Falling from the sky in the night
To the earth below

Falling
(Oh, yeah)
To the earth below
You came falling
From the sky in the night
To the earth below

Yummm

Where have I wanted to eat every day since I first tried it? Spoons! Everyone started talking about this new yogurt place. My rebellious go-against-the-grain side wanted to purposely avoid going there - you know, so I would seem cooler. But oh. I tried it, and it's y-u-m-m-y. I find myself thinking of reasons I need to be in that area of town about 3pm each afternoon. Today I drove by at 10am and wanted to stop! But it's not open then :( Don't worry, I've only been there about three times, so I am using some self-control.

There are lots of flavors of frozen yogurt I still need to try. And with all of the toppings, the combinations are endless! As if things couldn't get any better, the music they play is enough reason alone for me to drop in. Friday night: what's playing over the loudspeakers?? Your run of the mill elevator music? I don't think so. Wicked. Rent. Mulan. 'N Sync. Oh.my.word. I almost died of joy right there. These people have got taste! And the servers, they were dancing to the music, haha! It's a fun atmosphere. Basically, I think you should try it - and don't forget to invite me to come :)

God Sent His Son

So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." So you are no longer a slave, but a son; and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.

~Galatians 4:3-7

HO! HO! HO!

Oh Santa. You are everywhere during this season. And you are a lot of fun. I never really believed in Santa as a kid. Crazy, huh? I think my sister did. And my parents didn't tell her anything different than me. I just remember being a skeptic. I was a little kid who thought a lot about everything. And I took things pretty seriously. I remember for me, that Santa just didn't quite add up for some reason. Recent things I've heard from the kids I work with about Santa & Christmas:

-Santa is watching me
-Santa knows if I've been good or bad
-I'm going to be good just this month so he'll give me stuff
-Without fail, the first thing when I ask a kid about Christmas coming up, "Yeah, and I'm getting....."
-Their "list" is usually miles long - and with few things under $100, ha!
-My favorite, "Do you think this is too much to ask Santa for?"
-"No, I think that Santa will be more than happy to get you a Wii, a Game Cube, a Playstation 3, and an Xbox."

I think it's fun and not necessarily bad for kids to look forward to getting presents [kind of like their birthday]. I also realize that Christmas is really a man-made holiday. Jesus was not born in December, and the holiday actually has pagan origins. Shocking, I know! I don't think that everything about the season has to be about Jesus or God to be considered a "true celebration." And sometimes the statement "Jesus is the reason for the season" doesn't strike me as completely accurate. It can be the reason if you want it to be, but there's not Biblical law that says it has to be. However, I do think that Christmas & its traditions can be used as a good opportunity to teach kids [and to remind adults!] about God & the gift of His Son. And about the unique way that God loves humanity. And that is where Santa started catching my attention. Just hear me out, I promise I don't hate Santa or anything! It just started me pondering...

Think how confusing it must be to a literal-thinking, uncritical preschooler. Santa is so much like what we’re trying all year to teach our children about God. Look at the “attributes” of Santa:

• He’s omniscient—he sees everything you do.
• He rewards you if you’re good.
• He’s omnipresent—at least, he can be everywhere in one night.
• He gives you good gifts.
• He’s the most famous “old man in the sky” figure.

But at the deeper level that young children can’t comprehend yet, he is not like God at all. For example, does Santa really care if we’re bad or good? Think of the most awful kid you can remember. Did he or she ever not get gifts from Santa? What about Santa’s spying and then rewarding you if you’re good enough? That’s not the way God operates. He gave us his gift—his Son—even though we weren’t good at all. “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). He gave his gift to us to make us good, not because we had proved ourselves good enough.

Helping our children understand God as much as they’re able at whatever age they are is our primary goal.

~Noel Piper, Treasuring God in Our Traditions

So, basically Santa has bad theology! :) Haha. Really though, he represents something so magical to a lot of kids. He is much like a "higher power." The main thing that gets me is that we teach kids that he's a higher power who's approval & giving of gifts is conditional. Based on merit. Based on works. How hard even adults have to grapple with the concept that God's gifts are unconditional and not deserved! That kind of love is so rare, so counterintuitive, that it's hard to wrap your heart & mind around. This is the kind of love that as a parent, I would do anything to help my kids understand. And Christmas is such a priceless time to do that, especially with the emphasis on gift-giving and love. When I hear the adorable kids I work with talking about Santa watching them to see if they are good enough to deserve gifts, I can't tell you how much I want to tell them about the True Giver of the best gift! And that He will take them just like they are....naughty and all.