Jolly Ole Saint Nick

Santa...eh? or nay? Harmless fictional character to whom you encourage your children to believe in? Or a code name for Satan that will only lead to doom and destruction of your child's innocence??

Believe it or not I have heard arguments for both ends of the spectrum (Fictional Character??? Some people are just nuts!) and up until now I was not sure what my stance should be. Being the insane Christmas fanatic that I am of course I love Santa, but also as a Christian I do see that sometimes Santa can steal the spotlight of the holiday in which we celebrate the birth of Jesus.

Not too long ago I had a parent approach me and ask if I had any suggestions on how to break it to their child that Santa isn't real. The parent's predicament was that they had been teaching their child about how fibbing is wrong...and now they were going to tell her that they had been "fibbing" about Santa her ENTIRE LIFE (which spans about 7 years).

I started thinking... why do we put ourselves through this? Why introduce Santa to our kids when we know that sooner or later they will be disappointed? Is it ethical to go to such great measures to get kids to believe just to let them down in years to come?

Who is Santa? He is a guy in an amazing red suit with an enchanting smile who answers the requests of children around the world. When kids believe in Santa they never think about how expensive the gift might be, or how implausible it would be for him to get it down their chimney, they believe Santa can make it happen...no matter what.

Santa is a faith builder. Matthew 7:9-11 illustrates that a good parent takes care of his children and knows how to give good gifts, and if that earthly parent know how to give good gifts how much great would the gifts be from the Heavenly Father. My Bible tells me that nothing is impossible for God...there is no limit of what God can do... no gift is impossible...

As children don't think about the logistics of how Santa will come through for them so we don't have to worry about logistics of how God can come through for us!

Faith & Belief in the Unseen

[Parents: when it comes time for you to real the truth about Santa to your child go at it with the approach of you are acting as a representative of Saint Nicholas (a generous man who gave gifts to children). Not that you have been lying to them, but you wanted them to know what it feels like to believe all things are possible, because that is how it feels when we put our faith in God!]

The Gym: Fitness for Life

Recently I have made a fresh new commitment to my physical fitness. I try to go to the gym 5 days a week and there are 2 key ingredients that I have found very helpful in sticking with this commitment:
 1) have a work out buddy
2) have a regular class schedule.

Going to classes ensures that I make the time each day--- plus my gym has their own App that plugs the classes I choose into my calendar... very helpful. Then having my workout buddy is just that extra kick in the pants to put on those gym clothes and get to work--- if I am running late I can be assured that I will get a text from her that always makes sure I am coming. 2 levels of accountability to be on task with where I desire to be physically.

Spiritually it is no different. We as humans are built to need each other. Just like I need my 2 key ingredients for physical fitness I also need 2 key ingredients for spiritual fitness. In our spiritual walk we also need a buddy-- someone to follow up with you on how you are doing spiritually. This someone should be a person you know will send you a text if they didn't see you in church last Sunday or that will follow up with you on a prayer need you had shared with them before. Accountability is key to gaining spiritual muscles.

Secondly, you have to schedule the time for spiritual growth. Getting involved in a local church is a great start. Many offer life groups that allow you to come together with other believers and get fed spiritually and build connections with people your age or who have some of the same interests as you.

To get fit--- we need a plan--- and our plan cannot be done alone.

The Princess Warrior

Survivor Mud Run 2012 

Princess Ball @ Harvest Christian Center

This was an exciting weekend in the life of Becks! I was a Princess on Friday and a Warrior on Sunday...One girl...two personas...both equally a part of who I am and what I was born to do!

Galatians 4:7 tells us that we are no longer slaves but heirs to the kingdom of heaven in which our heavenly Father is King above all! This by pure definition makes me a Princess. God created each of us with a divine destiny to rule and reign on this earth and when we have that understanding of who we are in Him whom shall stand against us? The Father desires for us to take hold of the Kingship anointing that says the battle is the Lords and that He is victorious in every battle.

This however does not give us a free pass from the battle front. We must also be willing to get down and get dirty in the midst of Battle. Our preparation is found in time in the word (sharpening our sword skills) and prayer (building strength and endurance). Just because we are chosen for royalty does not dismiss the fact that there is a very real enemy and his only goal is to stop the army of the Lord. He will try every trick and scheme in his power to distract, disarm, and destroy as many children of God as he can. I'm not gonna lie and tell you he never wins a battle...he does... but more importantly he will NEVER win the war!!!! 

So its our job to know our identity as sons and daughters of the most high God and to take up authority over the enemy. Then, we must also continually train for battle and be determined to be more than conquerors and not be discouraged by the obstacles and distractions that may be along the way.

I am a Princess

I am a Warrior

and I AM VICTORIOUS!