My children are sick today. They are crying a lot. They have spilled water all over the floor twice. The prized toy truck has been broken and fixed 30 times already this morning. Noses are running out of control and face it...there just aren't enough fruit snacks in the package. There have been times (and admittedly there was one) when I have wanted to shut myself in the Laundry Room and block out the crying. And then I ran across this and realized it's all worth it. I know it is... but I just needed a sweet reminder that there is a purpose to all of this.

"In 1972 people my age were saying it's a sin to have more than 2 kids. And some were saying it was a sin to have kids because population blah, blah, blah.

And I just thought to myself, "OK. If you have more than 2.1 kids you're putting a strain on the planet? I don't think so. Because the kids I'm going to raise are going to lift a million burdens."

You Christian, you've got to believe that bringing kids into the world and being brought up in the Lord makes them burden lifters, not burden adders. They are in the world to lift the world, to save the world, to love the world.

You're not just adding dead weight to the world when you bring a child up in the kingdom. You're bringing up lovers of people and servants of the world." John Piper

Innocents of Children... sort of

Yesterday morning the children of our church sang a few Christmas songs. Despite all the practice that goes into these things, children are children. Although the performance is never flawless, it is, nonetheless, entertaining and well... sweet. So here is the video I took. Notice the boy in the white stripped sweater and khaki pants. He never sings a word, but he responds well to his daddy's correction. Score one for obedience! (Can you believe it's the pastor's kid who is break dancing before they sing!) HAHA!! I'm so proud of that boy!

I'm glad our children can be involved as we as a church anticipate and celebrate the coming the Christ! "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."