I've got something to say.

For those of you who have read this blog for any amount of time might be a little taken back by this post. I am about to lay it A.L.L out.

I am tired of keeping silent, I am tired of the judgements, I am tired of my Jesus being used as a weapon {oh yes I did just say that}, I am tired of the wrong information being passed around and frankly...I am fed up with Christians.

Tonight I sat through a performance at my 4th grader's school. A "holiday" performance. Where apparently we are a Jewish public school because we sang all about Hanukkah. Oh...and we celebrate Kwanzaa too. But Jesus? Oh no, we don't celebrate Him. We don't mention Him and we don't speak of His birth. Why? Because we might "offend".

A school where I would dare say 50% of the people attend some type of Christian Church.

I am tired my friends. Tired of believers not standing up for what is right. I am sick to think that I got a little too comfortable with life in a "safe" Christian environment and forgot what a battle this world is. How dare I.

At this point in my child's life, I am responsible for their relationships with Christ.

It is MY responsibility to sit them down and say, "This is how you have a quiet time". It is MY responsibility to teach them what this world says verses the bible. It is MY responsibility to take them to church and to teach them to think outside of the judgemental lives that are filled in pews every Sunday. It is My responsibility to teach them the truths, the depths and the hopes that scripture brings. It is MY responsibility to flood their hearts with prayers. It is MY, MY, MY responsibility to STORM the gates of heaven every single day on their behalf.

Me. Not you. Not their Sunday school teacher. Not some program they attend. ME.

However angry I was after leaving that performance tonight, it only confirmed once more of why the Lord has placed us in this school, in this city and in this community. There are believers EVERYWHERE. But they are silent. They are quiet. They are simple. They don't want to cause any "offense".

I've had enough.

And do you know why I've become so passionate about this? Do you know why I am so filled with fury? Because I, I had it all taken away.

All the programs.
All the teachers.
All the "good curriculum".
All the prayer in school.
All the "It's all about Jesus".

It's all gone.

Every day, I send my kids to the "world". Every day. And to my surprise, this world is NOT filled with a bunch of Jesus haters. It's REALLY NOT. But it is filled with a TON of silent, don't want to offend type people. A LOT.

Every single school day, I drive my kids through a Carline and leave them at a door to a school that has no claim for Jesus.

And every day, every day, I pray with my girls, I read scriptures to them, I teach them to love this world, not be angry. Every day they are asked hard, tough questions about their own denial of Christ on a daily basis. I am not perfect but my eyes have been opened. THEIR eyes have been opened. And don't tell me at the age they are, they don't need to see that. Yes, they, do.

Commitment.
Perseverance.
Time.
Praise.
Saying the name of Jesus, over and over.

Tonight, in all my frustration, in all my anger and in all my heartache...the Lord has spoken the most tender words through my nine-year-old. Her very own prayer tonight was, "Jesus, I'm sorry that this world hates and is ashamed of you. But I love you and I will stand for you!"

And then, my seven-year-old and her precious ways. "Mommy, look, I'm studying the books of the bible so I can tell other's about them!"

Her proof:



My Father reminds me that the harvest is FULL but the workers are few....and these girls....they are workers for the Kingdom. There is no mistake in that. And I am right there with them...right there.

The Lord is calling you and I to speak out in bold, new ways my friends. We cannot be silent anymore. We have got to raise a generation filled with Esther's. We have to!

So here's what you and I can begin to do. Steps. Little things. That can go LONG distances.

If you see the words "Merry Christmas" on a store...sit down with your kids and send the store an e-mail thanking that store for their ability to recognize the word CHRISTmas.

If they don't know how to ask someone what they believe....tell them to start with "How do you celebrate Christmas?". Then when the question is reciprocated, you and they both have a wonderful way to share.

If you have a child under your wing...dear friend, do not let ONE day go by without praying with them, teaching them the truth of the bible and just telling them that Jesus loves them. Not ONE day.

If your child's school doesn't have a prayer group...start one! If your child's school does have a prayer group....get there. NO MATTER WHAT. Prayer is the only way through this battle. Even if you are the only warrior willing to step foreword and pray for your child's school...do it! I ALWAYS tell my girls, "It starts with ME."

If there's something going on at your child's school that you are not ok with...then speak a word! Someone's got to say it!

Whenever you have the chance to serve someone who does not believe that Jesus is their everything...do it. And do it in LOVE. LOVE. LOVE. Not anger. Not hate. Not pride. LOVE.

Write scriptures on your walls! Bind it in their hearts!Stick it in their backpacks and lunchboxes! Stand firm and be blessed when your baby girl says she wants to take her bible to school because it's a SHIELD! AMEN LORD!

My pastor says this, "It's not what we tell this world we are against, but it's more important that we tell it what we are for."

God is not a weapon. Do not use Him as one or teach Him to be used as one...please. The battle is strong, but He doesn't need us waving Him to and fro like a sword in medieval times. He's got this! We just have to WALK. KEEP WALKING through this.

Whew.

Ok, I think I've said all I needed to say.

THE END.