A gift?
In my post the other day I made reference to the fact that this is the season most contradictory in the church-- it's about peace, patiently waiting, excitement-- three things that we (as adults) don't often feel when December hits. The holiday rush with shopping and keeping up with the neighborhood lights and decorations, holiday parties, gift giving (which can often be out of pressure to give to co-workers, and others who give to you- that you might not had any intention of giving to). You see out focus has gotten lost! Our focus has shifted from grateful and appreciative to consumers who won't be "happy" no matter what. There is always that thought in the back of our heads.... "if I just had this".
The message at church on Sunday was awesome. Chris Seay a pastor from Houston was our guest preacher and he rocked. He was hilarious-- but int he end his words tugged at my heart and got me thinking about my own life. He talked about a mother having a baby (I know there are several of you expectant mom's who read). The last month he says the anxiety and expectation and worry, and excitement that it could be any day is amazing. When I think of that I think of Mary and how difficult it must have been to be her and how much of her life was in "upheaval" at the time (especially in the last month of her preg.).
It's funny that during Thanksgiving we focus on how blessed we are - and the next day we seem to forget that as we rush to the mall and stack our carts full of our "must haves".
Mars Hill (our church) has a advent link online (click here). The page on gratefulness says this: "If the only prayer you say in your entire life is 'Thank You,'" wrote Meister Eckhart, “that would suffice." As I look ahead to what we will spend on Christmas and who is the One we celebrate and how are we celebrating- how are we showing that gift. I think of the many things that we could do to honor him as part of the season. There are so many who won't have any gifts this Christmas (and yet many will be more grateful than you or I).
I remember as a child collecting gifts for children who wouldn't have any- I remeber going to the woman & children's shelter with my mom and taking Santa Bears from Hudson's-- that would be put on some child's bed on Christmas morning and that would be the thing that lit their eyes with excitement. I also remember taking gifts up at "Jesus' Birthday Part" at church-- those gifts also went to some child who otherwise wouldn't have a Christmas.
Who would Jesus give to? The least of these. What do you do to give back at Christmas? I haven't decided in what way we will give back this year-- maybe it will be through the potters house (a inner city ministry at our church). Maybe it will be giving to the Z project at Mars. Maybe it will be serving dinner to some homeless people on Christmas morning. Regardless of what it is-- I want it to honor God. I want it to be our OFFERING.
What do you do to prepare and get your family ready for Christmas (an advent calendar, drive around looking at lights, family celebrations, etc)? Do you do anything in your community?
The message at church on Sunday was awesome. Chris Seay a pastor from Houston was our guest preacher and he rocked. He was hilarious-- but int he end his words tugged at my heart and got me thinking about my own life. He talked about a mother having a baby (I know there are several of you expectant mom's who read). The last month he says the anxiety and expectation and worry, and excitement that it could be any day is amazing. When I think of that I think of Mary and how difficult it must have been to be her and how much of her life was in "upheaval" at the time (especially in the last month of her preg.).
It's funny that during Thanksgiving we focus on how blessed we are - and the next day we seem to forget that as we rush to the mall and stack our carts full of our "must haves".
Mars Hill (our church) has a advent link online (click here). The page on gratefulness says this: "If the only prayer you say in your entire life is 'Thank You,'" wrote Meister Eckhart, “that would suffice." As I look ahead to what we will spend on Christmas and who is the One we celebrate and how are we celebrating- how are we showing that gift. I think of the many things that we could do to honor him as part of the season. There are so many who won't have any gifts this Christmas (and yet many will be more grateful than you or I).
I remember as a child collecting gifts for children who wouldn't have any- I remeber going to the woman & children's shelter with my mom and taking Santa Bears from Hudson's-- that would be put on some child's bed on Christmas morning and that would be the thing that lit their eyes with excitement. I also remember taking gifts up at "Jesus' Birthday Part" at church-- those gifts also went to some child who otherwise wouldn't have a Christmas.
Who would Jesus give to? The least of these. What do you do to give back at Christmas? I haven't decided in what way we will give back this year-- maybe it will be through the potters house (a inner city ministry at our church). Maybe it will be giving to the Z project at Mars. Maybe it will be serving dinner to some homeless people on Christmas morning. Regardless of what it is-- I want it to honor God. I want it to be our OFFERING.
What do you do to prepare and get your family ready for Christmas (an advent calendar, drive around looking at lights, family celebrations, etc)? Do you do anything in your community?
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