Christmas Presents
I have two favorite times of the year! My favorite time of the year is Advent/ Christmas and Holy Week and Easter. There is something very special about preparing and setting aside time to reflect and honor what God has done for all of us.
But...
What I struggle with the most at Christmas is presents. Don't get me wrong, I do like to occasionally get a gift because someone thought of me or my family.
But I struggle with over abundance...
What do I mean by that... I mean I struggle with having more than I need. There is a big difference between a want and a need. Does my Christmas list have a lot of wants or needs? It's okay to have a want, but maybe limiting is a good thing.
It teaches us humility and sharing.
In the book we are reading, Matt Rawle has a wonderful idea that I would love to share with you. So when you write out your Christmas list, maybe this year you can try it.
"1. Something they WANT
because, as Christians, we should want to be near God, to have a desire to be with God. Desire is not a bad thing. We should long for God as the deer longs for streams of water (Psalm 42: 1).
2. Something they NEED
to remind them that we are always in need of God's grace and forgiveness. Want coupled with desire reflects Philippians 4: 19-" And my God will fully satisfy every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (NRSV). God satisfies our needs, but also leaves us wanting more. This is why when the author of Psalm 23 trusted that God was with him, his cup overflowed (Psalm 23: 5).
3. something to WEAR.
Clothing, for good or ill, says something about us. It is a way to tell every passerby a little bit of who we consider ourselves to be. As Christians we should wear the humility, kindness, and generosity of Christ (Romans 13: 14).
4. Something to READ:
Education is important for the "renewing of your mind" (Romans 12: 2),
5. one gift to SHARE
to remind us that church is where we learn to share our prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness."
Rawle, Matt (2016-08-03). The Redemption of Scrooge: Connecting Christ and Culture (The Pop in Culture Series) (Kindle Locations 1049-1062). Abingdon Press. Kindle Edition.