'Tis Still the Season

This Christmas Season is not typical of Christmas’ past. As Jeff mentioned in his last post, we are doing something different this year. Instead of showering each other in gifts, we’ve decided to give our budgeted amount to charity. More specifically, we’re giving to our church and to World Vision. And we feel really good about it!

For me, this is a really big thing. I grew up in poverty and still remember very meager Christmas’, wondering when I was little, why Santa didn’t like me as much as he did other kids (my childish mind equated gifts with care), and when I was older, understanding that there were many times we would have had few gifts, if not for local charities like the Salvation Army. I grew up determined that when I was married and had a family of my own, there would be a ton of gifts under the tree. And there were.

But this year is different. This year I’m different. There’ll still be gifts under the tree, but they’ll be for Sweet Pea. Our gift this year is in the giving. Previously for me, it was like I had to have lots of gifts under the tree, to prove that I’m not that same little poor girl that I was. It was evidence of sort that I had risen above the social status of my family. It was validation that I was indeed of worth. Of course, as a Christian, I knew this, but deep down the little girl inside of me, needed the affirmation of that.

Something happened though, to change that. Of course it was God, ultimately, who broke off that misconception and gave me freedom from that bondage. And it really was bondage. But what is surprising to me is how He did it. He used the broken-down U.S. economy and all of the doom and gloom media reports. As I watched the news, and Wall Street, I realized I was witnessing what greed had done. I further realized how good we Americans have it, even when we don’t have it all that good by our own standards. One of the great casualties of this distressed economy is that charitable giving has really gone down, while the need for it has risen significantly.

Like most American’s, we are worse off financially right now than we were at the beginning of the year. Consequently, we were scaling back our Christmas budget, but that didn’t seem like enough. Something was just – missing. So we talked about it and we remembered that Christmas isn’t supposed to be about getting, but rather it’s about giving. After all, God gave Jesus to us and that is why we even have Christmas to celebrate.

We then had a sort of epiphany. We understood that we could give each other gifts that would be nice and appreciated, but honestly not really significant or we could give in a way that would make a real and lasting difference in the lives of others. Once we thought of it that way, it was easy to decide what to do. By choosing to give to others and really make a difference in their lives, instead of collecting more stuff, has given me a freedom that I didn’t even know I was lacking. Praise God!

I don’t know if we’ll do this again next year. I certainly don’t think it is wrong to exchange gifts. But for us, this year, the gift we’re receiving is the sense that we've done something that truly matters and our Father will be saying to us, “Well done, my good and faithful children.” Merry Christmas!

Giving, part 2

This Christmas season Tracy and I decided to do something a little different. I’m actually quite proud of Tracy. With all that is going on in the world and its effect on our situation, we had already decided to give less this Christmas season. But what I’m proud of is hearing that Tracy would rather give to ministries that give to others this Christmas season rather than give so much to each other. We’ll still do some things for our daughter and close family but our best gifts were to our church and World Vision.

Our church, Life Link, is one that God planted us in just as they were starting a building fund drive this fall. It’s a fairly young, vibrant, stable church and is making a difference in our local community. They have been around for just about three years, have grown to two regular Sunday morning services and are seeking to move into a permanent facility in order to better serve the community (they’ve been renting part of a school during their startup phase). They have a great vision to give back to the local communities and draw people into the message that Christ has for them.

World Vision reaches people virtually in all parts of the world. For what amounts to very little to most Americans, you can give a gift that will change a family for generations. From basic necessities like providing a source for clean drinking water to living farm animals that can produce milk and eggs or reproduce and increase their herds, to providing life saving medical supplies and immunizations to school supplies, World Vision touches thousands of lives, many in third world countries, with a gift as small as $30. It doesn’t take much, just a willing heart to be part of something bigger that can make a difference.

I think many of us get focused on “what can I do with my little part” but God is saying I’ll take your small part and mix it in with the small pieces others bring and make something magnificent out of it. It shouldn’t be about us getting to see the family that receives the gift we sent to World Vision but about being a conduit that God can use, free and willing to receive what God has in store for us to give away next.

I hope that you will join us in giving the way that God would lead you to and enjoy observing this great season and what God is doing in your life and those around you. May God bless you and have a wonderful Christmas this year!

Tis the Season

‘Tis the Season, that’s for sure! With all the Holiday Christmas displays (and sales, sales, sales) in the stores, Christmas lights and decorations up on houses and Christmas music being heard everywhere we go, there is no doubt that the ‘most wonderful time of the year’ is upon us. And it really is, but not for the reason that the retailers, or the liberals, would have us to believe.

Disclaimer: This post is not anti-giving and receiving of gifts for Christmas. I believe there is nothing wrong with prettily wrapped packages under a tree or exchanged between friends, family, co-workers, etc. But Christmas is more than that – much more!

We celebrate the season because we received a gift that couldn’t be bought with money – the gift of Jesus coming to earth as a baby, to give us a life we couldn’t have had without him. Yes, one way we give is with our money and that is a good thing. Like it or not, money is what rules the world, and giving with money is one way to help spread the Good News, feed the poor, build a church, etc. But it’s not money or material gifts that I’m focusing on here.

This Season, every year, is filled with joy and fun and pleasure, but it’s also filled, for many, with pain and loneliness and despair. This can be the best and worst time of the year. This year in particular there are many hurting people. The current economy situation is a crisis for many. People are losing their savings, retirement, jobs, security, homes and hope. In addition, we have been embattled in the war on terror for the last seven years and it is a war we cannot afford to lose, but in the meantime we continue to lose wonderful heroes who’ve selflessly given the gift of their lives for the cause of freedom.

With that in mind, I want to talk briefly about giving like God gave. There are so many people we can affect by giving freely and generously those things that cannot be bought. One only has to look around to see the need that is evident everywhere. When we make a phone call to someone who is lonely or hurting, that is a gift. When we smile, are sincere, or encouraging to someone else, that is a gift – especially if it’s to a tired clerk this time of year. If we practice kindness, courtesy and love to others whether we know them or not, that is a gift.

The giving of time is probably the most expensive gift of all, because while money can be re-made or re-earned, time cannot. So when we think of it that way, we see how precious a gift of serving is. By spending time to help others we are truly giving a great gift. Whether we are visiting or running errands for a shut-in, or doing yard work or house work for someone who cannot do it themselves, we are giving a gift of ourselves and a gift of the Father. When we volunteer at a food bank, an animal shelter, a Crisis pregnancy center or a nursing home, we are giving a gift of ourselves and a gift of the Father. And when we simply let someone go ahead of us in line, aisles at stores, in the mall or in traffic, or extend mercy to someone who is rude or has cut us off, we are giving a gift of ourselves and a gift of the Father.

I think that giving tangible gifts to those we care about is a wonderful thing when kept in perspective. But maybe we should get better about giving those things that are intangible. What if we spent less money on inconsequential things this year, but invested more of our time, talent and treasures making this world a better place? What if we took a moment to look around, to find a need and fill it, or find a hurt and heal it? What if we gave like God did and still does?

A good bloggy friend recommended this video to me and I’d like to share it here and now. If you get this post via email and can’t just play it, simply click on the link below. I’ll bet you’ll be glad you did! Blessings!

Youtube Video ~
Advent Conspiracy 08
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py-4KR6XwWc

Giving - Part 1

This season I’m in seems to be a time of reflection. Maybe it’s because I have a milestone birthday coming up – I will be turning 40 along with my wife this month. Maybe it’s simply the end of the year upon us. Or maybe it’s the loss of so much in this world, that so many are facing with the loss of homes, jobs, retirement plans, broken dreams and the families that come out of these difficult and stressful times.

With Thanksgiving come and pass, both Tracy and I felt it was a time to reflect on one of the things that the Lord calls us each to do and that is to be a giver. It doesn’t necessarily mean in finances; there are several ways to give other than money. But it does mean with the right heart. There are people, including me at one time or another, that give to get or give with reluctance, or just don’t give at all. It could be simple things like a smile to someone walking by in the store. Or giving someone space on the freeway to change lanes. We all know there are plenty of ways for people to give while driving! It could mean giving of your time and talents to someone that has a need. Opening your home for some Christmas cheer with your neighbors or helping hang some lights with your neighbor.

It’s easy to get consumed by the holidays and festivities; we all have the excuses. “I work 60 hours a week” or “What do I have to give?” Believe me, I know, it’s easy to come up with reasons why I can’t. I’ve used plenty of excuses, uh reasons, over my nearly forty years and eventually it becomes habitual. It’s the first thing in your mind and before you know it, it’s out the mouth.

This is one of those things I’ve reflected on and have wanted to change for some time. And I believe it’s birthed out of a few things. First, it’s a matter of the heart. If our heart is full of restriction, lack, doubt, greed, lust and selfishness, we won’t see beyond what God has given us to use to help someone else. We may even be willing to help but oftentimes won’t even know someone else has a need. We are just so blinded to anything else in the world outside of our own little shell. And the more we turn inward the more the shell becomes empty.

I also believe there is an aspect of timing and cycles. If there is a time to sow and there’s a time to reap, then I also believe there is a time to give and a time to receive. I know I maybe stepping on someone’s theology here and that we should be recipients from the Lord to distribute unto this land. But hear me out. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t be in a position to give if the situation arises. But if we can’t receive from others, I believe we can’t truly give to others either. If you can’t allow someone else to experience the joy of giving, how can you ever appreciate what someone experiences when you bless them with your gift? If it’s just about giving all the time, then your satisfaction comes through a selfish desire to feel good that you gave. It’s not about what that other person received from you and the joy they are experiencing of a prayer being answered. I’ve only walked through a couple of significant times where I allowed myself to receive from someone else and there were probably many more that I should have walked through. But I believe we go through times in our lives where God wants us to see His Love shone to us from others.

The third aspect is focus. Whatever we focus our time, energy and resources on will produce the fruit of our lives for the next cycle. It’s easy to get focused on the news headlines of today and all the despair around us. From the economic issues to the terrorist attacks in India, to the (debatable) global warming and the looming layoffs. Or we can focus on God’s Word to us and strengthen our foundation in Him. His Word tells us he will never leave us nor forsake us; that we have a hope and a future, one of blessings in all areas – spiritual, physical, mental, and financial. He has plans to prosper us; for good not harm. But with all of these, they come with a condition for us to seek Him with all of our hearts. In other words have the focus of a laser. A laser is focused light that can cut through virtually anything or be as delicate to operate on the eye. That kind of focus, commitment and bulldog tenacity will bring you to the best He has for you. If you’re anything like me, you’ll find it’s better than anything you could do on your own!

If you’re like me, it’s easy to have the reasons not to, but let’s make a difference in making a reason of why to. The time is ripe; there are people all around us that have a need. It may be the greatest time of need since the early 1900’s. Will you focus your attention on God and let Him direct your steps in how to reach out to someone and show His Love for them? And if you’re in a difficult situation where you have a need, will you let someone in that can share God’s Love for you?