I realize you may still be experiencing sugar shock from Halloween, but I though it timely to share anyway. I, personally, am glad that Halloween is over. I'm ready for the next round of holidays...I'm ready for the Thanksgiving turkey...I'm ready for the Christmas decor to take center stage. With that being said, here's an essay I recently wrote...may God inspire you this holiday season.
Two Catalogues
Ah, yes...Christmas is just around the corner. I know because I have started receiving all sorts of interesting catalogues in the mail. Some of these "extended advertisements" are fun to flip through; festive decorating ideas, gifts discovered, new recipes to share.
I was very much struck, though, last week by two catalogues that arrived in my mailbox. The difference between these two catalogues is startling and should cause all of us to consider how we spend our money.
One was for a very fine, very expensive clothier. I don't even know how or why I got on their list because anyone who knows me knows that fashion simply is not a high priority for me. Some might even say that I am "fashion challenged" and I'm okay with that. The other catalogue was the World Vision Christmas Gift Catalogue. This catalogue is filled with things that you can give to children and families, sometimes even villages, all over the world, that make a true difference in the life of the recipient(s). Gifts like seeds, farm animals, fish ponds, and water wells...gifts that change and sometimes even save lives.
I do not want you to misunderstand me. I am not saying that having or enjoying the nicer things in life is wrong. I do believe, however, that we must examine our desires and that we should present them before our Lord for His evaluation. I imagine that you would find that many "must haves" in our consumer culture would not be as enticing when evaluated in the Lord's light. I imagine He would have you consider others more important than that overpriced coat or the latest gadget.
Let us not lose sight of the truth of Christmas. Please be praying about a gift to help the less fortunate. Would our Lord have you give to a family in need? Or to a ministry that clearly shares the gospel? God will lead you where He would have you give. And if you're interested or aren't sure where to start, here are two of our family's personal favorites: www.worldvisiongifts.org and/or www.covenantmercies.org
I love the holidays and I love giving and receiving gifts. I also love how the Lord allows my family to feel His special pleasure when we are able to share a gift with someone in need. It really is wonderful; He blesses us for blessing others. What at first may feel like a sacrifice, He turns into joy and a treasure! May you enjoy the extra blessing of knowing that you faithfully followed the Savior into His Christmas season.
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6: 19-21
"Honor the Lord with your wealth..." Proverbs 3: 9
"...blessed is he who is generous to the poor." Proverbs 14: 21
Have a blessed day~
Rachel