Question of the Week ??
What are you asking for Christmas?
What do you think Jesus would want from you this Christmas?
* UPDATE - We've some good answers to both questions...especially what we can give back this year. If you've not answered, please share some ideas of what Jesus might want any of us to give this year. It won't be bragging. It will be sharing how any of us might show the love of God in a practical way this year.
Christmas is almost hear...lets hear from you. That would be what I'm asking for Christmas. :)
posted by Greg Hazelrig @ 12:30 PM
7 comments
7 Comments:
I haven't asked for anything for Christmas. Really. The only thing I want is my kids fawning over me when they open their iPods.
I think Jesus got my present the other night when I was in Austin with my oldest son. A man with a head cold, apparently homeless, was sitting on the curb asking for money as we walked into a restaurant. He said he was hungry. I told him I wouldn't give him money, but I would buy him a meal. He looked ashamed and said he didn't want to go in because he was sick and dirty. I told him I would bring something out to him, which I did. He seemed truly grateful. "As you have done to the least of these..." Hope you don't think I'm bragging. I'm not. It was just one of those little "God moments" and I pray that it witnessed to my son.
I'm sure it did Mark. And I'm sure it was a wonderful gift to the man and also to Jesus. For yes, when we serve one of the least we do serve him.
I had a wishlist, but it seems so petty now. So let me think...how about a check from my insurance company? To be free of aches and pains and dorkiness(my doc promises it will go away) ? maybe some elves to help me catch up with the house work?
Seriously, I am just glad to be here with my family.
Merry Christmas!
As Mark pointed out....not bragging but sharing....our food bank regularly delivers food to people who cannot make it in for the pickup. A man who is a double amputee is one of such people. My wife was lamenting a tiresome soul who mooches from everyone, everywhere...and she said that she needed to compensate for her feelings towards her. Her compensation was to deliver a wonderful turkey dinner with all the fixings to this man who is a double amputee.
I had the privilidge of knocking on his door and presenting him with the plate and other zip-type containers of dessert and additional dressing. My heart was overwhelmed with his receptiveness.
My Christmas wish is for everyone to do a good deed to those in need. The rewards are much more valuable than the sacrifices made to make it happen.
Marty
I look forward to Christmas Eve. After we finish with our candlight / Communion service, we are going to take trays of goodies that people have made to the hospital and share them with those who have to work on Christmas Eve as well as those in ICU and ER waiting rooms. This will not be their ideal place to spend Christmas, I'm sure. There will be many who will bake and a few who will decorate the platters and then I expect several of us will go and sacrifice 15-30 minutes of our "family time" to try and bring God's gift of love to some who may need it most this year. My part is going to be very small in this, so if I'm bragging, it will be on the receptivity of my Church family. They might be small right now, but they are the Christmas gift that we received in June when I was appointed here. And they are what will make this gift to others possible.
I've had four different churches (3 different charges) now. And there's one thing I can say about all of them. What made it hard to leave (and what's making it easy to stay here) is the people who have been so loving. I have truly been blessed to serve Mt. Pleasant, Avon, Glen Allan and now Gibson Memorial. I've known others who've served much more demanding and unkind churches. I know there have been a few that when our paths crossed it wasn't so pretty, but for the most part things have been wonderful. What a gift God has given me. Thank you Jesus. I love you.
Hi Greg...my prayer is for the Hope of Christmas and to exercise more and to eat less...sin is killing my soul and sugar is killing my body...through the grace of God my sins are forgiven and through the power of God I'm given the strength to lose weight and become healthier...so this Christmas I hope and pray to walk closer to God, to serve those in my neighborhood, and take further steps to becoming more healthy...
Now for that Jesus question...our church in Forest, MS, is going to serve a Community Christmas Eve Lunch after church on Sunday...Everyone in the Community is invited to come and share in a Festive Meal, Enjoy Good Fellowship, and Celebrate the Christ of Christmas...The Community Christmas Eve Lunch is a Gift to the Community, we just invite one and all to show up and enjoy the meal...We will take lunch to the shut-ins and homebound and provide take-outs for those who know others who would enjoy a meal or even if they just want a warm meal later...last year 100 people shared in the Christmas Meal, this year we are praying that more folks "Take Advantage" of this dinner...Jesus invites us to feed the hungry, so in our neck of the woods, in our neighborhood, we are hungry folks offering other hungry folks food for the stomach and food for the soul...I'll take a helping of corn-bread dressing and a double portion of Grace...I Pray for You the Hope of Christmas...Thanks for the Question, Greg...Your friend, Mike...
God has been teaching me over the past few months that I don't need more "stuff," so I've asked for nothing.
What I've beening praying for this an outpouring of generosity from my congregation for our Christmas offering for the children of Africa.
Mark, It's not bragging if God is given the glory.
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