I think we spend too many of our resources on what is under the tree instead of preparing our hearts for the Advent. Culture is moving toward a "holiday" celebration where present are king instead of investing in preparation of the presence of the King.

One of the major downfalls of this is that we perpetuate our own selfishness. We are teaching the next generation that it is ok to be greedy and fall head-0ver-heels in love with the things this world has to offer. We are training the next generation of "Black Friday" shoppers to be even more consumed with wanting and expecting more stuff.

John Stott wrote, "Materialism tethers our hearts to this earth." This right on target because it's grounded in biblical truth. Remember what Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34)?

I am not advocating emptiness under the tree. I still believe giving gifts in moderation can be an expression of God's grace and our love to one another. What I am encouraging is a little less under the tree and a little more time at home...a little less spending on the over stuffed and a little more spending on the hungry...less consumerism and more compassion. God's present was His presence, why should we do any different?

God's intention in giving His gift was to change the world and I still believe Christmas can change the world, but it must start with me...with you...with us!

Something I've been thinking about this year that will actually be put into use next Christmas (yes, I actually do plan that far ahead) is "The Advent Conspiracy." I've found the following website helpful in the beginning stage of my thought process: www.adventconspiracy.org.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Let's not let the urgent needs of a busy lifestyle strip away the priorities God thinks are important. Keeping things in order is not achieved by accident, we must plan and then carefully guard those plans. So, what are your plans?

Grace & Peace,

Scott

When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, "It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat." (Exodus 16:15 ESV)

He told me that "manna" was the food God provided the Israelites while they wandered in the desert. What's insightful about the word is that it literally means "what is it?" The wandering city dwellers who were on the first camping trip of their lives didn't know where their next meal was coming from. They needed to learn to trust God in everything and this trust included food. When God provided they didn't know what it was so they asked, "What is it?" Not a whole lot of explanation came from God, just instructions on when and how to gather it. This was a daily thing and thus a daily reminder to trust God.

This hit home with me and helped me because I didn't have the answers about my Mom's cancer. But God wanted me to trust Him everyday with the trial our family was facing. I couldn't heal her...I couldn't even be with her. But I knew that God was greater than distance and cancer. I knew I could pray for her and ultimately trust God. I did.

The rest of the story is that God chose to heal Mom this side of heaven. He has done this multiple times in Mom's life, and every time we all have had to learn to trust God with the unknown.

What is the "unknown" in your life? That is the very thing that God wants you to trust Him with. He is our comfort (2 Corinthians 1:3), our strength (Exodus 15:2), and our strong tower (Proverbs 18:10). Run to Him...it's worth the trip!

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? (Psalm 42:5a)

Where does discouragement come from? Why are we in such despair at times? I personally believe there is a process we go through to get us to the point of giving up, and I believe that there is an answer to our discouragement that David gives.

It all starts with a "vision" (call it a "dream" or "idea" or "ideal" or whatever). It can be in one of many different areas of life...relationships, finances, a church, building a house, building a church, building a marriage, building a friendship, building a financial future, building a plan for ministry, etc. We all have these in our lives. We start with an idea of what we want to happen in the future with someone or something.

Soon something goes wrong, not always, but sometimes. The ducks we lined up get knocked down, and what gets really frustrating is when it is out of our control. We've done everything to line up the right people, or programs, or materials, but plans don't pan our the way we envisioned them. This leaves us feeling frustrated, disappointed and discouraged.

Here comes the critical point in our decision making...are we going to quit? Right now we see no way out but to throw in the towel and say, "I'm done!" Or, are we going to move on and see what God wants to teach us and do through us in this situation?

This is the point at which we often feel depressed and can't see a way out of the black hole in which we find ourselves. How many times have we just made it through the day and gone through the motions to collapse at the end of the day thankful at least one more day is gone and we have one less day with which to cope?

We must make a choice: quit or refocus. If we chose to quit then it's over, but if we chose to refocus then it's a new beginning. David also wrote,

Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God. (Psalm 42:5b)

If our hope is truly in God, then there is a chance we can make it through times of despair.

Grace & Peace,

Scott

Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink the cup. (1 Corinthians 11:27-28 ESV)

Too often we get to the building and say, "Oh, yeah, we're having the Lord's Supper this morning." And that is about as much forethought we put into preparation. But this memorial meal is of such importance that I think it is imperative that we begin preparing for it as early as possible. This is not to say that the only time we examine our lives is at the Lord's Supper, but this examination is specifically for the Lord's Supper. The observance of the Lord's Supper is a call to self-examination. Here are some thought to reflect on while preparing:

We are not perfect when we come to the table, only forgiven. This forgiveness has its foundation in the unbounded grace of a loving and compassionate God. It is only through that forgiveness that we are accepted. He invites us to come to the Lord's Supper free and unhindered from sin.

Grace & Peace,

Scott