Pop quiz, what did you get last Christmas? I have to admit that I would really need to think hard to come up with a few things but could never give you a full list. It is not that I did not appreciate the gift but most of them I really did not need. Even those things I thought that I needed have long ago been put aside. How much money is spent on things that are clogging our closets or are in boxes in the basement? For my entire life I can remember the complaints that Christmas was becoming too commercialized. Even I would complain about it as I was running around the stores buying stuff I knew would end up in the “don’t need” pile.
With the economy in the state it is in and the struggles that many of us are facing, it is time to put our money to good use. Why buy stuff that we know is not wanted or really needed when we know that God’s work around the world is also struggling because of the economy. Now God owns everything in this world but he has given us the job of overseeing it and we have done a lousy job. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus it is time to change that.
I have to admit that I have been humbled this year because it was my daughters Sara and Suzanne who sent the email around to the family stating it was time for a change. They have requested that everyone in the family cut the money spent on gifts this year by at least half and donate it to a charity of their choice. There are many missions and ministries within your community and around the world doing God’s work that are hurting financially. Check out www.adventconspiracy.org/ to see the new concept we will be using this Christmas.
Now is the time, before the shopping begins, to share this concept with your family. If you are a pastor of a church, challenge your members to change the gift giving from the same old routine to one with eternal results. Check out the videos to use in your services from Advent Conspiracy’s website. Allow each family or family member to choose the work they will partner with to celebrate the gift of the Christ child.
There are many organizations that put out Christmas project lists. I have included a few below:
http://www.1040connections.org/christmas/projects.asp
If you know of other mission project Christmas gift catalogs, please add them in comments.
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