Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I've been wondering how I could make Advent Conspiracy work all year: spend less, give more (of myself), worship God and love all. I don't want to get caught in meaningless Christmas shopping at the end of the year, so John and I went shopping at Hobby Lobby today, searching for craft projects we can work on during the year. I enjoy giving gifts I make so I think Hobby Lobby will be a place I shop this year and the years to come. The selection of yarn and crafts is endless. Like a kid in a candy store, I could spend hours looking for the perfect gifts to make.

Visit the Hobby Lobby closest to you or shop online. You can even sign up for email newsletters and savings coupons. The newsletters are filled with ideas for new crafts to pursue.

What ideas do you have for joining the Advent Conspiracy? Are you crafting gifts? spending more time with family members? I'd love to hear from you.

The Perfect Gift

Shopping for the perfect gift? Have you found yourself in crowded stores buying gifts with money you don't have for gifts that are here today and gone tomorrow? Our culture has led us to believe that money is love so at Christmas we spend more than any other time during the year.  Retailers receive billions of dollars on this kind of marketing. We buy meaningless gifts that get thrown away, returned or donated to charity. Where does it end?

A view of a few Black Friday shopping videos makes me not want to get out of my house on the Friday after Thanksgiving, a day when we think of all the blessings for which we have to be thankful. People searching for the perfect gift end up victims of pushing, shoving, trampling, fighting, stun guns, pepper spray, arrests and even patients in ambulances. Stores announce super sales--deep discounts. Yet, we still find deep discounts later in the holiday season. What's the sense of it all?

Each year I ask myself how can I avoid the shopping chaos and meaningless gift giving. When I watched the video above, tears filled my eyes. I can't imagine what the heart of God felt in every episode. He sent His only Son into this world to bring love and meaning and purpose to our lives. He sent the perfect gift, the gift of light and peace and hope. But we still look for something else that satisfies. We fail to realize that when God created us, He left a void in us that only He can fill. We can try to fill the void with money, possessions, food, drink, relationships or drugs, but they will not satisfy.

The love of God is all that satisfies. The love of God changes hearts and lives. I know, because it changed my heart and my life. This year, even though my shopping is done, I'm starting to think differently about the future. At first I thought it was too late, but it's never too late. I'm going through a series at church titled Advent Conspiracy. I hope you will go to the website, watch the video and click on some of the resources. Let me know what you think. Is it better to worship fully, spend less, give more and love all? It might mean a different kind of Christmas for your family and friends. Will you stand up to their scrutiny? Jesus did. He didn't get caught up in the culture chaos of His time. I'm thinking I don't want to any more. What about you?

Mary's Song

Mary's Song is recorded in Luke 1:46-56. It is beautiful worship, expressing joy in God our Savior. He knew well Mary's humble heart and He knows each of us who love and serve Him. God's shows His mercy to all generations and performs [His] mighty works, which may seem upside down to our world. Check this out:

"He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty" (Luke 1:50-53 NIV).

Mary knew Scripture. She knew the character of her God and even as a young woman, she experienced a loving and worshipful relationship with Him.

We may strive for importance, but this is the person God chose to give birth to His Son so He could live among us and show us how to love God and live for Him. When the disciples asked who was the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, unless you change [from wanting to be important] and become like children [He meant childlike-not childish-innocent and trusting], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 18:1-5 NIV). 

This picture of Mary shows me the innocence, humility and faith that Jesus talked about. I hope this season you will look at Christmas in a new way, through Mary's eyes to experience true worship, the first step in Advent Conspiracy. God bless you.

Upside Down Advent

Many years ago when Jesus came to earth, He turned the world upside down with the truth about forgiveness and eternal life. He was the fulfillment of Scripture, but His own people who knew Scripture did not recognize Him.

In more than two thousand years since Jesus came as a baby the first Christmas, our gift giving to celebrate His birth has become a mega marketing opportunity for retailers. Our concept of showing love means spending billions of dollars on gifts that somehow end up back in the stores for exchange, in thrift stores or the trash. So how do we resist buying into the big debt and meaningless gifts?

What did Jesus do? He gave Himself. Can we do less? After all, it's all about Jesus, right? And if it's all about Jesus, it begins with worship. Mary set the example for us in her song:

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One
has done great things for me - holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
He has performed mighty deeds with his arm;
he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble.
He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
to Abraham and his descendants forever,
just as he promised our ancestors (Luke 1:46-56 NIV). 

During this advent season, our church is studying a series titled Advent Conspiracy. I hope you will check out the website, the video and resources. I downloaded the audiobook to my iPhone so I can get more spiritually fit while I walk and get somewhat more physically fit. It's all about worship, spending less, giving more (of yourself, time and resources) and loving others.

I would like to know your thoughts about Christmas consumerism. Are you doing anything differently? I have to confess, this may take some adjusting for me. What about you?