The "Gift Dilemma".

Every year, in the weeks leading up to Christmas, we are hit with this "gift dilemma". There are families experiencing year round struggle- and December rolls around and brings with it the additional financial pressure to buy things for their loved ones. (simultaneously, generous people are tempted to spend more time with their families and more money on their own kids) Every year, CarePortal teams are faced with a tug of war between the desire to "help with Christmas" vs. meeting urgent needs that stabilize the home. Let's face it, getting the rent paid so the family isnt evicted seems far more important than providing dolls or video games, but no one wants kids to go without toys and fun.

Here's what I've been thinking. Christmas is not about our wrapping paper, Santa or even world peace. Christmas is the celebration of the long-awaited messiah finally arriving on the scene.

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." ~John 1:14

Because he became flesh, and lived sinless to conquered sin, shame, and death for our sakes, WE LIVE. Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger, it's about what God incarnate brings to our every day life. We celebrate as a reminder to recenter our hearts on the great lengths God went to to make himself known to us. "The glory revealed on Christmas day thousands of years ago, is the same glory we get to experience every single day." ~Stephanie Englehart The best thing about the nativity story is that it is only the beginning! Through the word, we get to experience the beginning from the end through the filter of His life, His death, and His resurrection. We worship a God who knows us, who understands every human experience and loves us anyway. Christmas is about the word made flesh who has made his dwelling among us, empowered us, and gave us abundant life for this very moment and into eternity. It's the giver becoming the gift. What a sacrificial gift. Emanuel- God with us... every single day.

My prayer this week is for us to walk the that tight rope.

Lord, tune us to Holy Spirit's voice, so that however we spend our money, however we allocate our resources- Christ's love is trumpeted into our communities! Please, lead us in generosity and wisdom and when in doubt help us to give and love and live MORE not less. Fill our hearts with the joy of making you known! Make us good messengers of the best news EVER! "We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." ~Amen

I'll leave this excerpt from Ann Voskamp "The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas"

"He who carved the edges of the cosmos curled Himself up in the womb of a virgin.

He gave up the heavens -that were not even large enough to contain Him and let Himself be held in a mother’s hands.

The mystery so large becomes the Baby so small, 

Infinite God becomes infant.

The Giver becomes the Gift.

This quiet offering.

This heart beating in the chest cavity of a child,

a thrumming heart 

beating hope, beating change, beating love, beating the singular song you've been waiting for...

that the whole dizzy planet's been spinning round waiting for.

Waiting.

Advent."

As you celebrate Advent, and prepare your heart with the leading of the Holy Spirit, consider making an impact on the lives of kids in our community using CarePortal.org. MEET A NEED- Spread the Good News- and rejoice!