While I was at my parents house for Christmas my cousin Nick (check out his blog) showed me the following video. It's definitely a must see.
I hope it brightened your day!
On my way home for Christmas
Posted by Todd Lowans | Posted in christmas | Posted on 9:20 PM
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I'm driving on I-80 - somewhere in Ohio - on my way home for Christmas. Alisha is in the seat next to me, sound asleep (like always). I'm trying to find something on the radio to keep me awake. I hear a commercial for a charity. They're soliciting donations, the appeal ends with, "After all, giving is what Christmas is all about!"
I had been thinking about what to write about in my next blog. This really caught my attention. I can't tell you how many times over the last few I have heard similar statements. "Christmas is all about being with your family" or "Christmas is about giving." Now this sounds great right - right? I've even said these things before, but the truth is, that's not what Christmas is all about!
Sure, we should be giving to people, sure it is good to be with your family, absolutely we should be with people; but the question is, are we part of watering down Christmas? Christmas is about a loving God sending His only Son to earth to pay the price for our sins. It's about God becoming man, to be treated like a criminal and killed for us. That's what Christmas is about - that's it!
So as you have gotten caught up on Black Friday and all the great sales, as you drive through snow storms to get to your relatives house, as you open your overpriced gifts, as you feel the joy of having others open the gifts you gave, remember what Christmas is really about!
Matthew 1:18 - 2:23
I have noticed something lately, it's cool to be generous. Extreme Home Makeover, Jon & Kate Plus 8 (Give Back Episode) & Secret Millionaire are just a few examples of our cultures fascination with helping others.
Helping others has always been a big part of my life. I remember my father giving away one of our cars to a family in our church because they lost theirs, and then I saw God provide us a new one within weeks. My mom was always helping families in need, whether it was cooking meals for them, babysitting, or even potty training their kids, she did it all. My grandparents were always giving back to their community. Alisha and I have also made it a point to give back whenever we can. Sometimes it's in the form of feeding a homeless person downtown or something as simple as babysitting for a neighbor for free. This is all well and good, but what really matters is the motivation behind it.
You see I think America is addicted to feeling good. When you help someone you feel good, when you feed someone you feel great, when you go out of your way to be selfless it's one of the most amazing feelings you can experience. But that's not enough. That's selfish.
”For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” Matthew 25:35. For all of you who did not have hermeneutics in college, Jesus is saying, "If you help someone out, your really helping me out." Believe me, I took Greek, that's really what it means.
Now that we have a biblical basis – what should we do with this? Well, we give, we help, we go out of our way. It's an easy thing to do during the Christmas season, as easy as dropping some cash in the red kettle. However, we are called to much more than that. We are called to a life of giving! So with that I challenge you, what will you do? How will you change your life? How will you alter your lifestyle to give back?
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