(Revisiting Pastor Tom’s message for Advent)
and beyond!
An Advent
Conspiracy: It’s when Someone has a
secret plan to do something to another, and it’s out of the other’s
control.” It’s where we conspire against
everything that depresses, stresses, and drains us of joy during the Advent
season.”
WORSHIP FULLY = which simply means taking time & effort
to focus on Jesus and what it means to be ‘present’…a relational gift. He desires to be in relationship with
us. Have we got the time? Can we be attentive to what he’s up to in
this world?
SPEND LESS = is a great place to start. Spend less on gifts that the people you’re
buying for don’t really need. Spend less
on stuff (just to meet the expectation that everyone needs more stuff...)
GIVE MORE = is what you can do when you spend
less. Give more TIME to be with the ones
who need your time and attention. Give
more like “coupons” for an afternoon (or a day) together; do something outside;
cook, build, make music, sew, play together, create art…serve together.
LOVE ALL = that’s where all this leads. It’s becoming more like Jesus…giving from
God’s abundance to bless other people; to show them that God and at least one
other person cares.
What if we focused
more resources on actually making a difference in the world? What impact could we make if we channeled a
percentage of what we spend on gifts towards giving people…clean water, farm
animals, small loans…so they could use their God-given talents to have a
fighting chance to lift their families and communities out of poverty? What
if we all chipped in to buy a water well for a community ($2,500)? 25 families spend $100 less and give $100
more…?
CHALLENGE :
Can we conspire together? …moving forward
Fruitful Lord, increase the power of your
Spirit in my life. Focus my attention on
your goodness and mercy that I might be fruitful for you and for those you send
me to serve.
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