Christmas Giving Challenge

Andy & I have been talking for several months about how to change the materialistic traditions of Christmas we are a part of and focus on the needy instead, as we feel Jesus was prompting... We had not come to a conclusion when out of the blue we were recently challenged through an email to this: the email asked if instead of spending the money we were going to spend on our family for Christmas, give that same amount to mission-works in need! It's not to match the amount we were going to spend, but rather give the money instead of even buying the gifts for ourselves. (We usually know how much we are going to spend on each other...)

Want to join us in that challenge? What does your heart tell you when you are given a challenge like this??? "no way, that's dumb & over-the-top..." or a gentle nudge? Would you even consider it? What does Christmas mean to you and your family? Do we say "it's all about Jesus," but then do the same thing as everyone else on Christmas?

I just came across this article called, "Mary's Dream"

"I had a dream, Joseph....

I don’t understand it, not really, but I think it was about a birthday celebration for our Son. I think that was what it was all about. The people had been preparing for it for about six weeks. They had decorated the house and bought new clothes. They’d gone shopping many times and bought elaborate gifts. It was peculiar, though, because the presents weren’t for our Son. They wrapped them in beautiful paper and tied them with lovely bows and stacked them under a tree. Yes, a tree, Joseph, right in their house. They’d decorated the tree also. The branches were full of glowing balls and sparkling ornaments. There was a figure on the top of the tree. It looked like an angel might look. Oh, it was beautiful. Everyone was laughing and happy. They were all excited about the gifts. They gave the gifts to each other, Joseph, not our Son. I don’t think they even knew Him. They never mentioned His name. Doesn’t it seem odd for people to go through all that trouble to celebrate someone’s birthday if they don’t know Him? I had the strangest feeling that if our Son had gone to this celebration he would have been intruding. Everything was so beautiful, Joseph, and everyone so full of cheer, but it made me want to cry. How sad for Jesus – not to be wanted at His own birthday celebration. I’m glad it was only a dream.

How terrible, Joseph, if it had been real...."

If you take the challenge but need help with places to give, feel free to email me for information on several worthy missionaries faithfully spreading the gospel message of salvation through Jesus.