Christmas Attendance & Christmas Giving…

Our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services saw huge attendances and huge financial giving… thank you, thank you, thank you! Because of your generosity we have been able to give financial assistance to The New Life Orphanage in Burma, our CRCA World Diaconate Fund which assists people in developing countries.  Your donations  were able to -  adopt a village in India, giving proper education for some 50 children in a village.  There will be a positive Christian witness for the whole village!  - buy goats, a little shop, a widow’s rehabilitation kit and a slum survivor kit, all which enable people who live in  poverty to become more economically stable.  These gifts will bring blessing to God’s name.

Personal Ponderings…

Language. Lusting. Laughing. Three words that have powerful meanings! And I intend to be more godly with all three in 2012. That’s what I prayed this morning after I read about Joshua encouraging his people to recommit to living their lives according to God’s plan and purpose.  Here’s what he said: Fear God! Worship Him in total commitment (two key words = total commitment). Get rid of the gods you used to chase and stumble over! As for me and my household, we will serve and worship God. (Josh.24:15 JH paraphrase)

Let me explain what I mean by these three powerful words.

Language: Pulling people down with my words – both others and myself!

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph.4:29)

So what can I do ?

Be a blossomer and not a bagger! Think before I speak.

Lusting: Wanting what I don’t have and not wanting to share what I do have. Allowing myself to get sucked into the world’s measure of success and fun.

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Heb.13:5)

So what can I do?

Consciously release the grip I have on my stuff and open my hands! Give regularly and give more. I want the circles of influence I do life in to be better places to do life in… that requires I do what I can to make them better places by giving my time, my talent and my money. Life is an investment and the more I have, the more I am responsible for (that’s what Jesus says: Much is required from those to whom much is given, and much more is required from those to whom much more is given. (Lk.12:48)

Laughing: Frown less & smile more! See the funny side of things. Spend more time with people I enjoy being with.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thess.5:16-18); Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.(Phil.4:6-7)

So what can I do?

Give my concerns and stresses to God in prayer. Take my day off each week. Plan fun and social activities. Laugh more. Take myself less seriously and take God’s will for my life more seriously!

What changes could you make in your life to ensure 2012 will be a great year for you and those you do life with? Share with me and the church in the comments area below.