It's now my mantra for the whole holiday season. (See previous post.) Money matters can really bind me in the last two months of the year. So I want to really focus on God's faithfulness instead! I'm handing over my worry.
Kim, found this today from Crown. I'm thinking a lot about the holidays too and I'm determined to not pay for it for a year as I have in other years. I'm planning a holiday full of love and family, not material things. If you think back to your childhood these were the truly magical things about Christmas, not the stuff! The opposite of fear is faith. In Hebrews, faith is described as things that we hope for and things that we do not presently have (Hebrews 11:1). It is God's plan that we have some needs in order that we can develop our faith in Him. It is vital that we view these potential future financial needs as opportunities to exercise and develop our faith. No Christian can truly serve God and live in fear of financial loss. In Matthew 6:24, Christ was very specific when He said that we must make a choice. We must either serve God or money. We cannot serve both. If we are fearful of our financial future, we are not trusting in God or in His provision. In essence, we are choosing to serve the fear of financial loss, rather than serving God who has conquered all fear and holds the future in His hands.
Thanks Beth. This is very encouraging, especially in light of just finding out that I have to spend another $900 on my car to have it running safely. It's in the shop right now getting worked on. (This leaves no money for rent.) So I am wholeheartedly trusting that God will get us through somehow. But Chris and I will hopefully have a Vanagon to drive again for birthday presents for us! That'll be nice. I miss my van. God is good and my children have always had a roof over their heads and food to eat. So I trust that He is faithful to provide even still. :)
The three highlights of my Christmases as a child were: 1) elaborate light displays; 2) Christmas Eve church; 3) Presents.
Presents ranked pretty high. I'm not really sure how to do Christmas without going overboard. Neither does Dave (again with the childhood memories about what is good about the season/day).
We have to find a different way, but I don't want to. I don't really know how, without turning the season into an anxious gift-making marathon.
Why do you think presents ranked high on the list? Was it the "stuff" that mattered, or were the presents associated with being loved? I think one small heartfelt present that was picked out especially for me speaks volumes over lots of "stuff" that's given just so there's a bunch of presents under the tree. I do love to give lots and lots of great heartfelt presents to my kids at the same time though. I think a way to keep it in check is to look at your budget and set a limit for yourself. Spending $75-$100 per kid may seem slim for Christmas but when you add it all up and look at the big picture, it's really not. Is Christmas really about a million presents, or is it about love? The ultimate Love for us so that we can love others. I want to focus on loving, not spending. I love to give gifts and it breaks my heart that I can't afford to give like I want to, but such is life. In the big picture it's the love I show my kids that they'll remember and carry in their hearts, not the video game console, or whatever the new hot item is. If I can focus my energy on loving my family as Christ does, then I will probably spend more within reason. I don't know. I can't go overboard. I don't even have credit to do so with, so I guess it is what it is... Love is all I have to offer this year.
How funny that this conversation is happening. I hadn't even read the last 2 comments until now. I have no idea what inspired my post on my blog last night but I find this all very interesting. What do you guys think God is trying to tell us/do in us? Very cool!
I will admit that while it was a bit stressful I got SO much joy in putting that kids program together last year and I have almost felt resentful about not being able to do something like it again this year because of our circumstances. And I had PLANS...oh boy did I have plans! But I really sense God trying to tell me to just be still this season. I have always dreaded Christmas so much but I think that without the stress of what to buy for who I have found a new meaning for the season.
I'm excited to see what God has in store for me...and all of you!
6 comments:
Kim, found this today from Crown. I'm thinking a lot about the holidays too and I'm determined to not pay for it for a year as I have in other years. I'm planning a holiday full of love and family, not material things. If you think back to your childhood these were the truly magical things about Christmas, not the stuff!
The opposite of fear is faith. In Hebrews, faith is described as things that we hope for and things that we do not presently have (Hebrews 11:1). It is God's plan that we have some needs in order that we can develop our faith in Him. It is vital that we view these potential future financial needs as opportunities to exercise and develop our faith. No Christian can truly serve God and live in fear of financial loss. In Matthew 6:24, Christ was very specific when He said that we must make a choice. We must either serve God or money. We cannot serve both. If we are fearful of our financial future, we are not trusting in God or in His provision. In essence, we are choosing to serve the fear of financial loss, rather than serving God who has conquered all fear and holds the future in His hands.
Thanks Beth. This is very encouraging, especially in light of just finding out that I have to spend another $900 on my car to have it running safely. It's in the shop right now getting worked on. (This leaves no money for rent.) So I am wholeheartedly trusting that God will get us through somehow. But Chris and I will hopefully have a Vanagon to drive again for birthday presents for us! That'll be nice. I miss my van.
God is good and my children have always had a roof over their heads and food to eat. So I trust that He is faithful to provide even still. :)
I get that way every year too. I don't have happy childhood memories so I always tend to overcompensate for that with my kids. Not healthy!
I guess I won't worry about money this year since we don't have any!
And yes...God always comes through.
The three highlights of my Christmases as a child were: 1) elaborate light displays; 2) Christmas Eve church; 3) Presents.
Presents ranked pretty high. I'm not really sure how to do Christmas without going overboard. Neither does Dave (again with the childhood memories about what is good about the season/day).
We have to find a different way, but I don't want to. I don't really know how, without turning the season into an anxious gift-making marathon.
Help.
Why do you think presents ranked high on the list? Was it the "stuff" that mattered, or were the presents associated with being loved? I think one small heartfelt present that was picked out especially for me speaks volumes over lots of "stuff" that's given just so there's a bunch of presents under the tree.
I do love to give lots and lots of great heartfelt presents to my kids at the same time though.
I think a way to keep it in check is to look at your budget and set a limit for yourself. Spending $75-$100 per kid may seem slim for Christmas but when you add it all up and look at the big picture, it's really not. Is Christmas really about a million presents, or is it about love? The ultimate Love for us so that we can love others. I want to focus on loving, not spending. I love to give gifts and it breaks my heart that I can't afford to give like I want to, but such is life. In the big picture it's the love I show my kids that they'll remember and carry in their hearts, not the video game console, or whatever the new hot item is. If I can focus my energy on loving my family as Christ does, then I will probably spend more within reason. I don't know. I can't go overboard. I don't even have credit to do so with, so I guess it is what it is... Love is all I have to offer this year.
How funny that this conversation is happening. I hadn't even read the last 2 comments until now. I have no idea what inspired my post on my blog last night but I find this all very interesting. What do you guys think God is trying to tell us/do in us? Very cool!
I will admit that while it was a bit stressful I got SO much joy in putting that kids program together last year and I have almost felt resentful about not being able to do something like it again this year because of our circumstances. And I had PLANS...oh boy did I have plans! But I really sense God trying to tell me to just be still this season. I have always dreaded Christmas so much but I think that without the stress of what to buy for who I have found a new meaning for the season.
I'm excited to see what God has in store for me...and all of you!
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