25 Days to Christmas!  Wednesday, November 30, 2022

“Christmas Happies”

 

It’s the official beginning of the Freeform Channel’s “25 days of Christmas”!  I admit it: I’m a Christmas program junkie.  As a child, I always loved watching Christmas specials.  The cartoons were good, but my favorites were the clay animation productions.  My favorite has always been “The Year Without A Santa Claus,” featuring two of my favorite characters, Heat Miser and Snow Miser. 

 

I know, pretty lame, huh?  But for me, these Christmas shows are some of my fondest memories as a child growing up in the 70s and 80s.  Long before the days of Youtube and Streaming, and even before DVDs and VCR tapes were commonplace, I would eagerly wait the entire year for my favorite shows.  One would think I was a bit obsessed, but I didn’t want to miss out on an important part of my Christmas Happy experience.

I find it noteworthy that certain memories, some of which may not be especially unique, can be so impactful on our Holiday Season.  I do remember giving and receiving some extraordinary gifts, but, for the most part, my Christmas Happy stems from some of the simplest things.  Though many of those things are long gone, some of them are still around and easily accessed.

 

What other Christmas Happies are out there?  True, I can’t recreate everything, but given that my fondest memories were created in simple, everyday life, I should be able to find plenty of new Christmas Happies if I pay attention.  

 

Maybe the Christmas Happies fill me with such simple, constant joy because God is always involved.  Whether cartoons or the great outdoors, everything good comes, ultimately, from The Creator. I like to think that God smiles when I enjoy even the simpler blessings of the Christmas season.  When I recognize all these gifts come from the LORD - even my silly Claymation TV shows - I am drawn deeper into Christmas and closer to God.

 

Today, I’m going to enjoy the simple Happies of the season. I’m also going to remember to enjoy the Creator as much as the Creation: Thank you, God, for all of the Happies of Christmastime! 

 

“Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.”  (1 Timothy 4:4, NLT)

 26 Days to Christmas, Tuesday, Nov 29, 2022

“Giving Tuesday”

 

Today is Giving Tuesday, a movement that began in 2012 to help motivate donors to provide assistance to the needy living in New York City.  Now, the movement has spread across the world, with nonprofit, charitable, and religious organizations using this day as a rallying cry for us to remember to give back as we have received. 

 

I suppose since I’m a pastor I should be banging the war drum for folks to donate a little something extra to their churches.  Yes, that would be a good idea, but the Church can’t reach everyone.  Though the Church was founded, in part, upon this principle, the world is filled with specific needs that need specific kinds of assistance.  Rest assured, need exists almost everywhere.  Even living on a tropical island doesn’t excuse me from finding a way to give back to my community.

 

Don’t worry.  I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty, other than myself.  I can do something today, even if I’m tied to my office.  I could take the easy way out and write a small check and give it to my church office across the hall.  I could also donate to my high school and college alma maters since they will be banging the money drums, too.  The Humane Society is always close to my heart since I love my puppy, and I am also fond of the Coastal Conservation Association and Game & Fish Commissions which help manage our natural resources and wildlife.

 

As much money as I’m going to spend this Holiday Season, I’m going to consider making a small donation to the people and organizations who are taking care of our world.  They are serving as God’s heart and hands in places that are important to all of us.  Giving to Church is a great idea, but so is giving to everyone else.

“Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.”  (Hebrews 13:16, CEB).

 27 Days Until Christmas: Monday, Nov 28, 2022

“Save Money.  Buy Today”

The countdown to Christmas has begun!  During the next four, short weeks, we will be bombarded by clothing advertisers, car commercials, and food vendors.  They’re gonna’ work their hardest to try and convince me that I need a new set of knives or that my loved ones need a subscription to the “Jelly of the Month Club.”  Advertisers will use creative openings, appetizing vocabulary, emotional scenes, and pretty people to inform us of what we don’t already own.  Cyber Monday is expected to generate $11.2 Billion.  How much will you contribute?

It's peculiar that I’ll’ pay so much attention to the things I don’t have.  I mean, really:  Do I need another shirt, even if it’s on sale?  The last time I checked, I have a closet full and most of my loved ones do, too.  Yet, like I do every year, I’m gonna fall for that advertiser trap. 

Today is Cyber Monday, which is supposed to be the day that I need to buy my new computer, home management device, earbuds, and flat-screen TVs.  I really don’t need any of that stuff, but gosh, I can really save some money by purchasing it today.  Wait, that doesn’t make sense…save money by spending money?  How can I give relief to my pocketbook if I’m spending money on something I don’t need?  Oh, that’s right!  The advertisers have told me that I need a new laptop, even though my current laptop is working fine. 

Rats!  Those dang commercials!  They make it so difficult for me to stay within my budget.  Buying something that I truly need is one thing but buying something that I don’t need just ain’t very responsible.  As a grown-up adult, I’m supposed to know better, yet I’m easy prey for those pretty people on my screen who are happy because they own the latest gadget.

Not this year.  I’m not falling for it again.  I’m gonna be smart, responsible, and prudent with my spending.  I want to enjoy the Holidays for their true purpose and direct my attention to the gifts God provides - the people around me, the food on my table, and the roof over my head.  Granted, I may eventually need to buy another set of headphones, but not today.

Okay, enough preaching to the choir.  I’m running behind.  Only 10,000 of the new phones remain, and though my current phone works perfectly and could have powered the Space Shuttle, a new phone will help me feel more successful.

“Jesus then told them, ‘Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.’” (Luke 12:15, CSB)

 28 Days until Christmas: Sunday, Nov 27, 2022

“Unwrapping Hope”

Hip Hip Hooray!  Christmas is coming!  The best day of the whole year is just four weeks away and I’m certain that this is going to be a wonderful Christmas.  Despite the challenges of this past year, I know that something special will surface.  I have a plethora of reasons to be Hopeful this Holiday Season!

Now, back to reality.  Hope is not that easy.  In these past few years, the world has been turned inside out by all kinds of things.  COVID, natural disasters, war, hyperinflation, supply-chain shortages, economic tragedy, and personal loss have created a world that doesn’t look too pretty.  Some of us have endured incredible challenges that brought terrible pain and suffering to our doorstep.  Even though life seems to be settling into a “new normal”, many of us are left wondering if there is any reason to have HOPE this Christmas.

This is precisely why God provided the world with Christmas.  God knew how complicated the world could be.  God knew that we needed so much help that He came into our world to offer a lending hand and comforting presence.

Today is the first day of Advent, the traditional time of preparation for Christmas.  Each of the next four weeks will be highlighted by a different theme, and, in case you didn’t already know, this week is attributed to HOPE.  This week, we are encouraged to reflect upon the HOPE that God provides to the world at Christmas. 

Despite all the challenges, pain, and suffering of the last few years, Christmas will still come this year.  Granted, many of our Holidays traditions were accidentally thrown away with the previous year’s wrapping paper, but many more gifts still remain to be opened.

As we begin Advent, spend some time thinking about the HOPE God provides at Christmas.  God didn’t accidentally provide us with Christmas.  Instead, God gave us the best help by intentionally entering our world so that we could always have a hand to hold and a shoulder to lean on.

If you’re still struggling to have HOPE, consider taking time each day to give God your attention.  Talk to The LORD.  Express your feelings without reserve and seek God’s advice this Holiday Season.  God has so much more to offer, but unless we unwrap God’s gifts, they’re just gonna sit in the box and collect dust.

“May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.” - Psalms 33:22 (NIV)