All I Want For Christmas…
Christmas is a great celebration of God With Us (see previous post). The Christmas season is also a superb example of our ability to ask the wrong question! We are prone to do that in many areas of life. And asking the wrong question doesn’t lead to clear thinking. So what is the correct Christmas question?
Christmas Questions
The post title is a very familiar line. One of the most famous songs that posed this question gave the answer:
My two front teeth…
And then there was I’m Gettin’ Nuttin’ For Christmas. Most of us will hear those lines this holiday season. And we will hear many more! That will include this line:
What do you want for Christmas?
All of us have probably answered that question. But each of us has probably asked it at least once! And the focus of the question is the problem. It’s too easy to see the season in terms of getting and receiving. But the words of Jesus (Acts 20:35) run in the opposite direction! And there are misconceptions about what Jesus had to say.
None of us can give if there is not someone to receive. And some believers mistakenly take the position (usually with pride) that they cannot receive from anyone. They take Jesus’ words in Acts 20:35 to mean they may only give. Jesus didn’t say it wasn’t a blessing to receive. Receiving clearly is a blessing. Jesus just put it into proper perspective. The greater blessing is giving.
So the focus of our thinking and our questions should be:
What can I give?
It Counts, It Matters
Are you making a list and checking it twice? You do that because giving brings you joy. That’s being like your Father. And that’s what the previous post series was all about. This post is meant to give you some practical help being a joyous, hilarious giver! Here’s a quote from the previous post about hilarity:
The word hilarious comes to us in 2 Corinthians 2:9. Don’t see it? The Greek word hilaros is translated as cheerful. But it is from this word that we derive the English word hilarious. And why would God love people who give cheerfully? Because…their joyous hearts and hilarious attitudes are accurate imitations of Him.
So, through the Christmas season there will be a giving resource series in the center column of the website. I couldn’t decide on a title. Giving Matters was one possibility. A Gift That Counts was another. I even thought about this: Making A List, Checking It Twice. The title is less important than giving to significant needs. So I’ll probably use all those title lines somewhere! The real goal is help great people join helping hands and be the givers our Father can use.
A Helpful Example
I’ll do this section in a separate post. But this idea is one that illustrates the purpose. Pastors in our pastors’ training school have a need for Spanish study Bibles. This need arises due to the fact that we have changed the teaching locations in the Barahona area.
We now have a record number of students. And most are new to the school. So the reference materials we have supplied over the last several years are not in the hands of the current students. We need to equip these pastors and study Bibles are how that process will begin. A minimum of 50 Bibles are needed. We could use 100!
Here’s what you need to know in order to add this to your giving list. First, there is a link here to my Amazon page and the Bible we want to supply. You can purchase it from Amazon through the link at the bottom of this post. Then just send the Bible to us when you receive it.
Some may simple prefer to send a check. That’s fine, too. Make the check (of any size) payable to EquipUs. In the memo line, write: Evangelism – Burnett – Bibles. Then send the check to:
- Keith Burnett Ministries
- PO 803
- Scottsboro, AL – 35768
Check the website for more ideas. Posts for this series will have one or more of the titles I’ve suggested here. And if you have a better idea, leave it in the comments. Would love to hear from you!
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