Newsletter

December 2010 Newsletter

Christmas

It just can't be time for Christmas! But as I look at my calendar and the list of events already "inked in," I know it's true. I love this season of the year, but so dislike all the commercialism and all the busyness it brings with it. A few years ago, God gave me a message to share about this very thing, and I thought I might share it with you...maybe you can apply it and find things more special and less hectic.

The Prophet Haggai appeared to the returned remnant when they stopped the work God had sent them to do. They were to rebuild the long-desolate and destroyed temple following 70 years of captivity. Instead of working, he found them very busy, but not doing God's work; instead they were doing work for themselves...decorating, their houses and feeling very discontent in the process. Haggai had a simple but profound message for this bunch: "CONSIDER YOUR WAYS!" He wanted them to see that they must first do God's work and then they could spend time on themselves. He was telling them to set their priorities straight.

Each Christmas I give a demonstration to convey that message and I thought you might like to try it. You will need a large clear jar with a big opening, enough black beans to fill it and about 7-8 golf balls (I use the plastic ones). The jar represents our lives and the black beans represent the small and big (to us) things we do to fill it. I adapt this for Christmas and name all the normal and crazy things we involve ourselves in during this season as I talk and slowly pour the beans in the jar for all to see. I also explain that the golf balls represent the bigger things of God...those things He's either told us to do outright "this year" or that we know we should be doing first (starting the day w/God, decorating with the children/grandchildren while telling the meaning of ornaments, helping a sick neighbor decorate her home, visiting in the hospital, shopping for those less fortunate, addressing the Christmas cards of someone who's unable to do so, inviting the neighbors over for dinner and the church music program, etc. (make up your own list). When the jar is filled with all my stuff and then there's obviously no room for God's things (the jar lid will not fit), I decide to start over. I pour the beans out and put God's golf balls in first. Then I pour in the beans fast while talking about how I see that when I get my priorities right and "CONSIDER MY WAYS," I have time for everything I really need/want to do. I finish by putting the lid on the jar that will now fit! It is a very effective visual aid! I hope you will try it this year!

Merry Christmas from all of us at Big Dream Ministries and remember what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33: "But seek ye FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." I think that's another translation of Haggai's message; don't you?