Tis the Season

"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

Get ready folks for the absolute deluge of lawn ornaments and decorations to be put up. I know it is not even Thanksgiving yet, (only a few more days till Turkey Time) but it is still coming.

Obviously, as we poke fun at the festivities, they do speak to a greater reality of light entering the darkness. This Sunday we begin the season of Advent. This is a time in the church where we take some time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. It is a way to indeed remember the reason for the season - sorry, I know that is full of cheesiness.

Join us during this season as we look at the Journey - walking the road to Bethlehem. Hear the familiar story in a new way and have your heart stirred during this beautiful season. Keep posted to the blog as I share a few other devotional thoughts to prepare our hearts for Christmas.

Not Equal Amount, but Equal Sacrifice

Often in the church we become confused whenever we speak of finances. It is often communicated in ways that seek to fulfill a need rather than meet the purpose.

The temptation is to focus upon the urgent rather than the important.

As many of you may know, we are looking to eliminate our only debt as a congregation. We want to enter 2012 debt free and we have asked our congregation to pray and discern how they can sacrifice and stretch in their giving. We have asked for equal sacrifice, not an equal amount. We could have divided it up and said, 'Ok each family take ____ amount and we can do it.' No. For me, this is not biblical.

Look at the Widow's Mite. This is not about amount, it is about sacrifice. So you need to know that whatever amount you give on November 20th - God will honor it if given with a cheerful heart and is a reflection of your values and heart. Let's put our treasure where our heart is.

I encourage you to continue to pray this week and know that when we come to church this coming Sunday, it will be day that will forever change our future. Get excited, the best days are yet to come.

owner/manager

A Prayer:

"Lord, am I honoring You as owner and CEO/CFO of the assets You've entrusted to my care? Or am I treating You as a mere financial consultant, to whom I pay a fee (2%, 10%, or...)? Have I been acting as if I own the store and You work for me, rather than recognizing that You own it and I work for You?

"The land is mine and you are but aliens and my tenants." (Leviticus 25:23)