... i want...

to NOT want "stuff". it's really difficult in this holiday season when every store and every commercial is telling you the latest, greatest gadget that you "need" or that you need to buy for someone else.  i really don't need anything but jesus, my family, shelter, food, and health.  but somehow i'm convinced i need a cool lands end faux sherling coat, chocolate ugg boots with fur on top, a big brown leather hobo bag, a kitchen aid artisan mixer, and more. the internal wrestling is strong.

the national retail federation estimates that americans spent 457.4 BILLION DOLLARS at christmas in 2006. just 10 of those billion if put towards bringing clean water across the globe would solve the water crisis. 18 of those billion would bring food to every hungry child and adult on the planet. can you imagine if we began to look outside of ourselves during this season? what if we gave sacrificially to those truly in need, to show the love of jesus to those who are the least of these in our communities and around the world?

here's an excerpt from the website adventconspiracy.org:

"part of saying "yes" to Jesus means that we say "no" to over-spending.  we say "no" to overconsumption.  we say "no" to those things so we can create space to say "yes" to jesus and his reign in our lives.  after the holidays we work for months to get out of debt, only to find that the presents we bought in the name of Christ furthered a consumerist mentality in us and our children and took our focus off of the greatness of Jesus.  as Christ-followers, the advent conspiracy starts with us resisting a culture that tells us what to buy, wear and spend with no regard to bringing glory to jesus."

after all, everything we have is his anyway. he has entrusted us with it. let us be aware of his heart when we spend this year. may jesus be honored in how we celebrate his birth!