I recently completed reading the book “What’s So Amazing About Grace” by Philip Yancey. I can honestly say that it is the most convicting book I have ever read. The reality is that I will never understand the depth and reach of Gods grace. It was also challenging to realize that in some of the places I can offer that same grace, I fall well short.
I have said it before, but there are no coincidences with God. Standing in Conseco Fieldhouse Friday night, listening to Dave the Horn Guy, while reading an email from Blaine Hogan told me that something was trying to get my attention. In case you missed it, these are two of the men from Starving Jesus. Their motto…”Do Something!”. I think I am starting to see a pattern here.
As church began on Sunday morning, I got a sense of what God was calling me to do. I leaned over to my wife and said “I think my Christmas list this year is going to change”. About 20 minutes later, our Pastor stood up and preached a sermon about “Gifts of Grace”. The pattern continues.
I’m certainly not here to tell anyone what to do, but as this season steamrolls along, I know I can easily lose the focus. This year I hope to do something. Below are just a few ways and places that we can offer God’s grace to someone in need. May God take those gifts and multiply them in only ways which He can.
Faith Mission – Christmas Dinner for $1.79
Compassion International – Sponsor a Child
Mission of Mercy – Sponsor a Child
World Vision – Get “See The Morning” by Chris Tomlin with a $20 donation
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mx2XCjwbcjs]
Thanks for your comments on my blog!
I just added Yancey’s book to my Amazon.com Wishlist, and your blog to my roll.
🙂
I bought this book for my mum just a week ago. I head that is was good and will read it my self hopefully. Sounds like this Christmas will be quite convicting.
This blog runs parallel to the theme I keep running into this Christmas as well. Our church gives an annual missions offering at this time each year and lately my pastor has been preaching powerful messages about sacrificial giving. Then I open up my Beth Moore devotional – A Woman’s Heart, God’s Dwelling Place – to a full day about sacrificial giving (illustrated by the Isrealite’s giving to the Tabernacle in Exodus). I think God is calling us all to turn Christmas giving into something of eternal worth.
Epiphany –
It’s interesting because out of circumstance, we were not able to get our annual Christmas cards out this year. We were forced to be a bit creative, so we did them in an email to everyone, with an attached letter and picture. Then the more we thought about it, we said “let’s DO SOMETHING” with what we would have spent.
From this year forward, we have decided to donate the usual $$ spent on stamps, cards, pictures and postcards at Christmas to the local faith mission shelter. To know someone will get a meal on Christmas vs. a card that will either be thrown away, or put in a box really feels right.
I don’t share that to brag or boast. Rather, many have responded to our email and said they are going to do the same. To your point, we are being “called to turn Christmas giving into something of eternal worth.”
Great quote!! God’s blessings this Christmas season.
Thanks for your visit to my blog. I too was greatly challenged by “What’s So Amazing About Grace?” I believe that every Christian should read this book.
God bless.