What are YOU doing for Christmas?

I came across this quote from Gordon Cosby in the Vineyard "Cutting Edge" magazine a while ago:

"Being with the suffering poor is not optional. Jesus himself said that whatever we do or fail to do for the hungry or sick or imprisoned or destitute, we do or fail to do for him. Why would Christ use such a measurement? Perhaps because being with those who complete and utterly have no physical means of support causes us to ask life-altering questions: am I taking God seriously? What difference does God make for a world with such need? What does God wish I would be about in my one brief life? If I really believe that "God so loved the world" that Jesus was willing to die for it, am I willing ot risk my pride, my self-esteem, my security, my comfort in order to immerse myself completely in loving service to this world? Do I care enough about the things that matter the most to God?"

That got me thinking - I talk about helping the poor, about making a difference, but am I really putting into practice all the ideas that come along? Am I scared to step out of my comfort zone and "just do it"?

This year my son and I are on our own for Christmas. My parents live in Australia (we're in South Africa), my brothers will be with their wives' families. So this is a perfect opportunity to make Christmas different this year. I've been thinking about my community - both on the college campus where I work, and in the small city we live in - and where I could make a difference by simply caring. What that would involve, how caring would look practically. I'm still playing with a few thoughts, but I really want to do SOMETHING for others this year and make it a true celebration of who God is and what He did.

This morning a few articles from the online Adventist Review arrived in my inbox. One tells of giving your best to those in need and what you can give, another talks about getting out of your comfort zone to make a difference in the lives of a group you may not really identify with. Lots of food for thought, and something that I'll be mulling over for a while still. Watch this space to see what happens!

So - what are YOU doing for Christmas this year?

Current Music: Michael W Smith - Worship Again