When you Give More, you Share Joy

INtro

I’ve been thinking a lot about giving and gifts these past few weeks.

Why do we give, what was the impetus/Origen of Christmas giving?

So I did a little researching and came upon several things:

Each religion has traditions of giving around certain holidays or festivals:

Ramadan (ends the fast with small gifts)

Diwali is days of parties, celebration,and gift giving

Jews often around Purim have given gifts at gatherings, and in America Hanukkah has components of gift giving.

But the Christian holiday, Christmas is most renowned for giving gifts.

As a matter of fact the average family will spend $900 on Christmas gifts And over 500 billion $$. The origins of Christmas as we know it took place in the early 1800s as the west was going through industrial revolution, cities were booming, and a middle class was forming. Granted, other nations in the west had traditions of St. Nicholas, Papa Noel, and/or SinterKlauss. But the amalgamations of a melting pot in the cities of America & Europe, a tradition began to unfold. How it got folded into the story of Christ’s birth and advent is for another time.

My inquiry into the history of Christmas origins, did not satisfy my thoughts on giving and gifts.

I then began to wonder what motivates us to give, which made me think of a giving continuum of sorts.

one end we have Ebenezer’s Scrooge/The Grinch And on the other end we have The Triune Loving God Of Scripture.

What might lie between those spaces:

guilt

Obligation/Expectation

Tradition/Customary

Appreciation

Celebration

Care & Love

I am sure other reasons for Giving exist, but I am sure these hit most the main points.

Regarding Christmas we often land in the area of expectation/custom/appreciation

Though we probably are hoping to end up in the celebration or love realm

I must confess, I am struggling with giving this year from a place of authenticity, celebation, and love. Of the heart of Christmas, the essence of Advent celebration, and the birth of Christ.

Perhaps it’s my familiarity with this time of year, perhaps its the aftermath of the earthquake, or just weariness. Maybe all of the above.

My tendency is to label my attitude and thoughts as ba-humbug. But I’m not sure that’s it. I suspect it is something more. I also suspect I am not alone in my thoughts and impressions this year.

The reality is that I love Advent and Christmas, but not because of the gifts, but those are fun. I guess this year I am looking for something more profound and lasting, than just getting or giving something that will wear out, be used up, or end up in a heap next time the earth get s angry.

I want To know and feel and experience the stories we read and the characters revealed. When I read about peace, hope, joy, love, I want to have that connection in my heart and mind.

I reluctantly share these words—b/c I don’t want these feelings to go away or be short-circuited by my tendency to placate or cope with uneasiness. I don’t necessarily need an answer yet.

I think I need them to cook a little loner, to stew a little more. Perhaps my questions and angst and troubled spirit needs to simmer a little longer.

I wonder if all to often, especially at Christmas, we are too fast, too hurried to unpack our Christmas traditions, relive our favorite memories, create new memories, and buy gifts to share the joy —in doing so, we cover up what is going on in our hearts and our minds.

I even suspect that these tendancies overlook what is going on in the stories of Advent and Christmas.

Scriptures assortment

ISaiah 12.

What were God’s thoughts toward His people in the preceding verses and chapters?

The setting is King HEzekiah (though a good king, they were under siege for sins of previous kings and people).

The

.

Reading the first words of this book, it takes place during Josiah’s reign

Even in , John the Baptist is speaking to the people.

Outcomes of these passages

It is through these deep emotions, that we hope for something more?

It is in these troubling thoughts and feelings that God is giving something profound with a desired outcome.

It is through these emotions that healing and restoration is coming. Therefore

Notice in Isaiah

Notice in Zephaniah

Notice in

Ther great gift of Advent and Christmas that these passages capture, is the immense amount of Giving God has lavished upon those that have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to respond.

What it creates isn’t Just something acquired, but a shift in how one feels and acts!

Joy, Celebration, Rejoice

These passages don’t make us feel guity for our current state of things; these verses don’t shame us into manufacturing some false projection; these verses don’t settle for overlooking the condition of our hearts, our actions, our community, and our culture.

It brings them into the light and offers an alternative possibility. BUT it is nothing that we can initiate.

We are invited to respond and receive.

Having thus received, then we are invited to be a part of the unfolding of the good news of God’s salvation.

The natural response is how can we give out of what we have received.

I think these stories capture the essence of Advent and Christmas. The anticipation of Christ’s Birthday celebration and the hope for a 2nd Advent, is cause to pause, to reflect, and be transparent about our highs & lows, our hells & our heavens, our sins and salvation.

The gift of God during this time of the year is part warning, which if ignored has pending consequences

The Gift of God during this time of year is about the possibilities of God’s intervention—

He has intervened and He will continue to intervene.

But how will will respond—What should we do is two fold

Repent & confesss (sense of “we are guilty”) we are complicit and we are contributors to the problem

But our response should also inspire us and invoke us to a heart of giving and generosity. To anxiously anctipate the response of God in us and through us.

How has God given to you? What might he be inviting to give through you?

Let me read these commentary on the sacrifical system of Jewish tradition.

I think it is very pertinent for us today.

—ng 1INtroI’ve been thinking a lot about giving and gifts these past few weeks.Why do we give, what was the impetus/Origen of Christmas giving?So I did a little researching and came upon several things:Each religion has traditions of giving around certain holidays or festivals:Ramadan (ends the fast with small gifts)Diwali is days of parties, celebration,and gift givingJews often around Purim have given gifts at gatherings, and in America Hanukkah has components of gift giving.But the Christian holiday, Christmas is most renowned for giving gifts. As a matter of fact the average family will spend $900 on Christmas gifts And over 500 billion $$. The origins of Christmas as we know it took place in the early 1800s as the west was going through industrial revolution, cities were booming, and a middle class was forming. Granted, other nations in the west had traditions of St. Nicholas, Papa Noel, and/or SinterKlauss. But the amalgamations of a melting pot in the cities of America & Europe, a tradition began to unfold. How it got folded into the story of Christ’s birth and advent is for another time. My inquiry into the history of Christmas origins, did not satisfy my thoughts on giving and gifts.I then began to wonder what motivates us to give, which made me think of a giving continuum of sorts.one end we have Ebenezer’s Scrooge/The Grinch And on the other end we have The Triune Loving God Of Scripture.What might lie between those spaces:guiltObligation/ExpectationTradition/CustomaryAppreciationCelebrationCare & Love I am sure other reasons for Giving exist, but I am sure these hit most the main points. Regarding Christmas we often land in the area of expectation/custom/appreciationThough we probably are hoping to end up in the celebration or love realmI must confess, I am struggling with giving this year from a place of authenticity, celebation, and love. Of the heart of Christmas, the essence of Advent celebration, and the birth of Christ.Perhaps it’s my familiarity with this time of year, perhaps its the aftermath of the earthquake, or just weariness. Maybe all of the above. My tendency is to label my attitude and thoughts as ba-humbug. But I’m not sure that’s it. I suspect it is something more. I also suspect I am not alone in my thoughts and impressions this year. The reality is that I love Advent and Christmas, but not because of the gifts, but those are fun. I guess this year I am looking for something more profound and lasting, than just getting or giving something that will wear out, be used up, or end up in a heap next time the earth get s angry. I want To know and feel and experience the stories we read and the characters revealed. When I read about peace, hope, joy, love, I want to have that connection in my heart and mind. I reluctantly share these words—b/c I don’t want these feelings to go away or be short-circuited by my tendency to placate or cope with uneasiness. I don’t necessarily need an answer yet. I think I need them to cook a little loner, to stew a little more. Perhaps my questions and angst and troubled spirit needs to simmer a little longer.I wonder if all to often, especially at Christmas, we are too fast, too hurried to unpack our Christmas traditions, relive our favorite memories, create new memories, and buy gifts to share the joy —in doing so, we cover up what is going on in our hearts and our minds. I even suspect that these tendancies overlook what is going on in the stories of Advent and Christmas. Heading 1Scriptures assortmentISaiah 12.What were God’s thoughts toward His people in the preceding verses and chapters?The setting is King HEzekiah (though a good king, they were under siege for sins of previous kings and people).Zephaniah 3: 14-20. Reading the first words of this book, it takes place during Josiah’s reignEven in Luke 3:7-18, John the Baptist is speaking to the people. Heading 1Outcomes of these passagesIt is through these deep emotions, that we hope for something more? It is in these troubling thoughts and feelings that God is giving something profound with a desired outcome. It is through these emotions that healing and restoration is coming. ThereforeNotice in IsaiahNotice in ZephaniahNotice in Luke 3Ther great gift of Advent and Christmas that these passages capture, is the immense amount of Giving God has lavished upon those that have ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to respond.What it creates isn’t Just something acquired, but a shift in how one feels and acts!Joy, Celebration, RejoiceThese passages don’t make us feel guity for our current state of things; these verses don’t shame us into manufacturing some false projection; these verses don’t settle for overlooking the condition of our hearts, our actions, our community, and our culture.It brings them into the light and offers an alternative possibility. BUT it is nothing that we can initiate. We are invited to respond and receive.Having thus received, then we are invited to be a part of the unfolding of the good news of God’s salvation.The natural response is how can we give out of what we have received. I think these stories capture the essence of Advent and Christmas. The anticipation of Christ’s Birthday celebration and the hope for a 2nd Advent, is cause to pause, to reflect, and be transparent about our highs & lows, our hells & our heavens, our sins and salvation.The gift of God during this time of the year is part warning, which if ignored has pending consequencesThe Gift of God during this time of year is about the possibilities of God’s intervention—He has intervened and He will continue to intervene. But how will will respond—What should we do is two foldRepent & confesss (sense of “we are guilty”) we are complicit and we are contributors to the problemBut our response should also inspire us and invoke us to a heart of giving and generosity. To anxiously anctipate the response of God in us and through us.How has God given to you? What might he be inviting to give through you?Let me read these commentary on the sacrifical system of Jewish tradition.I think it is very pertinent for us tod—ay.