Sunday Summary: The Perfect Gift

With only 16 days left before Christmas, I must confess that I'm one of those slackers that haven't even started shopping for my gifts yet! I've had the best intentions, but all season long I've let one day pass, then another and then another. Oh if only I could spread the "gift" of procrastination and people would actually appreciate it. Ha! Riiiight.

For those of you who weren't at DSM last night, Daniel gave a list of the Top 10 things NOT to buy as Christmas gifts. They were:

10. Coasters with your picture on them

9. A singing toothbrush

8. fake dog poop

7. socks (or worse...underwear!)

6. a mix c.d. that you sang all of the songs instead of the artist

5. Encyclopedia set of Star Wars (huh?)

4. sausage sampler of the month (I've actually gotten this one! Yuck!)

3. gift certificate to your orthodontist

2. a dead hamster (oh, do I have a story I could tell for that one!)

1. nose and ear hair clipper shaped like a finger (eewww!)

Let's just say that not a single one of those would be any one's "Perfect Gift". Or let's hope anyway! Listening to all those horrible/funny gifts got me thinking about what makes up a "Perfect Gift". Daniel described that well when he said the Perfect Gift is JUST what we need at JUST the right moment! A test being postponed, a call from a friend when you needed to hear their voice, etc...those may not be material things, but they definitely mattered to us at the time!

Around this time of year at church, we keep hearing a story that some of us have heard since childhood...the story of Christmas. It's too easy to get numb to it or forget about it or gloss over it in all of the hustle and bustle. But the thing that's important to remember at this time, is that God carefully evaluated and decided on a gift that was perfect for us...His salvation! Something we can't earn or pick up in the "sale" aisle after the holidays on 20% markdown. It's something that He chose specifically for us and it's a free gift. A gift that we needed at JUST the moment it was given to us...and all that we had to do to deserve was believe in His incredible grace.

Again, if you missed DSM, you can head over to the Podcast section of the student page and hear it there. You might just read Ephesians 2:1-8 and evaluate what those verses mean to you. Past that, keep in mind that even though this is a fun and magical time of year (or hopefully), there is a deeper meaning behind it all...

Thoughts to ponder or comment on (hint hint):
-Is it hard for you to remember what the season is about this time of year?
-Does your family have any traditions that honor God's gift of salvation to us in the form of a baby? Do you enjoy them?
-Is it a hard concept to wrap your mind around? That a baby was a gift sent to save us?

Just to clarify, it's great if you've got the reason behind Christmas down and feel pretty good about it. But I also hope you know its okay to have questions and to wonder how the whole concept of grace, salvation, and a baby all fit together in the big picture. I know I have in the past. That's just part of this thing we're referring to as The Journey.