Holiday Challenge

This year, more than ever before, I'm profoundly moved by the blessings in my life. Instead of simply the bare minimum of food, shelter, and safe water to stay alive, my heavenly Father has given me good things in abundance! Friends. Family. Faith. Gifts like laughter and sunsets, music, and dancing. Blessings for today and promises of tomorrow.

And in the midst of it all, I am challenged to ask myself

What am I doing with it?

Did God give me these gifts to enjoy? Yes! It makes him smile to see me enjoy them.

But is that the only reason he gave them to me? I don't think so.

I just finished reading "Kisses from Katie," the true story of a young woman who moved all alone to Uganda to care for some of the world's most physically impoverished children. She had little to share and little experience. She had only just finished high school! And yet, she gave what she had...the love of Jesus...to hundreds of children there and is still doing it! Because she gave all of herself, lives are being saved!

I'm in a season of life it seems God will not let me escape until I grasp something central to the heart of faith...what I have...these blessings I've been given, this life that I possess...is not solely for my benefit and gain...I've been ENTRUSTED with these things to be the hands and feet of Jesus in a broken world.

So many well-meaning people gently (and not so gently) encourage me to keep more of what we have for ourselves. But really, I have a hard time imagining that when I someday stand before Jesus I will think,

"Gosh! I really wish I had kept more things to myself!"

Instead, like a selfish toddler I want to hoard things. To store things away "just in case". I'm a recovering worry addict. What if things go wrong? What if I NEED it?

But God has promised to provide EVERYTHING I need! Do I trust Him or not?

There is a fine line between good stewardship and selfishness. So often I succumb to America's definition of good stewardship, not God's. I give myself reasons why my wants are okay to fulfill while thousands of children die every day from HUNGER.

This holiday season, I'm thankful for all that I have. How generous our God is! But I'm also challenged to have that same generous heart with others. The coming celebration of Christmas reminds me that He will come again! I want to make the most of every moment I'm given to make sure as many as possible have reason to rejoice on that day!