Heart Choices: 2013-12-01 -->

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What Do You Hope For?


Credit: Dreamstime
What do you hope for?  Christmas can be a time of hope for many.

  • Hope that families will get together and get along
  • Hope for a friend going through a difficult time
  • Hope for a loved one who seems to be off track
  • Hope for more hours in the day to get everything done
  • Hope that you can stay on budget
  • Hope that you won't gain weight during the holidays
  • Hope that you won't get sick
  • Hope that you'll get well
We hope for many things.  But how often are you disappointed?  After all, we can't control how others react and respond.

I've been participating in an Advent study hosted by the Good Morning Girls.  This was a Bible verse we are memorizing.

I'm learning that my hope must be placed in a person and His name is ...Jesus.

I can focus on wishing and hoping on things and people but ...they so easily disappoint and don't last.

How about you?  Do you have expectations for this Christmas?  Are you hoping for certain things to happen?  What do you hope for?

Blessings and love,

QuickEdit

Will You Experience Christmas Differently This Year?


Have you heard of The Advent Conspiracy?  It's a movement designed to remind us to slow down and experience Christmas differently.  This short video may help explain it better.


[Click here if you can't access the video]

My church is participating in the Advent Conspiracy.  During the weeks leading up to Christmas, we get to hear sermons on the following:
  1. Worship fully
  2. Spend less
  3. Give more 
  4. Love all

Today our pastor challenged us to:
  • Reject radical consumerism for radical worship
  • Desire presence not presents
  • Fund ten water wells in Mozambique
I'm looking forward to a different kind of Christmas this year.  I don't want to stress out.

I want to focus on Jesus.

Here are a few things that I'm doing differently this year.

GoodMorningGirls

I'm participating in an online Advent Study through the Good Morning Girls.  I already had YouVersion (Bible app) downloaded to my Kindle. So now I go online each morning to read a portion of Scripture and a related devotional.  I love how the Good Morning Girls always recommend using the SOAP method (Scripture, observation, application and prayer).  If you subscribe to their blog, you will receive a study guide free.  

I'm getting up early in the morning to have my daily quiet time.  

I'm listening to Christmas music at home and in my car.

I'm sitting and enjoying my Christmas tree.

I'm rereading Jennifer Walker's Keeping Christ as Christmas.
   
Maybe you can help me out.  What are you doing differently this Christmas season?

Blessings and love,

QuickEdit
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