How do you make an impact at Advent this year? Win the battle of Get vs. Give.
Advent Impact at Legacy Church this year is about helping people have a "counter cultural Christmas." We are committed to families helping families, and have begun to bless families with what they need this time of year.
I have been blown away by how God's people have stepped up to provide the necessities and extras for those the church has brought forward as families who needed help this Christmas.
How does this happen? Are some people naturally more generous than others? Do some have more money and are able to share more than those with less?
We explored how to win the personal battle of Get vs. Give. last Sunday by reviewing the story of Mary anointing Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume. (You can hear the entire message here.)
Read the story captured in John 12:1-8.
We observed that:
Giving is an act of worship and reflects the heart of God. (See Mary's actions in the story.)To get only exposes a self-centered and hypocritical heart. (See Judas' response in the story.)
Jesus affirms those gifts given from the heart in honor of his sacrifice. (Read Jesus' reply to Judas.)
As part of the message I reminded the listeners that we had given support to Church at the Movies in Mastic Beach, NY, who decided to bless those in their community affected by Superstorm Sandy. Here's a video they made of the event:
O Giver of every good and perfect gift,
Capture my heart with your love
that I may give to others as you have given to me.
May the love of Jesus, who came at Christmas,
transform my selfish heart and open my hands
to love others as you have loved me.
In the name of the one who gave his life for mine,
Amen.