|
If you’ve watched any amount of TV in the last two weeks, you’ve probably taken notice to the new Target commercials. They have no doubt invested millions of dollars to catch our attention with the use of a funny and cooky lady whose life seems to revolve around Black Friday at Target. Target does a brilliant job of poking fun at how crazy some people are with Black Friday and the mad dash to get the best deals for Christmas. Along with Target, other major stores are making headlines this holiday season. Both Wal-Mart and Sears have announced that they will be open all day on Thanksgiving. Those poor retail workers! I’m not one to get too bent out of shape about what stores do to make a buck because I also realize that our economy could really use a strong shopping season to help pull us out of this recession. I also realize that far too many will buy stuff they don’t need and will use money they don’t have to get it- but that’s a post for another time. What I do think is important for us to understand and give some prayerful thought to this weekend, is the fact that as people of faith we are caught in the middle of a battle. It’s a battle of the mind between achieving the American dream and living a life of obedience to Jesus. It’s a battle between wanting to buy more stuff for ourselves or to live more generously for those who have very little. It’s a battle between succumbing to anxiety, stress and busyness during the next month or embracing the real hope and joy of Advent. Advent isn’t something Redwood Hills has always observed (mainly because the school forbids candles) but it’s still a very important season for all of us to consider and seek to live in. Advent comes from a Latin word meaning, “coming”. It’s a four week season in the Church leading up to Christmas where we observe the hope that we have in the coming of Jesus and the reign of God’s Kingdom as Scriptures describe. Side Note: Check out Advent Conspiracy for some great ideas about how you and your family can practice Advent. With the unavoidable pressure of wanting to make the holidays fun and memorable for our friends and families- it raises the question…how do we do all the decorating, partying, shopping and baking without falling to the pressure of using these things to squeeze out hope, joy, solitude and Christ-filled contentment? Is it possible to do both? If so, how have you found that balance? Last week I was reading John 15 where Jesus says that if we remain in him, he will remain in us and that apart from him, we can do nothing. I’ve been thinking about Jesus’ words as I ponder Advent along with all the fun activity that comes with Christmas. Advent without our hearts connected to Jesus is nothing more than a liturgical church thing. Real hope…life-transforming hope can only be experienced when we earnestly seek to surrender more of ourselves to the life of Jesus. As Thanksgiving nears and we begin the mad dash of the holidays, I pray that now more than ever, we will allow God to take our lives and use them for more of His purposes. That we would remain in Christ and experience renewed faith and the hope that living for Jesus and not the American dream is what will bring true life and joy into our hearts and minds.
Grace and Peace. Rex |
Blog
Welcome to the Redwood Hills blog! This space is dedicated to sharing multiple voices from within the RHC leadership team. Our purpose is to creatively share our vision, encouragement and insight through the stories that are being told within the RHC community and throughout the Eastside area. All are invited to add a voice to the stories by sharing your comments, thoughts and ideas! 
