Janet--How many apples do you have?
Kelly--I have a whole 5 gallon bucket full. Do you want some? Apple pies, apple crisp, apple butter, apple sauce a whole lot of things you can make with apples.
(Janet takes the bucket from Kelly)
What you want all of them. Ok, that is the last of my buckets of apples. Guess the guys down stairs won’t get any for the Harvest meal but I am sure they will understand—no apple pie for them.
In Adam Hamilton’s book ENOUGH is the story of pastor David Slage from Georgia. God has given us ten apples to represent our wealth or income. God tells us that nine of these apples are ours to enjoy. We are to use some to care for ourselves and for our families, some to save for retirement, and some to give away to others. But the tenth apple is holy to God. Giving this apple to God first, before we consume the other nice apples, is a way for us to express praise, love, obedience, faithfulness, worship, and devotion to God. This also serves to supply the resources for God’s purposes to be accomplished n the world through God’s Church.
Then he notes that our lifestyles are such that for many of us nine apples are not enough anymore. –How can I pay the bills and have all the stuff I want with just nine apples” So we decide the Lord will not mind if we take just a little bit of his apple. The Lord will understand, --Then Christmas comes and we don’t have enough money for all the presents we want to buy, so we take another bite out of God’s apple.
…Soon all that is left is the core. So we give the core to God and say, “ Here’s your portion, Lord.” God receives not our first fruits or our best gifts, but our leftovers.
I wonder if God must think, You would really bless me if you recognized that this apple is mine and give it to me freely --- not because someone made you feel guilty, but just because you love Me.
“Love came down at Christmas” # 242 is a song we sing at Christmas time. The second stanza is” Love was born at Christmas: star and angels gave the sign.” # 500 “Spirit of God, descend upon my Heart” verse 1: Spirit of God, descend upon my heart; wean it from earth,; through all its pulses move; stoop to my weakness, mighty as thou art, and make me love thee as I ought to love.
In the Faith We Sing # 2095 is “Star Child”. Verse 1: Star child, earth child, go between of God, love Child, Christ Child, heaven’s lightning rod. This year, this year, let the day arrive when Christmas comes for everyone, everyone alive!
Lovett H. Weems Jr. from the Lewis leadership has a Headline article “Christmas Is not your Birthday” in which he states Mike Slaughter the author of the book reminded his congregations of that fact and then named the irony of Christians whose self indulgent holiday celebrations make a mockery of the One whose birthday we honor. He challenged members to give as much for others as they spend on themselves. John Wesley once said Christians are called to return money in excess of basic necessities to God “Through the poor.” Whom God “had appointed to receive it.”
As I kept reading the Newsletter I found the article by Melvin Amerson titled Christmas giving for Christ. In it he states: Soon the seasons of Advent and Christmas will be with us, and we will be inundated with commercials and product advertisements on television, radio, and the internet. Consumerism at times overshadows the focus of the season. Many believers exchange gifts with co-workers, friends, and family, yet fail to present the season’s honoree – Jesus Christ—with a special gift fit for a king.
In Melvin’s article he mentions the fact that because of the economic downturn, some financial practices from a by-gone era are returning. Examples are the :layaway plans” that require purchases to make regular payments without taking possession of the merchandise until the price is paid in full. Layaway plans help us distinguish between needs and wants. Plus they teach lifelong lessons on patience, diligence, and self-control. There is also the “Christmas Club Account”. These were non-interest-bearing accounts that allowed savers to set aside money each pay period for the sole purpose of purchasing Christmas gifts. Both of practices were popular prior to the credit card era.
Could or would we like to establish a church-wide layaway plan for a special ministry gift that will honor Christ. The Gettysburg Sunday School has chosen animals from the Heifer International project for there offerings, Colored envelopes have been places at the back of the church if you would like to add to that layaway plan. Onida and Agar what would you like to do? Are there other ideas we as a church could designate layaway funds. Melvin Amersons articles states that “ The resource raised should be used to expand or enhance ministry and bless others. Since Christmas is about the celebration of the birth of Christ, these opportunities to “give to the King’ will help members take their focus off the commercialism of Christmas and refocus on the birth of Christ.
Excerpts from an article from Bible Money matters:----the author tells us:-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Growing up poor, I remember times when my parents just didn’t have enough money to buy Christmas presents for us. They almost always seemed to work things out in the end, but there were times things just didn’t come together. One advantage they had was Wal-Mart’s layaway program – come in and find what you want, pay a little for it now and come back and pay the rest later, at which time you can pick up your item.
………………………………….one Christmas I remember picking out the presents and our parents putting down the 1st payment ---- but then my mom and step dad never went back to pay the rest. They never gathered enough money to pay the full sum.
The Spirit of God never has this conclusion. The Spirit is the first fruits of our final inheritance…. The down payment of our final redemption. The promise by the Father (Acts 1:4-5) is the Spirit if God’s layaway plan for creation. The Spirit is the church’s evidence that God will cash in on His promise. The Spirit is the promise of the Father, that all our temptations and sufferings do not have the final say.
In Ephesians 1:13, Paul speaks of redemption being sealed with the promised Holy Spirit. The Spirit, is the evidence that we are authentically owned by God. This seal marks us “ until the day of redemption.” The Spirit is the evidence that God protects us and will finally redeem us.
Our wonderful message of hope. God is not like my parents. He does not lack the resources to go back and finally redeem his purchase. The promise of full and final redemption is made known by the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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