24 Days: I have made a holiday decision.

What if, when someone asked you 'what you want for Christmas,' you asked for a donation in your name to a charity? What if you made an agreement with your family and friends to exchange donations in each others' honor instead of trying to 'come up with something' to ask for? What if you made a donation in the memory of a family member or friend whom you've lost?

We have a lot of thingies. We pile them in our garages and attics and closets and bag them up to get rid of them every few years to make room for more thingies. Instead of giving piles of toys and clothes and doo-dads to people who already have everything, we should really be spending a lot of that money on people who are hurting, starving, or oppressed this year.

For this reason, I'm going to promote some of my favorite ministries, missions, and non-profit organizations on my Facebook and this blog everyday from now to Christmas Eve and make it my mission to encourage people to set aside at least some of their Christmas excess for those who are in desperate need. I'll post the missions and non-profits on Facebook and offer more detailed promotions on this blog.

You don't have to choose to support anything that I post (although I would love it if you would), but I do challenge you to find something dear to your heart that you can promote with your wallet as well as with your words. Please don't think of 'being charitable' as optional. Think instead that this is our duty as one of the wealthiest societies in the world, and, for Christians, this is especially applicable. If you call yourself a follower of Christ, I urge you to put your money where your mouth is.

This doesn't mean you can't give your family members anything. Make something for them and wrap it and give it as a gesture of love. Spend time together. Start a new tradition. Cook and eat together. Build holiday memories that can bring your family or your home closer together.  

I'm not saying anything you won't find in every Christmas movie ever. 

So, really, people. Let's be serious about this.
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Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;  for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. [...] No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. Matthew 6:19-24 (NASB)
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