Planning and Spontaneity

I love what Jesus says in Luke 14.28: For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Preparing and planning are important in the life of the kingdom. In most cases we will be idle or inactive for the kingdom if we do not first think through and put some planning to what it is we are going to do and when. We are good about planning the lesser things of life, but when it comes to the great things (the things of the kingdom) we are slackers. Let's be honest. We are. So, let's be different starting this Advent season.

Plan out the ways you are going to worship Jesus fully, love all, spend less and give more this season. Plan it out so you will actually do it. Maybe it is a night of writing thank you notes. Make it a family thing. Have fun with it. Make hot chocolate, play some much and write.

Of course (or at least I hope so), there will be spontaneous moments as well. In fact, that is life in the Spirit at many times. When we walk and are led by the Spirit of God we will be aware and notice the unplanned things around us that are opportunities. Pray for such doors to open this Advent season.

The following is a list of practical ideas for this Advent season:
Worship Jesus
Reclaim the Sabbath in your life (Genesis 2.1-3; Exodus20.8-11; Deuteronomy 5.12-15).
Develop a discipline of daily Scripture reading and prayer.
Faithfully attend corporate worship.
Get connected to community through a LIFEgroup.
Have family devotionals.

Love All
Help put Christmas lights up. Are there elderly people in your neighborhood or handicapped people who could use some help with their lights?
Yard Work. There might be some elderly, handicapped, even someone who is in the hospital who are unable to do yard work. Some ideas to help them out: rake up leaves, mow their yard, or clean out their gutters.
Bake cookies and give them away. This might be a great gift for your neighbors, especially those you do not know.

Spend Less
Make gifts for people this year.
Instead of buying a gift give the gift of time. Some ideas: Go for a walk. Watch your/their favorite movie. Go have coffee or tea together, whether outside on the porch or at the local coffee shop.
Write letters to people or a poem instead of buying gifts.
Give a book you have and love to someone else.
Give venison or other types of meat. Attention all hunters! Turn your meat into jerky and give it as a gift.

Give More
Give to the church. Our Advent goal this year is $70,000.
Gospel for Asia Christmas Catalog.