our advent calendar

Last year, Kristy, over at Waiting for Happy, wrote this post about her awesome advent calendar. I thought it was a great idea. Hmmm, a Christmas season focusing on others and Jesus rather than ourselves and materialism. What a concept. I loved her calendar and loved reading her December posts about how God was working through their advent activities. He was certainly faithful to show up and I thought, nay, vowed, that this year, since Jonah is old enough to start getting it, I would do something similar.

Thus, I commissioned my friend Jen to "help" me create an advent calendar. Our conversation went something along the lines of, "Hey crafty, ever-so-talented, knows-how-to-sew, beautiful Jen, wouldn't it be AWESOME if "we" made advent calendars for our boys by next December?" She was all like, "Yes! Love the idea." But I know she knew that she would be doing all the work and I would be a slackpot full of big ideas and no help. But I also think she liked that I called her beautiful.

I'd also like to say that IF SHE HADN'T UP AND MOVED TO TEXAS (stupid Texas), I would have totally helped her, but we all know that's probably not true. Seriously, I had to add the dowel bar and ribbon and about had a coronary.

And without further ado, I'd like to present to you, the beautiful, magnificent, awesome Advent Calendar, that Beautiful Jen made for our family.

I know, right? 

Instead of trinkets or candy, each pocket holds an act of family togetherness or service to others. One a day for 25 days. We worked on the ideas together, but Jen then went back and added a verse to go with each activity. She's an overachiever like that. Did I mention she's beautiful?

For example(s):

I'll put our master list down below in case you are looking for some ideas for things you can do this season to serve others. Whether it's a calendar or something else you choose to do, I pray we can all focus on Christ and what He taught and represented and not get so caught up in the "gimmes". And remember, God will always be faithful to show up. Always.


Master List:

1. Set out the family nativity scene and read the beginning of the Christmas story from Luke.
2. Make a snack together and have a family Christmas movie night.
3. Make and deliver a baked good for someone who isn't around their family for the holidays
4. Make dinner for a neighbor. Knock on their door and surprise them!
5. Every member of the family find three things (toys, clothes, etc.) in good condition to give away
6. Have a Skype date (with friends who may or may not have UP AND MOVED TO TEXAS).
7. Visit a nursing home, maybe take cookies and sing carols
8. Make handmade cards for your neighbors or loved ones you’ve lost contact with or shut-ins. Pray for them as you're making the card.
9. Have breakfast for dinner. By candlelight?
10. Put on a play of the Christmas story for Daddy and/or family and friends.
11. Invite someone over for dinner and/or hot chocolate and dessert.
12. Make a family traditional dessert and call the person you got the recipe from. 
13. Drive around to look at lights and pray for your city.
14. Write a letter of encouragement/draw a picture for someone who may be having a particularly hard time this holiday season.
15. Babysit for a single mom or a couple who really needs a night out.
16. Discuss and start a family giving box. (http://www.familieswithpurpose.com/givingboxsuggestions.html)
17. Pick up trash/clean up as a family at a local park or in your neighborhood.
18. Make a donation (and take it in person!) to the Ronald McDonald house. Love on some hurting parents while you’re there.
19. Fill a bag or backpack with basic hygiene goods and a few snacks and give it to a homeless person in your community.
20. Go through your books and collect some to give to a reading program for needy children.
21. Give some money (even if only $10) to someone in need. A neighbor, homeless person, or just a friend in need. Or pay for someone’s meal anonymously.
22. Do a random act of kindness for someone you don’t know.
23. Have a birthday party for Jesus.
24. Send your used shoes to Reuse-A-Shoe. (http://www.nikereuseashoe.com/get-involved)
25. Make scripture bookmarks. Hand them out at your local supermarket or book store as people come out. Or put on car windshields.
26. Tell the story of St. Nicholas (or watch the Veggie Tales movie!)
27. Recognize your church staff in a small, tangible way.
28. Make crescent rolls for dinner. On a small sheet of paper, have each person write something they are thankful for about their family. Put it in the crescent roll before you bake it. Share with each other before you eat
29. Leave a gift or sweet note in your mailbox for your mail carrier.
30. Post something you no longer need/use on Craig’s List or Ebay. Let your child pick a charity they want, and donate the money.
31. Write scripture or inspirational thoughts/quotes on post it notes. Randomly leave them places around your community where they will be found/on windshields of parked cars.
32. Vow for one day to only say positive things. No negativity allowed. 
33. At the beginning of the month, start and post a “grateful” list. Everyone in the family can add to it all month long.
34. Help an older person carry/load their groceries. 
35. Call a friend and ask them one thing you could do to help them out today.
36. Donate your extra coats/blankets to a homeless shelter.
37. Do a fun craft project together.
38. Make some chicken soup and take to a friend, church member, or neighbor who is sick.
39. Send flowers to your local NICU with a note thanking the nurses and doctors for all they do. (Or go tell them in person.)
40. Find a way to cheer up someone who is hurting, even if it’s only a phone call.
41. Have a Daddy-Son date or a Mommy-Son date, whichever is needed most at the time.
42. Fulfill a wish on wishuponahero.com

Now you'll have to excuse me. I must go listen to Christmas music and decorate. The calendar deems it so. :) (And also, I'm going to make some chili because I just got a craving.)

the proposal

I'm not sure how to start this post. I've been thinking a lot over the last couple of weeks (I know, I know), and I have ideas, but I just feel like they're not going to come out like I want them to. So bear with me, okay?


I went over to my neighbors' house the other night to hang out. We somehow got into a semi-political discussion (this post is not political), and I made the comment about how so many people and Christians specifically want smaller government (this post is not political). But in my opinion (this post is not political), programs or services have to be in place for those who need help, and until the Church picks up that call (like, in a revolutionary, save-the-world sort of way), the government will have to be involved (this post is not political). 


So that just got me thinking. Matt and I are reading through the Bible this year, and have just finished reading Radical. And although the Church does many good things (and I'm in no way speaking against any congregation or church specifically, just more the American Church as a whole), we miss the point. A lot. When I read that the first Christians sold all they had and gave to each other as each had need, and I hear Jesus say not to store up earthly treasures, and I read that I'm commanded (commanded, not called) to sacrifice everything to live and love like Jesus and to help those in need, I wonder how we got here. How we got to this place of planning beach retirements, huge life insurance policies, cushy retirement accounts, working like dogs to one day be able to do whatever WE want (or nothing at all), and to live for ourselves. All of this while people starve in the streets, thousands don't have the medical care they need (even in our own country), millions of people live on less than $2 a day etc. There are so many needs.


And we just turn our heads. Either we depend on someone else to take care of it, we've become immune, or we don't even care enough to think about it. Or maybe we do think about it, but we just wonder, "Who am I to do anything about this?" 


Um, we are the children of God, claimed by the Father, rescued by the Son, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commanded to die to ourselves and sacrifice everything to help, serve, and save as many people as we can, in the name of Jesus, giving the glory to God.


So there.


But what does this look like? In the real world, in this I-can't-go-to-Africa-and-feed-the-poor and I-have little-kids and my-mission-is-to-mother-my-children world, what does that look like? That question haunts me all the time. Where do we start? What do we do? How do we make a difference in the lives of our mourning, hurting, lost, sick, and broken neighbors? 


We take a step. That's it. We take a step. Putting aside excuses. Stepping out of our comfort zones. Clinging to the faith that saves us. Trusting the God who says, "I've got this." Taking the commands of Jesus seriously. And we do it.


So here's what I'm proposing. What if we chose one project or area of service each month to meet a need in our communities (or anywhere, really). I'm talking about a real-sacrifice, make-a-difference, lettin'-our-lights-shine-for-Jesus sort of project. 


But my kid(s) is/are so little. I know. That's what I've been saying for the last 2 1/2 years. But then I got to thinking. Even if Jonah doesn't get it now, even if it will be more "inconvenient" for him to tag along or participate, wouldn't be cool if he grew up never remembering a time when we didn't sacrifice for and serve others. What if, when questioned, he answered, "Huh. We've just always done this. We just love people. That's all." Isn't that really the most important thing? Even over piano lessons, gymnastics, healthy lunches, sporting events, play dates, dinner on the table every night and an organized house? 


I've really had to reexamine some things. How much of the things in my life that I see as have-to's are really from God? It's not a comfortable question to answer. 


So, back to the proposal. I'm thinking we all choose a way to help those in need this month. We do it, chronicle it with photos (if appropriate), and on October 15th, we blog about it. Not to brag or show off our holiness (I hope you're not reading this that way), but to show how God is working in our lives and the lives of those we are forming relationships with. And also to share ideas with each other, ways we can serve others right here in the old USA. Maybe we could really make a difference? 


Maybe we could change the world?


I'm not sure. I don't know. But I've been thinking about this for weeks now, and I just can't shake the idea. And dang it, this morning, our lesson was on God giving us all certain gifts and that we are commanded (not called, commanded) to use for a purpose. So here I am. Wrestling with this idea. Doubting how it will go. Afraid of ridicule or rejection. Not sure of my words.


But it's in my head. It's from God. So here it is.


I will be posting a linky thing here on my blog on OCTOBER 15th. I'm hoping you'll take the challenge, and plan to link your post up here on that day. I know that we would all be blessed to see how God is working, and it would be great to share ideas. Maybe we could even make this a monthly thing? (UPDATE: I just made a Facebook group for those of you who want to participate but don't have a blog.  You can join it HERE. It's called "Get Your Serve On." Don't judge. Matt came up with the name.)


Let's get out of the boat. Want to?

(If you have no idea where to start, this post had some good ideas.)

I'd love it if you'd leave me a comment here if you'd like to participate. I think this could be amazing. To God be the glory!