Pastor Julie shared these thoughts this past Sunday.  Think about it.  God's greatest gift wasn't a monetary gift.  It was a relational gift--an embodied gift.  He didn't send an angel or some emissary on his behalf.  He sent his son.

So here it is, clear as day, in this season of gift-giving, we hear of the greatest gift ever given.  We've all rehearsed it since we were children:  it was the gift of God's own Son.  This is so John 3:16.  We've all said this so much that we're not gripped by it anymore.

Relational.  Embodied.  Jesus took upon our burdens and sorrows.

Most of us don't have an understanding of owning nothing, or sharing property, things held in common, or common purse.  We love to own things.  We even own our own ideas, own our own inventions, our own music (copyrights), we own our children, we even believe we own our very life.  We don't see these as gifts at all.

The problem is we want to give gifts that don't cost us anything--believe it or not, a calendar, sweater or a gift certificate doesn't cost us as much as our time, a thoughtful gift like a well-crafted poem, a picture, a note.  We've tried to make Christmas as cheap as we can.

What do we need to empty ourselves of?  In order to be filled with Spirit.  May the Spirit of Christ sound through us and teach us a whole new way of giving this Advent season.

A couple of questions to ponder:
1.  Read John 1: 1-14 with fresh eyes and ears.  How does this passage bring us back to the miracle of Christmas?

2.  What are some relational gifts that could be given?  How can you give the gift of God's presence to others?

Share your answers in  the comment section.