If you are like my family you have been on the look-out for Christmas gifts since the day after Christmas last year. It‟s amazing how much "stuff" is available. It‟s equally amazing how much "stuff" we think we need.

Over the years this "stuff" begins to break and wear out so we buy new "stuff". This has been a growing trend for the past few decades. If you remember, back some time ago, we made do with what we had. Dad fixed the broken toys, mom sewed new dresses for the favorite dolls and we held on to what we had. There were no storage units that could be rented, that‟s what you had attics for. Now a days we accumulate so much "stuff" that the building of storage units is one of the fastest growing business opportunities around!

Why do we keep all this "stuff"? Maybe because it defines who we are or maybe it makes us feel successful. Whatever the reason, its still just "stuff". And stuff doesn‟t last! So what‟s the purpose?

As Christians, our focus should be on helping others around the world who are struggling. We are called to use our blessings, to be a blessing to others. As Christ has blessed us, so we should bless others. Not just with material things but with the virtues of the living Christ within us.

It is the good news of Jesus that is really needed in our lives because it is the one thing that doesn't break or wear out, but lasts forever! I like the way Rick Warren put it in his book, The Purpose Driven Life:

"You are not an accident. Even before the universe was created,

God had you in mind, and He planned you for His purpose. These

Purposes will extend far beyond the few years you will spend on

earth. You were made to last forever!"

We don‟t need to hold onto all the broken and worn out "stuff" offered by the world and accumulate enough to need storage units to hold it all. We need Jesus and the love and grace He offers to us.

This is the time of the year where we say that "Jesus is the reason for the season". Do we really believe it? If we do, we‟ll stop storing up treasure where rust and moth can destroy, and start accumulating our treasures in heaven where they last for eternity just like us.

God Bless,

Pastor Greg