You need to hear it once more.....

Merry Christmas!

It's 1:27am, approximately 8 hours before we will open our gifts. I decided to do something creative this year. I get tired of giving gifts that are little more than a waste of money. So this year, I'm giving "acts of service." I think this is going to be my yearly tradition from this point on.

For my Father, I'm giving "one free car detailing." He'll love that. My Mother is getting "an afternoon of free lawn care." Trust me, it's needed. I gave my brother-in-law "a day of free labor" on his new house, including the use of my pick-up. I'm taking my grandfather golfing. My grandmother's are each getting "a day." They can use that day for projects, errands or simply a date at the movies. You get the idea.

For the past few years I have found myself increasingly bothered by the notion that "a good Christmas" comes with a price tag. Granted that I did just buy my wife all new kitchen appliances (with a $2,200 price tag), but that's beside the point. I was getting a little grinchy at the idea of wasting money yet again just so I could get everyone some garbage to unwrap. I actually prayed that the Lord would show me how I could enjoy Christmas again because I had gotten to the point of counting the days until it was over.

Then He reminded me that His coming to this earth, enduring an often unappreciated human life, bearing our sin on the cross and rising from death, were all acts of service. That's what I want to spend my time thinking about for the next 22 hours. Christ. And what better a reminder of His acts of service than performing such deeds, in His Spirit, for the benefit of others.

So, my prayer has been answered. I can honestly say I'm actually looking forward to sitting around the tree this morning. Christmas is here. Go serve somebody in Jesus' name.