Bowing Out

This year, we've decided we're bowing out of the madness.  We've talked about it for years, but are finally choosing to try simplicity.  I read this idea last year, or maybe the year before, and fell in love with the heart behind  it. . .so this is the tradition we are going to attempt to implement.  I am just so tired of feeling frazzled and crazy and bloated and lethargic from over-stuffing my life with too much stuff and running around with too much to do as if the world were going to fall apart if I slow down long enough to breathe.  Self - the heart of all of it and always the idol usurping the throne from the only King worthy of my adoration, my worship, my life.

Again, I read this somewhere (wish I could remember where and give the credit) so don't think was creative enough to come up with this on my own!  I am terrible at creativity. . .but fabulous at copying other people's great ideas!  :)  Three gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh

If Christ Himself was worthy of three gifts, surely we don't need more than that?   I also like the idea of meditating on the purposes of the gifts.  Gold is obvious, but the other two seem strange and foreign to me.  I have older kids, so finding relevant, non-cheesey ways to reflect on these might be a little more challenging, but even for myself, worth it!

Myrrh was incredibly valuable in Jesus' day.  It was used as an annointing/embalming oil for the dead, it had many medicinal uses and was used in expensive perfumes.  In relationship to gifts, it was used for the body.  So our myrrh gift will be anything useful to the body - clothes, perfume, etc.

Frankincense was burned in Jewish worship rituals and symbolized prayers rising to heaven.

"Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all the saints, on the golden altar before the throne.  The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God from the angel’s hand."  Revelation 8:3,4

"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints."  Revelation 5:6-8

Love these verses and the picture of our prayers rising to the throne like incense.  Our Frankincense gift will be anything that can encourage, build up, bless the kids spiritually.  I am excited about looking for ways to be creative with this!

Lastly, the Gold gift.  Gold was simply extravagant.   A gift for a King.  This is the chance to be generous.  One gift that will just bless.  Something precious, wanted, dear.

SO that's it, 3 gifts.  Our effort to simplify.  To get rid of the pressure to have 8,000 gifts under the tree and simply enjoy the celebration of the only One truly worthy of our worship.     What are you doing this year to magnify Christ?  Would love to hear your ideas!!!