Devotion TO rather than Service FOR Him

  I woke up this morning and as usual ventured to the kitchen to heat up my neck wrap (thank you BeautiControl for this wonderful gel wrap that warms me up every morning) and decided to check my email.   I've been doing that more regularly than usual as my father-in-law is under Hospice care and my mother-in-law has been communicating updates to us in that manner.   Anyway, my inbox was laden with Cyber Monday emails.  EVERYONE, I mean EVERYONE is having a sale today.   And of course, this means if you have any money left after spending it at all the Black Friday sales!  Obviously these sales also benefit me.  As a small business owner and a consultant with BeautiControl for over 22 years I sent out my email to clients as well encouraging them to shop.  And sometimes I feel badly sending them the email.  "Spend some more money!!  Shop with me!"......   www.beautipage.com/beautifulskinandspas
   I enjoy this time of year--I really do.  And the past several years I didn't even look at the ads.  But this year I found myself getting caught up in all the ads, wondering about all the pleasures I've missed out on by not having certain items.   "What if" I had a donut maker?  Wouldn't it be fun to not have to roll and cut the dough and then deep fat fry them? Would my waist appreciate baked donuts rather than fried ones?  And what about that awesome deal on the Kitchen Aid unit? How in the world can I have survived for 35 years of marriage without one?  Now they are such a great deal!!  Not to mention all the tremendous clothing sales and opportunities to shop on-line today.  How can I resist?
  One awesome offer is calling my name.  It's the beckoning of God's Spirit offer to just sit and spend a little extra time with my Father this morning.  As a musician and speaker December is full so the early morning "coffee or tea" appointments with God become even more important.  I spent a lot of years of my life running at break neck speed decorating, shopping, planning and being involved in worship services, and helping everyone who was in need.  And those are all good things.   Oswald Chambers says it well.  "Our greatest competitor of devotion to Jesus is service for Him."  
  How thankful I am for my early morning dates with God.   After you're finished on the computer today sit down with a cup of your favorite warm drink and "drink in" God's Word.  Then for a fun, meaningful family project for advent take scriptures from the Bible and put them on a piece of paper and then chain together and hang on your tree.  For some ideas on scriptures you can use link to this site:   http://fmcusa.org/prayer/advent-chain/

  Check out my latest speaking appointments on my website: www.juliewiemann.com