FOMO

Well, it’s Black Friday. Perhaps you are reading this after having gotten up at 4am and braved the crowds to get the best deals. Or you have been searching online for the best price on that new gadget. However we go about Christmas shopping (or shopping in general), we tend to have a fear of missing out (FOMO). We want to make sure we are getting the best deal. What if store B has a better gadget than store A?

I must confess this time of year I have a problem with the fear of missing out and it doesn’t  necessarily have anything to do with shopping. With so many Christmas activities available to go to, I want to do them all so I don’t miss out on fun. I stress myself out with trying to do it all and I can’t enjoy myself. I want to go to every holiday activity that friends are going to, even if it means packing too much into a day or weekend.

Does God want us to fill out schedules this holiday season with every activity under the sun so we don’t feel left out, like we are missing out on something? Is there a way to be content with the activities we do participate in, while not longing for the ones we don’t? Will our friends and family love us any less if we don’t attend each event?

“Mortals make elaborate plans, but GOD has the last word. Humans are satisfied with whatever looks good; GOD probes for what is good.”‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16:1-2‬ ‭MSG‬‬

God wants us to slow down and focus on Him. When we are so busy doing all the things, we actually miss out on the most important thing of all, time with God. If I am so afraid of missing out on things going on around me,  than I should be most afraid of missing out on God.

How do we put aside this fear of missing out on things in this world? By practicing gratitude and spending time with the One who matters most, God.

“Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.”‭‭Colossians‬ ‭4:2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

We’ve just celebrated Thanksgiving so gratitude is on our hearts and minds. Let’s not let the busyness of the Christmas season cause us to forget gratitude. Let’s make sure our hectic schedules are full of things that fill us up and draw us closer to God. Let’s do the life giving activities we want to participate in, not activities that just make us busy.
I don’t want to miss out or be left behind in any activity, but most of all, I don’t want to miss out on a living, vibrant relationship with God. How will you be spending your time this Christmas season?

Up in flames

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It’s fall and bonfire season!! Have you ever seen a bonfire? Like a really big, meticulously built bonfire? Last weekend, my hubby and I took our kids to our college homecoming festivities, one of the highlights being the bonfire. The Tarleton Plowboys are a spirit organization in charge of building the bonfire. For 2 weeks prior, the Plowboys spend many hours assembling the massive wooden and brush structure. There is careful planning and execution to get the bonfire as big as it is. Last Friday, our group of friends stood in front of the bonfire before it was lit admiring it and then watched in awe as a few key university people carried lit torches up to the structure and lit it. It took a few minutes to get started, but soon the whole bonfire was engulfed in flames. “That’s the biggest fire I’ve ever seen!” my kids exclaimed, “And it was started with those sticks (torches).”

Can’t life be like that sometimes? Maybe we’ve carefully built our schedule, house, meal prep, business, relationships, etc. We think all is well, but then a little spark comes in and burns it all up. That spark could be a lot of things….health setback, financial strain, disruption in normal schedule, anxiety, hurtful words. Whatever it is, it can come out of nowhere to quickly engulf us.

The little spark can also be a good thing. We get a spark from a new idea, new business venture, unexpected good news, help from a friend, etc. Our personal life can change with just a small spark. For me, whether the spark is supposedly negative or positive, I want to use it to draw closer to God. Will I let a negative spark burn my life up and send me spiraling? Or will I let it purify me and mold me into someone stronger, more reliant on God?

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold-though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.” 1 Peter 1:7 NLT

Our words can also be sparks used to either build up or tear down. One little lie can cause your world to go up in smoke. Or an encouraging word can spark a host of joyful emotions. We must be aware of our words, what we are saying and how we are saying it.

“Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3:5 NLT

What kind of fire are we sparking? Are our words building up or tearing down?

When a fire does come into your life, will you turn to God and lean on Him, or rely on yourself and be burned up?

Happy November!