Do you like shopping for Christmas gifts?

In America during the weeks prior to Christmas, shopping seems to be crazy.  All the retailers look forward to this season because they make more money during this season than they do the entire year.  Based on this, the lines are long, the people are pushy, and some people are just mean.  Being a guy, so many of my friends talk about how they will not even go shopping!  They hate it normally but during this season, forget it!

I do not know what is wrong with me but I love it.  I like to watch the people.  I like to talk with people to see how it is going, what else they have to do, and what they have been going through.  When I was at the store the other day I was overwhelmed with a verse from the Bible.  It was:

He gave them this charge:  “What a huge harvest! And how few the harvest hands. So on your knees; ask the God of the Harvest to send harvest hands.  Luke 10:2 (MSG)

Jesus was telling the people that people need to know about Him but the hands to do this are few.  Whenever I am in large crowds I think about this passage.

This past week I had something happen that really made me see this.  I was at Target department store and I asked the clerk how they were doing and if they are ready for Christmas.  The clerk  said, “My boss told me they need to talk to me and I am worried if I am in trouble.  I cannot shake this feeling.”  When this lady said this, my wife immediately talked with her and gave her encouragement.  I felt like I could see the clerk light up.  This might not seem like much but you could see how some loving encouragement could help someone.

So many times we just push through the lines and do not care to seek whom we are interacting with.  We want a good deal!!  Every person counts and we should not walk by anyone we are interacting with without seeing if they need some help.

This season the following statements have opened doors to hearts for me:

• How are you doing?
• How is your life going?
• Are customers treating you OK?
• Do you play video games?
• Have you gotten all your Christmas gifts yet?
• Do you like Amazon when shopping?
• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  Philippians 4:6 (NIV)
• I love a good cup of Starbucks!
• These people are crazy?

None of these questions or statements are things you would hear from a church to ask but if you prayerfully ask people these kinds of things and trust God to lead the conversation you will be surprised on what will happen?

Are you willing to take the time?  Is getting the gift more important than the people?  Are you willing to seek God’s will for your life?

image: Patrick Hoesly