My girlfriend wanted me to get a list together of books I wanted for Christmas.

So here it is: my Christmas wishlist.

Seriously, that is all I want for Christmas.  Books, books and more books.

Deep down, I really, really hope she gets me Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem.

All this wishing and wanting… makes me want to care for others.

Perhaps I will give shoes.

Perhaps I will pray to God for more opportunities to show others the love of Christ inside of me.

Perhaps I will just be gracious for my portion and pray that hearts will be changed and people will come to know Christ.

Is that why I want to teach?  Is that why I want to pastor?  Is that why I want to raise up other disciples?

We need to reach everyone so that Jesus Christ will come back to put together the shattered pieces of all creation:

Matthew 24:14 (ESV) And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Even the animals that roam freely, the rocks in the ground and the plants upon the face of the earth keeps waiting in hopes that we will do our part to end their futility:

Romans 8:19-23 (ESV) For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Whatever God calls us to do, it is not for our glory but for His will to be done and for His glory to be held high above all the earth.  Less us, more Christ.