Mary Southerland- Have you discovered the truth that we simply cannot ‘out-give’ God? The more we give, the more we receive.
And that truth does not just apply to financial giving. It is really all about the attitude behind the gift.
Do you remember the Christmas gifts you received last year? How about the Christmas gifts you gave? What about the gift you gave Jesus?
And that truth does not just apply to financial giving. It is really all about the attitude behind the gift.
Do you remember the Christmas gifts you received last year? How about the Christmas gifts you gave? What about the gift you gave Jesus?
A gift of care Galatians 6:2 (RSV) “Bear one another’s burdens.”
Christmas is a time of empty hopes and fierce loneliness for many people.
In fact, the holidays can be nothing more than a season riddled with pain. Every loss is magnified. Every wound is deepened. Pray that the Father will give you His eyes to see the broken lambs, crying out for help. This year, do something for someone who is hurting:
In fact, the holidays can be nothing more than a season riddled with pain. Every loss is magnified. Every wound is deepened. Pray that the Father will give you His eyes to see the broken lambs, crying out for help. This year, do something for someone who is hurting:
- Invite them over for a meal.
- Listen to them.
- Meet one need in their life.
- Include them in your celebration.
- Take them shopping with you.
Christmas is always hard for me because it is a time when I especially miss my mother who died many years ago.
I don’t openly broadcast that fact but one Christmas, a precious older lady at our church somehow sensed that I was struggling and decided to meet a need in my life.
Cards filled my mailbox. Every time I saw her, Miss Marion would hug me and tell me how much she loved me. She invited our children over to bake Christmas cookies and in doing so, became their adopted grandmother.
Miss Marion died a few years ago, but her loving care and investment in my life lives on.
I don’t openly broadcast that fact but one Christmas, a precious older lady at our church somehow sensed that I was struggling and decided to meet a need in my life.
Cards filled my mailbox. Every time I saw her, Miss Marion would hug me and tell me how much she loved me. She invited our children over to bake Christmas cookies and in doing so, became their adopted grandmother.
Miss Marion died a few years ago, but her loving care and investment in my life lives on.
A secret gift: Matthew 6:3-4 (TLB) “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Give a gift to someone you know in secret without them knowing who it is from and with no hidden motive and no apparent benefit to you.
Dan and I had been married for three years when we first discovered the joy that a “secret gift” can bring. Dan was in seminary, I was teaching elementary school, and we were both serving at a local church.
It seemed as if we were always running, always tired and always broke. At one point, the financial picture was especially bleak. We had 10 days of life to go before the next pay day and not a cent to our name. We told no one but God -- and waited.
One Sunday night, we pulled up to the mobile home where we were living and started in the front (and only) door. There on the top step was a small but heavy package wrapped in brown paper.
It was a brick. Taped to each side of the brick was a hundred dollar bill. God had provided for our needs through a truly generous heart, someone who had chosen to give a secret gift.
To this day, we still have no idea who 'bricked' us, but we often think of them and ask God to bless their gift of encouragement.
Dan and I had been married for three years when we first discovered the joy that a “secret gift” can bring. Dan was in seminary, I was teaching elementary school, and we were both serving at a local church.
It seemed as if we were always running, always tired and always broke. At one point, the financial picture was especially bleak. We had 10 days of life to go before the next pay day and not a cent to our name. We told no one but God -- and waited.
One Sunday night, we pulled up to the mobile home where we were living and started in the front (and only) door. There on the top step was a small but heavy package wrapped in brown paper.
It was a brick. Taped to each side of the brick was a hundred dollar bill. God had provided for our needs through a truly generous heart, someone who had chosen to give a secret gift.
To this day, we still have no idea who 'bricked' us, but we often think of them and ask God to bless their gift of encouragement.
A gift of forgiveness- Colossians 3:13 (NCV) “Get along with each other, and forgive each other.”
The Christmas holidays have a way of resurrecting past hurts. The greatest gift we can give ourselves for Christmas is the gift of forgiveness because in choosing to forgive someone else, we set ourselves free. Every 60 seconds of anger displaces 60 seconds of joy.
Let go of the hurts. Forgive the wrongs and find healing.
Let go of the hurts. Forgive the wrongs and find healing.
A gift of teaching Romans 12:7 (NLT) “If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.”
What skill, ability or talent has God given you? Each one is from His hand, meant to be given away in service to others. Is there a young believer in your life you can mentor?
What better time to share your gifts and abilities than at Christmas? You may be able to sew or play the piano, cook gourmet meals or beautifully decorate your home. Each talent and ability is a potential gift.
In high school, my choral director gave me a free voice lesson each week. Consequently, I attended college on an academic and music scholarship because one woman chose to share her gift with me.
What better time to share your gifts and abilities than at Christmas? You may be able to sew or play the piano, cook gourmet meals or beautifully decorate your home. Each talent and ability is a potential gift.
In high school, my choral director gave me a free voice lesson each week. Consequently, I attended college on an academic and music scholarship because one woman chose to share her gift with me.
Get creative! Give a gift from the heart this year. May this be a Christmas filled with the joy of the Lord as you celebrate His birth and life.
Let’s Pray
May God grant you
the light in Christmas which is faith;
the warmth of Christmas, which is love;
the radiance of Christmas, which is purity;
the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice;
the belief in Christmas, which is truth
and the all of Christmas, which is Christ.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen."
[I took the liberty to rearrange the last section for emphasis…]
"Let’s get creative. How will you change how you deal with Christmas this year?
Will you emphasize what’s really important; the reason why Christ came?
How will this time of year prove to actually bring you peace?
Will you find room for repentance and rededication to the One Who Loves you so?
God's Son came in the form of a baby, and to later die on a cruel Cross to
take away our sins. This is why we need to be glad to celebrate Christmas
each year!
It's a marvelous opportunity to spread the great news of
It's a marvelous opportunity to spread the great news of
salvation to those around us, and to the world.
Are you aware that Christ did all this just for you, and for me, personally?
I challenge you to tell the Lord that you are grateful for the Real reason He came...
Allow Him to reveal Himself to you in new ways."
“If you give, you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full measure, pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, and running over. Whatever measure you use in giving—large or small—it will be used to measure what is given back to you" Luke 6:38, (NLT).
Gifts That Matter [Part 1]
Mary Southerland shares with us, "The world would like us to believe that the success of Christmas depends upon how much we spend, how many presents we give or how many presents we receive."
By Mary Southerland December 15, 2011 on Crosswalk.com www.girlfriendsingod.com
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