I can hardly believe it is the week of Christmas! It seems impossible, but here it is.
I love this time of year. I love Christmas. I love giving. Not only at Christmas, but throughout the year.
I know Christmas is not all about giving…but in a way it is. God so loved each one of us that He gave all He had…His only begotten Son and all that went along with Him. What a privileged people we are! He is and always will be the best gift ever!
This year has been different for me. I have a picture that hangs up over my fireplace, it says “Simplify Christmas – Celebrate Christ.”
Those words are what I choose to remember each year – this year even more.
This year, although I love the lights and decorations of Christmas, it hasn’t held its normal appeal to me. I have wanted this Christmas to be simple. I decorated in a simple fashion this year. I got my shopping done early and made way to simply enjoy the season with my loved ones and celebrate Christ. Or so I thought.
Once I thought I was finished, God began to talk to me about giving this year. He instructed me to give gifts to a list of people that I don’t normally give gifts to. He wanted them to know how special they are. Therefore, I went shopping again and found gifts for each person on HIS list. I had Breanne wrap them and I put them in the mail.
Proverbs 11:24-25 says; One gives freely yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
1 Peter 4:10 says; Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.
One freely gives and yet…grows all the richer. This is what I experienced as I was searching for the perfect gift for each person on His list. I was enriched…I was watered.
Once that task was completed, He continued to talk to me about giving. It seemed everywhere I turned there were needs. But God is faithful, and He always makes the way for the needs to be met…if we are willing to be that vessel.
It is God who puts giving in our heart. Giving comes from the same heart that love and kindness comes from. I have learned this; the more I seek God, the closer I get to Him, the more I want to give to others.
That is what Jesus Christ is all about. God loves us so much He gave. We too should love others so much that we are compelled to give. We should love God and His people enough that when He tells us to bless others, we don’t question it, we simply obey. We obey with joy and excitement at what the gift will mean to the recipient.
I don’t know what Christmas means to you. To some people it only brings stress. It should not be so. We give from our heart. It doesn’t even have to cost money, we can give a smile, a hot meal or to simply sit and visit. Loving one another is the best gift we can give.
I love a surprise, don’t you? Can you imagine the joy when someone unexpectedly gets a gift that came straight from the heart of God? I can. And it brings me great joy! I believe it brings God joy as well.
This year, as you celebrate Christmas…make your list and check it twice but take a moment to ask God what He would have you do. Ask Him who He wants you to bless. Maybe there is someone He wants you to give a gift to, in His honor – if so, do it. I promise you will be enriched as you do.
Honoring others through giving is a powerful seed to sow. The Christmas season is a great time to honor those who have sown into your life all year long. It’s a great time to show them you care and appreciate the gifts they have poured into your life.
May you each have a Merry & Blessed Christmas! May Christ pour out His goodness on you as you celebrate Him. Keep Him as the center of your home this holiday season…and as the center of your heart.
We are believing God that you will finish strong this year and begin the new year with joy unspeakable and full of His glory. In your home, in your body, in your family and in your finances. To God be all the glory!
Simplify Christmas – celebrate Christ. Bring Him glory this month! And let all you do be done in love. For after all…He IS love.
Meditate on this:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
