The Best Gifts
“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
God knew the days of television and internet, social media, Amazon, Apple and Google would arrive soon enough and play a huge role in the retail business of Christmas. Deciding on what to buy the people in your life is as simple as doing a Google search. Within days all your research will begin showing up in different sizes, shapes and colors in every "in box" you have. And, once you have decided, you no longer need to go to your favorite retail outlet unless of course you decide you want to eat out as your gifts can be shipped to your or any address of your choosing often times the next day. No need for patience any longer from waiting in those long lines at the store.
Yet, with our technology there is one thing money still can’t buy and that is love, agape love as that kind of love only comes from God above. Paul the apostle calls agape love the greatest gift of all. The reason is simple. God’s love is one way, it doesn’t give to get like much of the worlds understanding of how love works. In the world, people give love to get something back in return whereas in the case of God, love is His very nature. Everything God does He does in love, period.
Since Christmas is about Jesus shouldn’t the gifts we give be a reflection of Christ? Think about it this year as you seek to find and then give gifts to others, to anyone and everyone. To those you love and even to complete strangers give gifts this year that reflect Jesus and leave people thinking about the impact of His birth, when God took on human flesh and was born into this world.
Give gifts that help people understand what true faith is. Have you thought about giving a bible to someone who might not have one or has one in a translation they would never read as it doesn’t make sense to them? As a pastor who has presided over a few funerals in my day, I love when I hear a story of someones Legacy where they gave away bibles with the name of the recipient engraved on it and the person still has it and cherishes it. Cherish is a powerful word.
Are you aware you give away faith simply by sharing your faith in Jesus with others. "Back in the day" it was common for people to write letters at Christmas time that they mailed out (using the postal service) to family members and friends recapping the previous year and telling of God’s faithfulness. Believe it or not, people enjoy hearing “Good News” which the gospel is. Share your faith in writing to the people in your life knowing that when you do so you are planting seeds of faith and sharing a part of you.
Maybe you would consider giving the gift of hope this year. I heard an expression once that said, “I man can go 6 weeks without food, 6 days without water, 6 minutes without oxygen but he can't go 6 seconds without hope. Hope is a beautiful thing, maybe the best of things especially in troublesome times like the world is experiencing today. The Bible is a story of hope and everyone in your life could use a little more hope. Hebrews 11:1 teaches us the connection between faith and hope, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Giving the gift of hope helps people to see the hand of an invisible God in a visible world.
Consider giving gifts that instill hope, and not just any hope but the hope of God. I recall a number of years ago my brother gave me a wooden plaque with a quote of Abraham Lincoln engraved on it. To this day every time I read it I am filled with hope. It said, “I can understand how a man can look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot perceive how a man can gaze up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
Love, the greatest gift we can give away any time of year is God’s agape love. God’s love doesn’t have to involve money, yet often times it does. Giving in love is based on need not on want. One of my favorite all time Christmas cards says this. On the cover of the card are the words, "Our Greatest Need", and below it on the front of the card it said, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.” When you opened the card it said on the inside, “But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.”
God’s love can take on many shapes and forms. Maybe you could give the gift of love that is made manifest in forgiveness? Is there someone in your life who hurt or offended you? Give them the best gift ever this Christmas by freely forgiving them the way Christ Jesus has forgiven you. Most children spell the word love, “TIME”. Give God’s love to people this year by spending quality, uninterrupted time with them. You can love perfect strangers with a smile, an act of kindness or by simply initiating a conversation with them with the sole purpose of letting them speak while you listen. You might be surprised by the number of people in this world who have no one to listen to them. It’s been well said, “give a person 15 minutes of uninterrupted time to speak and they will tell you their life story.” Consider giving the gift of love to a total stranger this year by asking them to share with you, “their story.” I remind our church family often there are two ways every day we can show God's love to the world around us. "Find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it." We can't serve everybody but everybody can serve somebody.
There are so many ways to share God’s love this Christmas. Focus on the needs of others this holiday and not only will you make someone else’s Christmas joyful. You yourself will know afresh the true meaning of Christmas that can only be known as we prefer others over ourselves. After all, it was Jesus who both demonstrated and said it best...
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.”
John 15:13
I LOVE YOU!
1 Corinthians 13:13
God knew the days of television and internet, social media, Amazon, Apple and Google would arrive soon enough and play a huge role in the retail business of Christmas. Deciding on what to buy the people in your life is as simple as doing a Google search. Within days all your research will begin showing up in different sizes, shapes and colors in every "in box" you have. And, once you have decided, you no longer need to go to your favorite retail outlet unless of course you decide you want to eat out as your gifts can be shipped to your or any address of your choosing often times the next day. No need for patience any longer from waiting in those long lines at the store.
Yet, with our technology there is one thing money still can’t buy and that is love, agape love as that kind of love only comes from God above. Paul the apostle calls agape love the greatest gift of all. The reason is simple. God’s love is one way, it doesn’t give to get like much of the worlds understanding of how love works. In the world, people give love to get something back in return whereas in the case of God, love is His very nature. Everything God does He does in love, period.
Since Christmas is about Jesus shouldn’t the gifts we give be a reflection of Christ? Think about it this year as you seek to find and then give gifts to others, to anyone and everyone. To those you love and even to complete strangers give gifts this year that reflect Jesus and leave people thinking about the impact of His birth, when God took on human flesh and was born into this world.
Give gifts that help people understand what true faith is. Have you thought about giving a bible to someone who might not have one or has one in a translation they would never read as it doesn’t make sense to them? As a pastor who has presided over a few funerals in my day, I love when I hear a story of someones Legacy where they gave away bibles with the name of the recipient engraved on it and the person still has it and cherishes it. Cherish is a powerful word.
Are you aware you give away faith simply by sharing your faith in Jesus with others. "Back in the day" it was common for people to write letters at Christmas time that they mailed out (using the postal service) to family members and friends recapping the previous year and telling of God’s faithfulness. Believe it or not, people enjoy hearing “Good News” which the gospel is. Share your faith in writing to the people in your life knowing that when you do so you are planting seeds of faith and sharing a part of you.
Maybe you would consider giving the gift of hope this year. I heard an expression once that said, “I man can go 6 weeks without food, 6 days without water, 6 minutes without oxygen but he can't go 6 seconds without hope. Hope is a beautiful thing, maybe the best of things especially in troublesome times like the world is experiencing today. The Bible is a story of hope and everyone in your life could use a little more hope. Hebrews 11:1 teaches us the connection between faith and hope, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Giving the gift of hope helps people to see the hand of an invisible God in a visible world.
Consider giving gifts that instill hope, and not just any hope but the hope of God. I recall a number of years ago my brother gave me a wooden plaque with a quote of Abraham Lincoln engraved on it. To this day every time I read it I am filled with hope. It said, “I can understand how a man can look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot perceive how a man can gaze up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
Love, the greatest gift we can give away any time of year is God’s agape love. God’s love doesn’t have to involve money, yet often times it does. Giving in love is based on need not on want. One of my favorite all time Christmas cards says this. On the cover of the card are the words, "Our Greatest Need", and below it on the front of the card it said, “If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent an educator. If our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist.” When you opened the card it said on the inside, “But since our greatest need was forgiveness, God sent us a Savior.”
God’s love can take on many shapes and forms. Maybe you could give the gift of love that is made manifest in forgiveness? Is there someone in your life who hurt or offended you? Give them the best gift ever this Christmas by freely forgiving them the way Christ Jesus has forgiven you. Most children spell the word love, “TIME”. Give God’s love to people this year by spending quality, uninterrupted time with them. You can love perfect strangers with a smile, an act of kindness or by simply initiating a conversation with them with the sole purpose of letting them speak while you listen. You might be surprised by the number of people in this world who have no one to listen to them. It’s been well said, “give a person 15 minutes of uninterrupted time to speak and they will tell you their life story.” Consider giving the gift of love to a total stranger this year by asking them to share with you, “their story.” I remind our church family often there are two ways every day we can show God's love to the world around us. "Find a need and fill it, find a hurt and heal it." We can't serve everybody but everybody can serve somebody.
There are so many ways to share God’s love this Christmas. Focus on the needs of others this holiday and not only will you make someone else’s Christmas joyful. You yourself will know afresh the true meaning of Christmas that can only be known as we prefer others over ourselves. After all, it was Jesus who both demonstrated and said it best...
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.”
John 15:13
I LOVE YOU!
Recent
Archive
2021
January
Test PositiveHow Not To ForgetYour Best Year EverRelationship Over RulesKeep The Main Thing The Main ThingBonding FiresTake Me To ChurchWeight Gain Is GoodNot Seeing Is Believing Everything You Need To KnowLove Wins!Servants Not Slaves8 P's and 7 B'sWhat The World Needs NowThe World Is Falling... Into Place10 Minutes That Change The WorldHow To Kill A ButterflyWhat's The Score?You Can Know For SureWe Need A Good Wind StormThe Little Things
February
The Power of KindnessThe Cure For WorryThe Truth; The Whole Truth; And Nothing But The TruthGod UnderstandsDefining MomentsBetter Than NewLittle's Make Big'sOne Hour Could Change Your WorldInstructions With PicturesGrow Through ItFire and IceA Sweet Sweet SoundThe Way Up Is DownThe Gift of YouThe Cure For DepressionA Flower In Life's SidewalkLets Be FriendsOur Secret WeaponLove Win'sAll Gave Some, Some Gave All
2020
January
February
March
Why We Can Be FriendsBe What You Want Other's To BeThere Is A Song In Your HeartThe Afterward of FailureWhy God WhispersDon''t Worry, Be Happy!I Can See Clearly NowI'm In It For The Long HaulTrade In Your Fears For PeaceDaddy Hold YouThe EndA Guy Can't Just Sit AroundThe Birthday Boy!Worry Never WorksPromises PromisesTwenty Inches From BlissFit From HomeThe Silver Lining of SufferingThe Gift of PainDo Not Be Afraid
April
Two Tickets To ParadiseI'll Trade YouNo Substitute For TrustOur Greatest NeedHope DispensersYour Finest HourDreams Do Come True!How To Survive A PandemicFeeling ChippieThe Good In Good Friday!The Dark Before The DawnHow Stars Are BornOne A Day, And Leap Year Too!Please, Breathe On MeYou Can't Afford To WorryChristmas In AprilAre You Jesus?Comfort FoodSocial DistancingNew NormalThe Beauty of SelflessnessThrive Not SurviveDon't Ask Why Ask WhatEmpty Is GoodI Miss Your FaceGet Out Of Jail Free
May
Marriage IS WorkYou Are EssentialThe DestinationCourage Looks Like LoveLive The AmenRelentlessYou're Never AloneOpen For BusinessYour're ContagiousGod's Got Big EarsHigher EducationA Season, A Reason, A LifetimeTo Grope Is DopeYou PickWomen Like GodMaking A DifferenceOne Way LoveBlessed To BlessPeople God Uses
June
How To Defeat RacismDon't Be An AnimalJesus IS The AnswerBefore Not AfterDreams Do Come True!ImagineTell It Like It Can BePeace MakersHold OnThe Name Above ALL NamesThe Real You!Don\'t Lose Your PassionA Tale of Four Father\'sJust Do It For Jesus!IfIn or Out?Stay FocusedPriorities MatterGod's Green Thumb
July
August
Whistle While You WorkDon't Worry, Be Happy!Holy Moly, Just Look At You!You Can Do Hard ThingsJoy Is On The Way!Why Not Me?What's Your Backstory?ForgivenessJesus Is Our RainbowJesus In, Jesus OutThe 7 Factors of FriendshipBecause of YouLord, Teach Me To PrayHopeless End or Endless Hope?The Stress RelieverDefining MomentsA Supernaturally Scheduled DayWho's In Your Boat?
September
Hang In There 5 Minutes More!You Can Do It!What You See is What You GetMountains Were Made To ClimbLet Go, Let GodThe Third OptionWhat Will You Be?Better Than New!You Are A Best Seller!Heaven On EarthPray, Don't PreyTo love Is To ObeyIf I Could Live My Life Over AgainLet It Shine!Need A Hug?A Beautiful MessRun Through The TapeCause and EffectLife Is The PitsJust Say Yes
October
How To Have A RevivalLord, Teach Us To PrayBroken and BeautifulWhy God WhispersDig DeepThings Are Not As They AppearChildlike FaithGreat JobWhat On Earth Am I Here ForSafe In God's HandYou Be JesusYou Never Have To Advertise A FireRetraining ElephantsMission PossibleGo Nuts Today!Don't Hide The CracksOne Step AheadWho's Your Caddy?THINKPeter's Favorite PsalmFound Together
November
Success Through FailureNo FearAgainst All OddsGod Works For You But Not For YouThe Worship of TearsThank God For FleasHow To Thank A VeteranSoar Like An EagleOne Out Of TenHow To Get Through A StormCling OnKeep SwingingChoose Winning!The BlessingLessons From My Washing MachineHow To Put Happy Into Your ThanksgivingWe Exist To AppreciateThe Gift That Keeps On Giving
December
Peace On EarthHope In The DarkLessons From Long LinesHe's Making A List And Checking It TwiceKeep Rolling!You Have A ReservationWhen Heaven Met EarthThe Great Gift ExchangeA Thrill of HopeThe Real DealThe Perfect GiftFace Your FearsWinning Over WorryStability From A StableThe "awe" of HeavenJoy That LastsMessage From The MangerChristmas In Three WordsLook Up Not ForwardJust Because
2019
February
Heavenly RemindersThings Are Not Always As They AppearZihuatanejoSatisfied Wanting MoreGet In The Game!Always The Nails, Never The HammerA Four Footed EnemyAll InWhat's Love Got To Do With It?Lessons From A LeperLessons From A Former LeperNo MatchYour Mess Is Your MessageLessons From Your GPS"Ooooo ooooo ohoohohoo"Jesus MarveledShe Walks In BeautyShaken or Stirred?Bring The Rain
March
I Can't Love You AnymoreThe Gift of AttentivenessWha't Outside Your Tent?I'll Carry YouIt’s Worth The PainWorship On The BrainA Door of HopeGet Busy LivingHow Knowledge Becomes Power Please Do Not DisturbNew Normal5 Minutes LongerOur Conquering KingA Matter of PerspectiveAge Old WisdomFaith Your FearsThe Best Day Of Your Life… Starts Now!Who Grace Looks LikeHow To Have Lifetime JoyTo Know You Is To Love YouMistaken Identity
April
Life After The End Of The RopeLet's Get RealWhy God Made MountainsForgive And ForgetLoving You Is EasySweetly Broken Keep The Main Thing The Main ThingKnow God Know PeaceWisdom Never Gets OldOut of the WhirlwindMonday: A Pure and Holy PassionTuesday: The Passion Of JesusThe Passion Week: WednesdayJesus Love From Head To ToeFriday: The Passion JesusThe Ta-da of HeavenWhat's The World Coming To?A Love InvasionThe Gift of YouI'm With You AlwaysHow Is Your Balance?Bring The Rain
May
In Regards To HeavenHope WinsIshteeLove Is A VerbFinishing WellYour New Favorite BookGod Has No GrandchildrenCrossing GuardsYou Were Made For MomentsLiving Like A Rock StarA Wonder Filled DayLess is MoreAll Washed UpIf Your Child Goes Astray... Pray!Like Parent Like ChildBring Back The KingWith God You ARE The MajorityJesus IS EnoughWe Will RememberYou Are Stronger Than You ThinkEscape ArtistsYou Can't Back Into Your FutureThe Worship of Tears
June
For HankGod's 'GPS'A Friend Like YouDesire Discipline DelightDesire, Discipline, DelightYou Be JesusYour WorthA Living Love StoryThe Gift of GraceThe Power of AmenA Dad For All SesonsStuck On YouJust OneI Hope You DanceIt's Your Turn To ShineGlorious Day!Ancient Social MediaA Door of HopeLiving Like JesusPlease, Don't Shoot The Messenger!
July
Flawed Instruments Glorify GodHelp Is On The WayMay You Always Remain As You Are TodayOne Nation Under GodDivine AppointmentsDon't Trip Over Your PastWho's Counting?ShineLove Is A VerbBig Shoes To FillYou Never Have To Advertise A FireLet The Walls Fall DownOne Small Step, One Giant LeapOur God Rocks!Stirred To ActionThe Power of LoveTo Know Him Is To Love HimJesus Loves Pizza
August
September
October
Broken and BeautifulIn The Hands of The PotterRecognitionExtraordinarily OrdinaryBonded By A BonfireColor EverywhereWords To Live ByThe Best of MeJust Say YesChoose HappyThe Best Weekend Ever!Three Yet OneJust KISSGame ChangerHow To Beat An Escape RoomIt's What's Inside That CountsWhen Longer Isn't Long EnoughThe Whisperer
November
The Healing Power of a HugA Work In ProgressThe Best Day of Your Life Starts... NowYou Have Beautiful EyesLord, Teach Me To PrayFive Star FaithDebt Free LivingWhen Close Isn't Close EnoughHave I Got Something Just For You!Perfect In Any LightYour Strength Is Your WeaknessIt's Only A TestYou're Living An Adventure
Slow The PaceThe Art of AppreciationLasting MemoriesBlack Friday Saved My Life
Categories
no categories