A Giving New Year

I pray you all had a wonderful Christmas season. There is something very special about Christmas, the birth of our Savior. It is celebrated for a month, rather than simply a day. However, I want you to consider this celebration to last for the whole year rather than just for a season. What a wonderful gift we have been given, the promise of eternal life for all who will trust in the Lord Jesus as their personal Savior and give their heart to Him, believe in Him, and commit their life to Him. This is not just a promise at Christmas, but for each and every day.

Throughout the past month, I blogged about giving Jesus a gift for Christmas. What did you give Him? If you haven't given to Him yet, it is not too late. Decide now and give. Sometimes when we think of tithing (giving 10%), we only consider our money. However, what if we were to tithe our time too? What if we gave to God's people of our time and resources-money and all we have? Would the face of this earth be changed? What if we gave forgiveness, love, compassion...? What if we truly began to give of ourselves without thinking about what we would receive in return?

2012 can be a totally different year from the rest. This can be a year of giving. This can be a year of selflessness, being polite, and a year of radical Christianity. What if we would start to love like Jesus? What if we took His example and truly began to live like Him?

I challenge you to live a life of giving and trusting the Lord. Give it all to Him and ask Him what to do with it. He owns it all, we are only entrusted with whatever we have for a time. When we are gone, we cannot take it with us. May God bless you for your obedience and faith.

"Bring all the tithes into the storehouse,

That there may be food in My house,

And try Me now in this,"

Says the LORD of hosts,

"If I will not open for you the windows of heaven

And pour out for you much blessing

That there will not be room enough to receive it."

Malachi 3:10 NKJV

What Will You Do?

Yesterday marked the beginning of the 2011 Advent season. As we step into this time of year, many of us are filled with thoughts wondering what to get each person on our Christmas lists. There are children and parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, friends, coworkers and aquaintances. The list goes on and on.

Last week, as I prepared my Sunday School lesson, the question that rolled around in my mind was one that struck me in a profound sort of way and is still on my mind. What will I do for Jesus this Christmas season? We are-in fact-celebrating His birthday. His gift should be the one to be most concerned with. Thinking on this question, I look at myself and think about what I have to offer Him. He has given me abundant life and promises too numerous to mention here in a few words. Anything I can think of seems to come up short. However, as I search my heart and pray for guidance, I trust He will help me to know what it is I should give Him.

Have you considered this question before? Maybe, this question is one you focus on each year. If not, maybe you would like to think about it. In the hustle and bustle of this Christmas season, let's not forget the wonderful, blessed gift of Jesus we have all been given. May we remember the true meaning of this holiday is not gifts, but the giving of life from our Savior, Jesus Christ to each and every person who will call on His name to be saved (John 3:16-17).

So my question for you is this: what will you give (or do for) Jesus this Christmas?

Spirited Giving

"But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work," 2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

God's ability to supply for our needs is limitless. He has the resources to bless us with every good thing He so chooses. Remember that truth. He chooses. This passage of Scripture helps me keep giving in perspective. That is, God wants my giving to be directly related to my heart attitude. When we give cheerfully we bring Him glory. When we don't, it reveals our lack of faith in His ability to supply our need.

There is need all around us. This morning I glanced at the newspaper and saw an article about the devastating loss of children under five in Africa. It breaks my heart. In our community-as I'm sure in yours-there are needs so great it is difficult to think about. How can we ever get to the end of it all? Maybe we can't. There is an enemy roaming around this earth and he is doing all he can to drag us to a place of helplessness. But we serve a Saviour, Jesus Christ, who is bigger than any of the loss or devastation we see, and we can each do our part.

If we keep our eyes and hearts focused on Him, He will direct and guide us to help heal some of the hurts. Provide for some of the need. Give comfort and hope to some of the lost. It begins with each of us down on our knees in prayer, seeking the Lord's will for our lives then taking the steps in obedience. A shift in our heart attitude and walk can make all the difference in the world. What if each of us did our little part? What if we took the time to seek God's face and respond to the need He has for us to fill? Life could change as we know it.

There may be a revolutionary turn-around this world has never yet seen. Let us consider verse 8 that holds a special promise. "And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."  Trust in Him, pray and be obedient. Trust He will provide for everything He asks of you then watch Him work. May your steps of obedience bring Him glory by making a difference in this world.

Trusting and serving my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ,
Natalie

Christmas Giving

CHRISTMAS: it has been dubbed as, "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year," yet for many it is quite the opposite. Christmas can be a time of stress and dread. It can be a time of frustration, heartache, anger or even pain.

There are many families, orphans, widows and widowers who will not celebrate a Merry Christmas this year. The reasons are as different as the people themselves. Some may not have the monetary resources to have a big celebration. Some may be dealing with loss. Some may have lived through Christmases with huge disappointments that time has failed to heal. Some may have family members who will not be with them this year, for one reason or another.

What can we possibly do to help?

The first and most important thing Christians can do to help is to pray. Pray that God will bless those in need in a very special way this Christmas. Pray that God will send help to those in need. Pray that their hearts would be open to receive the gift God has for them. Pray for God to heal and bind up the wounds of those who are hurting.

Next, you can put action to your prayers. If you know of a need and are able to fill it, go ahead and do so. Do not wait for someone else. God may have laid them on your heart for a purpose-not just to pray, but to bring them some joy.

To accomplish this may mean giving of your time, money or other resources. It may seem trivial or just too hard, but it could bring about big changes to the landscape of eternity.

If you are wondering what you could possibly do, I have a few suggestions if you will allow me.

1. Gather some friends and go carolling through town.

2. Go carolling at your local senior's centre.

3. Give to the Salvation Army, Food Bank or Soup Kitchen or other group that helps the needy of your money and/or time.

4. Give to a local family in need: provide them with a Christmas feast and gifts.

5. Go to the hospital and sit with, read to or talk with someone who is lonely.

6. If you are blessed with money this season that you were not expecting, donate it to a family in need or an organization that helps those in need.

7. If you want to do something that is on-going, sponsor a child.

These are but a few things we can do to make an impact. Be prayerful and ask Jesus to show you what you can do. What better way to spend Christmas than to help a neighbour in need? What better gift could you give Jesus this year?

"For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to Me."

Matthew 25:35-36

Each time we help someone, we are showing the love of Jesus and shining His light. May your light shine this Christmas season and all year long, lighting the path for those in need.