Gifts That Keep on Giving: Happy New Year

No matter how you look at it, gifts are a fun part of the Christmas season. To me, a gift represents love, whether I give it or receive it. It says, “I was thinking of you. I thought you might enjoy this (item).”

Christmas celebrates Jesus’ birthday, and in His honor, many charitable works are done. After all, He taught his disciples that feeding the hungry, clothing those in need, visiting the sick, and those in prison were all ways of honoring Him, though they might not realize it (Matthew 25:32-46).

I always enjoy reading about the wise men in Matthew chapter two. Their gifts were expensive but there was a gift given to us that cost even more. Not only was it one-of-a-kind, but it was also free. It could never be earned or purchased.

Let’s do a little Q and A: This gift is explained in John 3:16-21:

Who gave this gift? God.

Why did He give it? He loved the world He created, and sin had corrupted it.

What was the gift? A Redeemer, His one and only Son.

Why did He give it? To save the world, not condemn it.

Who can receive it? Anyone who chooses to believe in the name of His Son, Jesus.

Gift-giving does not end with Christmas. 

Jesus is God’s gift that keeps on giving. One of His special gifts is peace.

He said, “My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).

I haven’t seen any long-lasting peace coming from our world, have you? Not one-on-one, and certainly not in any public setting.

I still say, “Happy New Year” because of Jesus’ offer of personal peace.

Do you want it? 

OK, just believe, ask, receive . . . and . . . remember to say, “Thank you, Jesus.”

 

Increase Your Christmas Joy

 

Christmas comes one day a year. When I was growing up, the big draw was two weeks out of school. Where I lived, that definitely meant lots of snow.

It also meant participation in the annual Sunday School program. Recitations and songs were followed by goodie bags for the kids. That was one Christmas tradition I was glad to outgrow---hard (unwrapped) Christmas candy sold in bulk!

I was an adult before I learned of a tradition called Advent. Advent means coming. My more liturgical friends had been celebrating Christmas with devotionals and candles starting the first Sunday after Thanksgiving.

I actually felt like I’d been cheated of something special; however, as an adult, I could change my ways.

Have you seen an Advent wreath? It’s a circle holding four candles around the outside edge, one for each Sunday of Advent. In the center is the Jesus candle. Traditional colors are four pink and one purple; however, any color can be used.

Still being in a non-liturgical church, I introduced Advent in Wednesday night services. The response was very positive. I chose four white candles for the outside, and a larger red one for the Jesus candle in the middle. I circled the candles with evergreens.

Each week celebrated a one-word theme. Words like Love or Hope or Light. Our ceremony had four simple steps: (1) A member read a scripture, (2) lit the candle of the week, (3) the congregation sang a song, and (4) a member closed with a devotional prayer.

Suggestions were available for those who wished to continue the theme in their daily devotionals.

Advent is personal and does not require a group setting. At home, I no longer light the candles but remain loyal to devotionals. 

This year I’m reading Why the Nativity? by Dr. David Jeremiah (Tyndale House Publ., 2006). It’s from my collection of Christmas books, many of which I have given away over the years.

I mentioned Advent to my sister-in-law this year. She asked what it was so I sent her a devotional. She said, “I found an Advent wreath at Hobby Lobby and we’re enjoying Advent devotionals for the first time ever.”

It’s never too late to increase your Christmas joy!

My Favorite Three-Letter Word

When it comes to movies, I enjoy good dialogue. Now and then someone will be trying to explain something when they are interrupted by the listener saying, “I hear a ‘but’ coming.”

Even if the speaker is saying something positive, the listener believes something negative is coming. They’re usually right.

Communication, including self-talk, should balance positives and negatives. Remember the days of high school speech class? I do.

Some critique was expected, but the major rule was this: A positive comment must be made before a negative comment can be given. A few positive words always softened the blow of the inevitable “but.”

I think the purpose of this three-letter word is to bring balance. There are always two sides to an issue. Life is full of both positives and negatives.

We can precede a positive thought with a negative one, or we can reverse it . . . start with the positive, followed by a negative.

Here’s an example. Which would you choose to make your point?

1)      I’m so glad you’re my daughter, but I’d like to see you take more interest in your appearance.

2)      I’d like to see you take more interest in your appearance, but I’m so glad you’re my daughter.

I love reading Proverbs. It’s filled with my favorite three-letter word. This creates comparisons which cause me to think. However, even the New Testament gets into the balancing act.

A good example is 1 Peter 1:24, 25. The writer quotes from Isaiah where man is compared to grass that withers and flowers in the grass that fade away.

Sounds like a downer, doesn’t it? Don’t give up. Read on:  . . . “but the word of the Lord endures forever.”

Now that’s encouraging for a couple of reasons: 1) I can find personal long-lasting hope in God’s Word, and 2) When trying to encourage someone else, I have more than my well-meaning words to share.

God’s Word endures forever. Grab it and hang on . . . there’s no expiration date!