Season of Giving

The Christmas season is truly the most beautiful time of the year! It is a time of gift-giving, family gatherings, and good cheer! It is a season of bright lights and traditional baked treats. It is a chance to pause and remember the greatest gift of all. Christmas is our Abba Father giving the ultimate gift of his son to you and me. This is a beautiful thing, for his gift changes everything.

Therefore, I want to emulate God's goodness all year long. How about you?

As we focus on the way God gives to you and me, it challenges me to give to others with his open heart. Out of an overflow of God's goodness, you and I can follow his example to love others well. We can share the love of Christ by learning to give.

What helps me to give with open hands is to remember how freely our Lord gives. He gave his son Jesus to be born so he could die. In his death, Jesus paid the debt that we owed. God gave the ultimate gift. He continues to give good gifts. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17 (ESV) God gives abundantly. (Psalm 132:15) "I will abundantly bless her provisions; I will satisfy her poor with bread" (Psalm 132:15).

God also tells us to give to others. Luke 6:38 reads, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Friends, I challenge you to keep your eyes open during this season and throughout the year. Look for opportunities to give back to your church and the community. Give freely. Give abundantly. Look for opportunities to give to others around you. For example, give your neighbor a Christmas surprise gift or your famous Christmas goodies. Give your time to a local ministry. Amy Carrol, with Proverbs 31 suggests, "As you're running errands, look to see who you can bless with a kind word or a cup of coffee. As you're decorating, think about whose home you could bring some festivity to. And as you pause during your day, remember who you can give the gift of prayer and encouragement."

Let's develop our giving this season and all year long! Let us give as our Abba Father gives. Let us be a blessing to others.

Happy gift-giving!