Gift Giving that lasts

***Why not give the gift of your time to someone this Christmas?

Call your local homeless shelter, children's home, pregnancy center, nursing home, rehab, food bank, or any other service organization. Ask what you can do to serve & bless someone less fortunate.

Write a note to an estranged friend or family member, or a friend facing this season without a loved one. Invite someone single or alone and away from family to spend Christmas with you.

***Why not give the gift of your heart this Christmas?

Learn to be real with others. Share with someone about your struggles. Ask for help. Ask for prayer.

If you are born again, share with someone God's amazing grace & how He has transformed your heart and life. Then show that grace to someone who has hurt or disappointed you.

Love one another. Be a true friend. Listen. Go the extra mile. Forgive… then forgive again (70 times 7 the Bible says.)

Keep showering those in your life with love, mercy & grace... You never know what small gesture God will use to turn a life around.

Praise God for all you have. Learn to number your blessings and not your sorrows.

***Why not give the gift of encouragement this Christmas?

Write down 3 (or more) things you love & admire about someone. Tell them through a card, a note, a text or phone call. Or better yet, in person -- you can be a grace-giver and lift another up, all you have to do is choose to!

Pray… EVERY day. Ask someone how you can pray for them. Pray with them if possible, then ask God to reveal Himself to them and trust Him to meet their need.

Listen to a loved one share about their grief this season. Many are mourning the loss of their spouse, child, parent, etc. and this is their first Christmas without them. Many are also mourning the loss of a relationship, loss of a job, or suffering the disappointment of having loved ones who are addicted and cannot be with family because of their addictions. Others are facing cancer and don’t know if this may be their last Christmas season on earth.

Be a comfort and encourager. Ask them if they need anything, or ask their family what they need, then provide it - anonymously.

***Last but not least, why not receive the only Christmas gift that lasts forever?

Realize you are a sinner, that Jesus died to pay the penalty for all your sin & rose again 3 days later. Surrender your life to Him and acknowledge Him as Lord. Then follow that decision of faith, by His grace alone, with baptism and becoming a part of a bible-believing church family.

Surrender each day to a life lived to bring God glory, obeying Him as The Lord of your life. And remember life is NOT about you, it is ALL about Jesus!

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

This. Is. Christmas!