Around this time of year, people tend to have a desire to give more. We spend Thanksgiving with families and thank God for His goodness year-round. Then we spend the latter part of the year, sharing His goodness with others; whether it be buying gifts for loved ones or giving back to someone less fortunate. Our family has chosen to focus on others during the Christmas season.
Our birthdays are fairly close to Christmas with mine in November and my husband’s birthday at the beginning of December, so we have already received out heart’s desire right before the big day. We figure that we are blessed to be a blessing to someone else during this season. And even though we have only been married for two years, each year God finds a way to show us a family that we can be a blessing to. It’s rewarding not only because we are obedient to God, but because we are graced to share in spreading hope and cheer to families who may have given up. I am reminded of John 3:16, one of the most iconic verses in the Bible, where it shows us how God gave His best to us. It reads, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” In this season of giving, let's remember the greatest gift of all that God gave us, his son Jesus Christ. He gave His one and only son which I am sure was pretty hard to do knowing what hardships that His son was going to have to endure in the future, but He still gave. This is best known as sacrificial giving – giving where it costs you something. We can learn from this example. Ask the Holy Spirit, what ways can you give that may cost you something or make you a little uncomfortable. I am not telling you to empty your bank account for someone; your sacrificial giving may not even include money (wow! I know shocker right). The most expensive gift that you can give someone is your time; you can never get your time back or make more time at the end of the day. Holy Spirit may lead you to give some time at your local nursing home, greeting and spending time with the elderly that don’t have family to visit them. Holy Spirit may lead you to watch your nieces and/or nephews to give your family a break for a date night. There are numerous ways that we can give sacrificially that does not involve money, so don’t believe the lie of the Enemy that may have you believing that you have nothing to give. So, this Christmas I challenge you to step outside your comfort zone, and ask God “How can I be a blessing to someone this Christmas season?” You may be surprised at what you hear, but be obedient. Your reward is far reaching. This may turn into a tradition for you and your family and it may continue to spread out throughout the year and become a way of living. Happy Giving and Merry Christmas!! - Sanitra Fain
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November 2017
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