Christmas giving

Proverbs 11:25 NLT

The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.

Christmas is about giving. Most of us focus on the act and love of giving and receiving gifts between family and friends on this special day, and that is something that we all really enjoy. I really love watching my children enjoy this.

But there is more to giving. In fact as you have heard me say many times giving to God is a blessing and giving our lives and resources to help others is an important part of the life of people following God.

It is this time of the year that our church has our annual Christmas mission offering. This supports missions around the world as well as supports those who are hungry. If you would like to give, go to www.thecommunityfellowship.org and click “giving online” and choose “mission offering”. 100% of this offering goes to missions and to feeding people.

There are many places and many ways we can give. Follow your heart as you give out of the blessings that God has brought in to your life. This really is a serious issue!

But I ask that you examine your hearts. Giving is not about the feeling that it gives us, but giving does feel good. Giving is not just about meeting needs, and there are many needs that must be met. Giving is not just sharing with others who wants to give, yet when we give together we make a bigger impact.

Giving is also about doing what God has called each of us to do. It is about sacrifice. Jesus did this. His sacrifice that began with Christmas, continued at the cross and found it’s fulfillment in the resurrection. God gave His son. Jesus gave His life. All through the years God has given more than we know for each of us.

We have the honor of giving. We also have an act of obedience to the leading of God through giving. May we be found faithful with what God has called us to do and through what God has placed in our lives.

May we be found generous this Christmas season and help others see how good our God is!

Have you heard of EDITH BURNS?

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas . She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her. Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying,"My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you ...

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wash feet, sharing hope

John 13:4-5,14 NLT So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, 5 and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him… 14 And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. Jesus set the example we follow. He served. He valued and gave value to others. That is why we choose to serve. For 18 years our church has shared an outreach called back2school, and for 16 of those years we have chosen to give students brand new shoes and socks as well as washing their feet. It is one of the most important parts of this event. Washing feet is a humbling experience where both the give and the receiver learn how to share some moments that might change their lives. Jesus said we should do this. See the verse above. Follow His example, do what He did, and give far more than you will ever know....

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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