gifts and Christmas

Christmas is the time when we all tend to give. We want to fill others with love and even hope. That is why we often sacrifice to make this happen.

Sacrifice is not a new idea for those who choose to obey God. Since the beginning of time the understanding of and the need for sacrifice has been very important. Sacrifice ought to cost something. Be careful not to casually follow or to do things in a way that doesn’t honor God.

2 Samuel 24:24 NASB

However, the king said to Araunah, “No, but I will certainly buy it from you for a price; for I will not offer burnt offerings to the Lord my God that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Give what is from the heart. Our gifts should be costly and from our hearts. That is best seen in why God gave us the best gift of all in His son. Jesus cost the Father everything.

David said he wouldn’t offer anything to God that cost Him nothing. When we honor and esteem God, we will make sure that our gifts to Him are of substance.

Christmas is a special time of the year. We know that gifts are important. We focus on buying and enjoying giving joy to others. I believe as most of you do that the greatest gift of all was Jesus. He remains the best and strongest gift. He is greater than anything and anyone else. Hold Him high. Watch how God brings all this together.

Matthew 7:11 NLT

So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.

The focus on gifts is not a new one. You would always take a gift to the one your were honoring and visiting, as the wisemen did. May we be the ones offering gifts. May those gifts be in honor and worship of God. May we use gifts to help others see and honor God as well.

This is the Christmas season. May we be found lifting up the one who really matters, honoring the God we follow and love, giving our lives as a sacrifice to serve Him with all we have and are.

Romans 12:1 NLT

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.

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

why is it Good Friday?

Holy Week is the time we focus on God and His gift of salvation. We come to Friday. The day we remember the cross, Jesus’ death and all God has done for you and me Why do they call this day “Good Friday” because it doesn’t seems good? Jesus was treated as a criminal. He was beaten so much that He could not recognize Him. His pain would have been too much for you or me to endure. That is especially from Scripture I’ve read or as in the movie the Passion of the Christ . Yet it is a good day. It is Good Friday because God had our good in His heart. What Jesus did that day changed our forever direction. Here are some thoughts that come to me: He is Redemption and Redeemer He too our Pain and Punishment He is our Righteousness and Reality He is the Savior and Life All of those happened from the cross. It was meant for the worst lawbreakers. It was not meant for a Savior who never broke a law. It was lifted high so that onlookers could see the price Jesus. Look

happy Thanksgiving

thursday e-devotion From my family to yours. From The Community Fellowship church family to you. Happy Thanksgiving!!!! 1 Chronicles 16:8 (NLT) Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.

Michael Harrison's e-devotion

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