Good Gifts

Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread?  Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish?  As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children.  But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. (Matthew 7:9-11, CEV)

I was taught growing up never to give anything that I would not want for myself.  This was ingrained in me.  So I am always mindful of what I give to others, whether in a form of words, deeds or actual gifts.  For example, I periodically go through my house, seeing what I should keep, give away or throw away.  Some people call this “spring” cleaning.  In the “to keep” pile are things that I currently use or need.  In the “give away” pile are things I would keep, if I still had the need for them.  In the “throw away” pile are things that are broken, worn down, snagged or ripped – and therefore not wanted or needed and would never even consider to give away.  In other words, I check out the quality of the item before giving it to someone else.

In Matthew 7:9-11 Jesus is speaking about giving good gifts.  Based on the content, he is actually speaking about the quality of the gift.  In other words, a good gift is one of good quality and of good use.  A stone and a snake are of no use or of good quality for a hungry child, but bread and fish are.  Likewise, when I’m during my “spring cleaning”, a torn shirt and a broken chair are of no use or of good quality for anyone - not for myself or someone else.

Today, let us be mindful of what we are giving to others.  Let us give good gifts - kind and encouraging words as well as deeds that actually meet the needs of others.

Giving and Expecting

Here is a simple rule of thumb for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you; then grab the initiative and do it for them! If you only love the lovable, do you expect a pat on the back? Run-of-the-mill sinners do that. If you only help those who help you, do you expect a medal? Garden-variety sinners do that. If you only give for what you hope to get out of it, do you think that’s charity? The stingiest of pawnbrokers does that.  I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst.  (Luke 6:33-35, MSG)

How can any of us give without expecting anything in return?  Is that even possible?  The answer is absolutely – yes we can.  In fact, not only can we give without expecting anything in return, but it is also the only way in which God wants us to give.  The key in doing this is for us to determine our motives behind giving.  If we are giving to be accepted, to be liked, or to be any thing other than loving, our motive is simply wrong.  It is indeed nice to hear “Thank you” from the person we give to, but it is not necessary.

The truth is God can only give us what we need.  So our expectation should be placed on God and not others.  If we continue to expect what a person is incapable of giving – we will be disappointed every time.  This is the reason Paul responded the way he did, concerning the giving of the Christians at Philippi – And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19, NIV).  He wanted the Philippians to know that he was grateful for their giving, and that their true reward, for their giving, will be from God.

Today let us give the way Jesus tells us to give in Luke 6:33-35.  Let us give generously and graciously to others, and at the same time expect God – and only God – to bless us accordingly.

The Ultimate Gift

 

This is how much God loved the world: He gave his son, his one and only son.  And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. (John 3:16 Message Bible)

 

During this time of the year people are shopping, wrapping gifts and placing them under the Christmas tree or putting them in secret places until the right time on Christmas Eve to bring them out just in time the next morning and hopefully see big smiles on the faces of those these gifts were purchased for.  However; go back and visit that same household possibly six months from now and ask about those same gifts.  Answers will be different, for some the gift may be broken, for others it could be in the closet, for many they could still be enjoying their gift and hopefully for only a few the gift may have made its way back to the store for a refund or exchange.  All these gifts have something in common; they all perish.  There is one gift that God gave to this world that is eternal and perfect.  I like to call it the ultimate gift.  When something is considered ultimate that means it is the best of the best.  Nothing compares or even comes close.  God gave us the ultimate gift of love when He gave us his son.

In this wonderful gift was unending love deeply tucked away in the package.  There was unconditional love that covered the package in its wrapping and finally there was undeserved love bowed on top.  So it does not matter whether we have been naughty or nice throughout the year because the gift giver looked beyond our faults and saw our need; we were graced to be able to have this ultimate gift. This gift does not perish with time but it keeps on giving to those who will accept it.  As we take time today to give to each other and receive also take time out to be thankful for the ultimate give that has been given to you.  A suggestion would be before opening the presents take time to pray and give God thanks for the ultimate gift, Jesus.  Before sitting down and eating all the wonderful smelling food that was prepared take time to thank God for giving you the ultimate gift, Jesus.  You will see that it is the best gift that you and I would ever receive.

No More Wait

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily snares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. Hebrews 12:1 NKJV

Many look at this scripture and formulate the conclusion of "what " they would consider sins.  Some times people list sins as "little or big" but how often do we inventory our own life and look at those so called small foxes that spoil the vine.  One in particular is called "Procrastination".  How often have you put off an unpleasant task only to find yourself faced with deadlines or a product that was less than your best.  Putting off unpleasant tasks only makes them more unpleasant.  Putting off any task, even those that you're not dreading, can be stressful as they nag at you and distract you until you finally relent and get them done.  You can reduce that potential stress by following the common sense advice of time management experts.  Do unpleasant tasks first.  Chip away at big projects by doing a little at a time.  Set a time limit on jobs you dislike and stick to it.  Make an appointment with yourself to do routine paperwork.  Avoid negative self-talk.

Only you and God know why you procrastinate.  Get to the heart of that, and you can better handle those tasks you keep putting off.  Take a deep breath, utter a quiet prayer, and get to work.  You know you'll feel better when its done.  And when you are done, make a resolution to eliminate procrastination from your routine.  Don't put it off.  Often what manifest itself in the natural also have spiritual effects.  What promptings from the Holy Spirit have you ignored or better yet not answered when the call was made to you by God?  Have there been times in which you knew that God was leading you to do something or take care of something immediately and you decided to do it later only to find out that the opportune time had passed.  God could have prompted you to read a passage of scripture because He wanted to reveal a special message to you but if you never picked up the bible to read it how could you take advantage of the opportunity.  Take the time to do what you least want to do and eventually see that it takes more time and effort to procrastinate then it would to get the task done.  Let there be "No More Wait" in your life.

No Greater Love

 

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13


When I think of the love of God and how He extends that love to me, my mind can not comprehend it all.  As a child I never really understood or grasped the concept of love within my home.  We did not hug one another nor did we say "I Love You" to each other.  If you did the next thing you knew there were jokes spoken about you and how mushy you had become.  The outward affection of love within the home was thought of as weakness and based on the environment you grew up in, it just became the norm. 

Fast forwarding to adulthood those same thoughts and mindsets became a part of my everyday life.  In the back of my mind was embedded you do not show affection or love because people will take advantage of you.  In turn, an invisible wall was put up and I dared anyone to cross it.  If they tried to cross it they were to be cut off right at the curb.  Some of you reading this devotional are probably shaking your head in agreement or saying "Amen".  It was not until I really formed a relationship with God that I began to understand His love for me.  Notice, I did not write that "once I got saved" but "not until I really formed a relationship" with God.  Getting saved did not make me automatically understand the depth of the love that God had for me.  Oh, do not get me wrong, I knew God loved me because He saved me.  That was not the issue.  My issue was how deep was His love for me.  Would He love me if I did not always obey? Would He love me if I messed up?  Would He love me if I did not do what He told me at a certain time?  I wanted to know if God would still love me even when I was not perfect.  Why, did I ask such questions?  I asked such questions because I quickly found out in my life that if you did not do what others wanted or expected all the time, then their love for you would change.  I learned quickly to adapt and overcome in order to survive.

I do not know your story, but I do know God.......who truly does love us and only wants the best for our lives.  His love was so great that in John 15:13 it is exhibited to the world.  Greater love hath no man than this, than a man lay down his life for his friends.  Jesus laid down His life for you and I.  We had not met personally.  We never spent time together.  There was no physical bond between us in terms of hanging out together.  As a matter of fact, I was not even born yet when this occurred but yet I have been covered by Jesus' love.  We all must understand the depth, breath and height of God's love.  It is really indescribable but God is faithful to us even when we are not faithful to ourselves.  I am privileged and honored that God would love me and that He continues to love me.  Know in your own life, no matter where you are and what is going on with you.  God loves you and wants you to know that He loves you unconditionally, in others words His agape love covers you everyday, all day long. 

Tired of Winning?

But David said …, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep.  When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth.  When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.  Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defiled the armies of the living God.  The Lord who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”  … Samuel 17:34-37 (NIV)

The historical account of David and Goliath is a classic underdog story.  David, a seemingly inexperienced young shepherd boy, fighting an experienced warrior, who is also a giant, named Goliath.  From a physical standpoint, who could have ever imaged that the shepherd boy would actually end up winning the flight?  He did though.  Despite discouraging and insults words and fearful threats from others, David placed all his trust in God and came out to be victorious in the end.

Although the underdog quality about David is inspiriting, something else caught my attention.  David encountered a lion and then a bear and now he must face a giant.  Some time ago, I fought a proverbial lion and a proverbial bear.  I thought, “Finally, I can rest”, but then a giant appeared.  I said to God, “I’m tired”.  Then God enlightened me as I read the above scripture.  Saying “I’m tired of fighting” is the same as saying, “I’m tired of winning”.  Wow!  David wasn't tired of winning, so he wasn't tired of fighting.

Today, let us remember nothing we go through is larger than God, and it is in God that we continuously have victory over everything we go through.  So let’s not get tired of doing what is good.  At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. Galatians 6:9 (NLT).

Embrace Your Weaknesses

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:8-10 (NLT)

I was once told, “Never admit your weaknesses because other people would use them against you”.  I started practicing what I had been taught – until one day God revealed something to me.  Not admitting my weaknesses didn’t hide them from others nor did it prevent others from hurting me.  In fact, when we are unable to admit our weaknesses, it is not to protect us from others, but instead it is to protect us from ourselves.  Simply put – it’s a pride thing.  And God’s grace doesn’t work in our pride; it only works in our humility.  Paul said that he gladly admits his weaknesses, because in doing so it revealed his strength through God’s grace.

A friend of mine reminded me of a conversation we once had.  She was telling me about how she was sick of forgiving people, people who no one else would even consider forgiving.  Then God’s grace was revealed.  God used me to show her that what she had considered to be weak was really strong.  Who else but through God’s power, love, and kindness can any one of us forgive someone else – especially someone who doesn’t even deserve it?  I can only think that if it wasn’t but for the love of God who died for us when we were yet in sin, we would never be so strong to be able to forgive others.

Today, embrace your weaknesses, and in doing so – embrace God’s grace - what may seem to be weak, it actually strong.