Gift Giving Time

Well, it’s that time of year again.  The Christmas music has already begun in some stores, and they are lining up to take our money for the many gifts we’re all going to be buying this year.  Now I’m a shopper, so I enjoy this time of year.  I enjoy searching for deals and getting my family gifts that they’ll enjoy at lower prices so that I can buy them more gifts.  I like meeting people while I’m shopping…the general good mood that most people are in (there are exceptions). 

With all of that said, I would like to point out one thing.  As much as I love to give gifts to my family, the best gift I can give them is my showing them how to have God as a part of their lives and discipling them through that relationship.  I know that often I write about reaching others for Christ, and most of the time that focuses on those in the community, at work, etc.  Well, your most attentive audience is probably in your own home, and often we do a horrible job at discipling them because we think they are just going to do what we do.

This week, I just want to remind everyone to be intentional as you go through this holiday season.  Make sure that your family knows not just that you are a Christian, but also WHY you are a Christian and how you live that life every day.  Don’t just assume that they know.  It takes practice for all of us to grow as Christians, but it also takes instruction for us to show others the right way to live their lives.

This is one gift you can give this Christmas that will keep on giving.              

Stuff

I tell you what, we’re coming up on one of my favorite times of the year. I just love Thanksgiving and Christmas time as most people really start to focus on family. There are tons of events to go to and time spent with others. Most people seem to be in a better mood, even here in Ohio where it’s freezing cold most of the time.

With that said, I’m sure you’re starting to wonder why I titled the blog the way I did. Well, with this time of year comes Christmas shopping. It’s the time when we all fight through the crowds and get stuff to show others how much we care about them. Now, I cherish these events so don’t take what I’m about to say the wrong way. I love to give gifts to others. I love the look on someone’s face as they get that very thoughtful or desired gift. I also love to get gifts and gain new things. But, let me stop right there for a minute…

You see, I want to remind everyone today that in the long run those gifts are mostly just stuff that fills our lives in one way or another. These are items that we didn’t have before and are probably not really needs but more or less wants. Yes, some gifts do fill a need that you had, or you wouldn’t have asked for it. But, most items are more like the add-ons that you purchase with a vehicle. I mean, do you need power windows and doors? Probably not, but they are nice to have. Same thing with the A/C and cruise control, right? The same thing goes for the stuff that we get at the holidays. Do you need a new set of Japanese steak knives, or did you want them? Do they somehow improve your quality of life (other than when eating steak?)?

As we head into the holidays this year I wanted to put everyone to the test this year. I want to challenge you to look at the stuff in your life that the world says you should need. Look at those things and see if they are helping you get to God, or keeping you apart from Him. Do they eat up the time you could spend with Him or for His Kingdom? If you really wanted to give someone a gift, maybe the best thing you could give them is your time. Maybe that time allows you to get Jesus into their lives or helps them get a better relationship with Him.

I’m not saying that this year you shouldn’t give the fun little gifts that you have a knack for giving. What I want to stress is that this year, if you haven’t already, start to look for gifts that can keep on giving. Give a friend a coupon to baby-sit their kids for a night so they can spend time with their spouse, getting them closer to each other and God at the same time. Give your children your time and attention, playing that game you give them this Christmas. Give your parents the love that your Heavenly Father shows you daily. All of these gifts can multiply themselves and also be paired with that item you find on Black Friday. (I’ll be out there with you other nut cases as I have been for the past 16 years.) Gift the gift of Jesus into the lives of everyone you contact, and this year your gift won’t just be on the shelf with the other stuff you’ve given before.