Part 2 of Homemade Gifts

The reason for the season. Here’s part 2 of my homemade gift giving inspiration. Enjoy!

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

Today’s Truth: The reason for the season

Have you discovered the truth that we simply cannot “out-give” God? The more we give, the more we receive. And that truth does not just apply to financial giving. It is really all about the attitude behind the gift. Do you remember the Christmas gifts you received last year? How about the Christmas gifts you gave? What about the gift you gave Jesus? Yesterday we talked about several meaningful gifts you can give. Here are a few more for you to consider.

A gift of care   

Galatians 6:2 (RSV) “Bear one another’s burdens.” Christmas is a time of empty hopes and fierce loneliness for many people. In fact, the holidays can be nothing more than a season riddled with pain. Every loss is magnified. Every wound is deepened. Pray that the Father will give you His eyes to see the broken lambs, crying out for help. This year, do something for someone who is hurting:

• Invite them over for a meal.
• Listen to them.
• Meet one need in their life.
• Include them in your celebration.
• Take them shopping with you.

Christmas is hard for some of my friends because it is a time when they especially miss their loved ones. One Christmas I was at church and I sensed someone struggling and I decided to meet a need in their life. I filled their email box with words of encouragement. And every time I saw her I would give her a big hug and I told her how much she was loved. She invited me over to her home for Christmas dinner one year and I met her son and family. She died this year, but I will never forget her generosity and she treated me like a daughter.

A secret gift

Matthew 6:3-4 (TLB) “But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Give a secret gift to someone you know – with no hidden motive and no apparent benefit to you. When I pastored a church in Columbus, Georgia, the members were very caring. I love plants and flowers and I bought a few plants for my office at the church. The church was so hot that the plants began to loose their leaves and die. One of the members felt sorry for me and when I came home one day, I had several plants on my porch! Oh my it was a site to see. I was delighted, grateful and amazed! I knew who had done the task, but I was grateful that it was a surprise that delighted my heart.

A gift of teaching   

Romans 12:7 (NLT) “If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well.” What skill, ability or talent has God given you? Each one is from His hand and meant to be given away in service to others. Is there a young believer in your life you can mentor? That better time to share your gifts and abilities than at Christmas? You may be able to sew or play the piano, cook gourmet meals, or beautifully decorate your home. Each talent and ability is a potential gift. In high school, my choral director gave me a free voice lesson each week. Consequently, when I attended college I was able to audition for the choir and I made it on the first tryouts all because one woman chose to share her gift of teaching with me. Get creative! Give a gift from the heart this year. May this be a Christmas filled with the joy of the Lord as you celebrate His birth and life.

Now You Try It

Grab your Christmas list and set aside some time to pray for each person on that list this week. Do you need to rethink some of the gifts you are giving this year? It is not too late! Ask God how you can best honor His birth by the gifts you give to others.

Have a wonderful day on purpose!