The Most Important Gift of All

God Is Gracious

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

The birth of Jesus Christ is the most significant event in the history of mankind, splitting history into BC and AD. His birth represents a new beginning and hope for our future. Jesus came to forgive us and free us from our sin. And in doing so, He made the way for our eternal salvation.

This year, let us look past the pile of packages, Santa and his sleigh, Rudolph and Frosty the Snowman to see the true meaning of Christmas -- celebrating the birth of Jesus. When we focus on God’s precious gift to all people, His Son Jesus, we can experience heavenly peace, unconditional love, and complete joy without exchanging a single store-bought gift. Throughout this Christmas season, may we keep our focus on Jesus, our Lord and Savior. Merry Christmas.

Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2: 10-11

Because God is Gracious, He gave us His beloved son Jesus.

Vision Trumps Fear

God is All Powerful

So the king asked me, "Why does your face look so sad when you are not ill? This can be nothing but sadness of heart." I was very much afraid. Nehemiah 2:2

Our greatest obstacle to accomplishing a goal is fear. Fear can conjure up a slew of reasons why the task can not be accomplished. Fear can immobilize. Fear can stop us dead in our tracks. So how can we resist or defeat fear?

When Nehemiah stepped into his vision to rebuild the broken walls and gates around Jerusalem, he was afraid to approach the King to ask for permission and resources. Knowing this was a grand vision from God, Nehemiah’s fear dissolved when he placed his confidence in God. Ultimately, his vision became reality, an inspiration to many as he was able to accomplish an unbelievable task, a “God-sized” goal -- all because Nehemiah overcame his fear by trusting God.

We all have a dream or a vision to be passionate about -- a vision about our lives, our careers, our families, our finances ….So what is stopping you? Is your fear bigger than your vision and greater than your faith?

In God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11

Because God is all powerful, we can accomplish great things when we trust God with the outcome.

Thanksgiving

God is Ever Present

I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

Thanksgiving is a wonderful holiday – a time for reflection and for spending time with friends and family, a time to give thanks for all the blessings we have in our life. Too often though, the holiday brings busyness, preoccupation with year-end expectations and demands, concerns over family dynamics, anxiety and stress. We sometimes find ourselves without a moment of peace and look forward to getting back to our usual routine.

With Thanksgiving approaching, how about taking this moment to consider all that we are thankful for? Not only little things but the big things as well --we live in a free country, we are the richest nation in the world, we are highly educated…We also have a God who loves us, oh how He loves us! His grace and mercy are always there for us to receive when we turn to Him. In fact, each day can be full of thanksgiving as our Heavenly Father pours out His blessings on us, His beloved children.

For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 1 Timothy 4:4

Because God is ever present, with Christ every day is a day of thanksgiving.

What's love got to do with it?

God is Love

And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16

Have you ever struggled with feeling loved and accepted? Most of us do, but we don't have to once we grasp how deeply and completely God loves us. While love from a spouse or a friend or a family member may be lacking, God's love will fill that void in our life if we invite him to do so. In fact, no one is complete without God's love. He created us to yearn for Him; that is why so frequently we feel emptiness irrespective of whatever our circumstances or relationships may be. So, if you don't feel complete, how about accepting God's love? He is waiting for you. And remember, with God, you will experience love beyond imagine.

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ. Ephesians 3:16-18

Because God is love, He is committed unconditionally to you.

Have you been Rejected?

God is Love

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. II Corinthians 4:8-9

No one likes rejection. But it seems more common than we’d like to think – a rejected business proposal, a rejected invitation; a rejected date, or rejected affection….the list goes on.

Even Jesus was rejected. After his arrest, some of his best friends would not claim they knew him for fear they would suffer. Isn’t it ironic that Jesus, the one who will never reject us is the one we so often reject? He stands at the door and knocks, he wants to be a part of our life but so often we are too busy, too prideful, or perhaps, too foolish to accept Him….So why not run to God if you never have; or run back to God if you have strayed away? Man may reject us, but God’s love for us is unchanging and we do not have to fear being rejected no matter what we do or say or think.

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Revelation 3:20

Because God is Love, He will never reject you.

A Passion for Service and Excellence

God is Gracious

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Genesis 2:15

Since creation, God has given us work to do. Knowing that God created work should shed new light on our approach to the work week. And, if we focus on this truth, it is possible that even the most difficult aspects of work can become a passion.

Are you passionate about your work? Do you strive for 110 percent or is complacency lurking in you? Take a look at what is being asked of you today and think of how God has been gracious to you. As He changes your heart and mind, you will have the ability to transform an undesirable or mundane task into one full of joy and excellence. Passion comes from the heart, a heart humbled by the knowledge of God’s grace and mercy.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, Colossians 3:23

Because God is gracious, He can transform our hearts and enable us to serve passionately.

Let It All Go

God Is Faithful

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said. "Go sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Mark 10:21 (NIV)

But what would it look like if we consciously made the decision to give up control of everything to "let it all go"? To turn over not only what we hold dear, but also our fears, anxiety, anger, and grief...

You may ask "why would I give up what I cling to so tightly" and "how would I begin to let it all go"?...The answer is anchored in "Trust". God sent his Son Jesus to pay our debts so that we can live our life to the fullest through a relationship with Him. We will experience an abundant life full of unconditional love and acceptance, peace, hope and joy, once we choose to trust in Christ.

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 (NKJ).

Because God is faithful, we receive God's blessings in abundance as we trust in Him.