Christmas Gifts

When my wife and I were first married we didn't have much money for Christmas gifts. The year was 1977 and we were living in Menominee, WI - a 4+ hour drive from our families living in the Milwaukee suburbs.

My wife was working as a dietitian at the Eau Claire hospital and I was pounding nails as a carpenter.

When Christmastime came, we struggled to come up with Christmas gift ideas for our family members. My wife had made a piece of embroidery in one of her classes. I brought a 4x4 chunk of wood home from the junk pile at the job site. Those two things, plus a nail, and we fashioned a candle holder. We also splurged and bought a candle too. Ooo! (lace not included).

The carpenter crew I was working on was putting siding on a house - a beautiful A-frame with cedar siding. The cornerboards were made out of 1x4 rough-sawn cedar - one board lapped on top of the other - to form an L-shape. In order to get the corners symmetrical, a 3/4" strip had to be cut off one of the boards. The leftover strips were thrown into the dumpster as scrap. But not for long.

I brought the cedar scraps home and began cutting them into pieces. These became picture frames and also stars to put on the top of our Christmas tree, and the trees of our parents. My wife then baked some cookies and our gift "shopping" was done.

Today, we live in a world of gift cards and Amazon Prime. We see, we buy, we check people off a shopping list. Christmas cards are also becoming a thing of the past.

Life was much simpler 47 years ago, and I think better in many ways. Gifts were simpler, more personal, and the giving came more from the heart.

This year our daughter gave me just such a gift. She created it herself. And printed it herself. And she KNEW the gift recipient's heart, which made it truly special.

All gifts given and received are wonderful things, but sometimes the simplest gifts can be the most meaningful. Seek the simple things in life, not necessarily the most convenient. Give from the heart, and not out of obligation. The best gifts are given out of love, and often by using the gifts that we ourselves have already been given.

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” - 2 Corinthians 9:7 

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” - 1 Peter 4:10

Giving

“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you." - Luke 6:37-38

Those words from Jesus stuck in my mind during church yesterday morning. Especially the beginning of verse 38 - "give and it will be given to you."

Look at the little girl in this picture. Her name is Autumn. We met at a wellness event in an area community. Some friends and I were there promoting disc golf. Autumn was there to have fun.

Autumn was a cool kid, much like my granddaughter. Full of energy, a big smile. She was "giving" and didn't even know it. But she was struggling to get any of the putters into the basket - just six feet away.

After a little instruction, Autumn made her first putt. and then another and another. She was hooked. By the end of the day Autumn had made 105 putts!

Think about that verse - "give and it will be given to you." Autumn gave her smile and her energy, freely, without condition. Her instructor gave her the knowledge she needed to successfully make her putts. In return her instructor received the gift of watching a young child learn a portion of the game of disc golf.

I wondered where our world would be if we only would give to one another, without condition. And what if we gave to God just as unconditionally. So often our relationship with God is a one-way street. We pray for things that WE want, not necessarily for the things that GOD wants.

The key to all of this is giving (and love). It's not necessarily the receiving. In order to receive something, doesn't it first have to be given?

Now look at the first part of our opening verse. "Do not judge and you will not be judged." Did we judge this little girl? No. We just saw her for who she was - an energetic, smiling, innocent kid. We didn't know her background, her family status, whether she was rich or poor or believed in Jesus.

Are all of our earthly relationships like that? Non-judgmental? Freely giving to each other? Do we give of ourselves at work or at school? Do we volunteer in our communities or at church? What does this teaching of Jesus look like at our southern border? In Ukraine? In our inner cities? In Washington DC?

Jesus said the following in the Book of John. How do we reconcile His words with our actions? 

"By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:35

How can we love others like Jesus today?

Infinite Love

As I was walking between cars at the food pantry this past Saturday, I noticed this interesting bumper sticker. What a tremendous message for the world we are living in today.

"Infinite Love" is what I figured the sign said. I reflected on that for a moment and smiled. I looked around at the parking lot filled with cars - people in need of food.

They had all come to Waupaca Christian Church for a monthly food distribution. What an incredible example of Infinite Love. The place was crawling with volunteers. Each one was risking catching the covid-19 virus by their just being there. Yet their desire to help others outweighed that fear.

In my last story I mentioned the protective masks we all wore, provided by a women's church group. There's another example of infinite love. Serving others to keep them safe. And let's not forget all of the companies who donate the food. How much longer will they be able to do so with all of the companies being shut down. Yikes!

Of course, the best example of infinite love is God. Nobody loves more or has sacrificed more than God. He gave up His one and only Son to die for OUR sins - past, present and future! Talk about infinite love! God IS infinitely loving!

Here's a question. How can WE show infinite love in our communities? In our families? At work? This is a time we all desperately need love. And as much as we need it, we need to give it as well. The next person you meet today may be in desperate need of some love. Be prepared. Not just to recognize the need but to provide a solution as well.

And here's something else to remember . . .

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17This is my command: Love each other." - John 15:16-17

Let's do that today. In His glorious name.

There's A Place For Us - Carrie Underwood

No Room

Christmas time can be a really busy time of the year. Everybody has all their normal busyness but then Christmas and Thanksgiving bring new layers of it that can be quite crippling, especially for our faith.

I was volunteering at a local food pantry Saturday morning and witnessed something I had never seen before. Someone came in looking for some food. They had no money for the "required donation."

The lady was told she could not proceed to get food without the $20. And it's funny because a man had come in earlier with only $10 of the required $20 HE needed and somehow we found $10 for him. Why was this lady turned away?

That got me thinking. It shouldn't be that way, that people are turned away at a church with food. Especially at Christmas time! I'm not picking on the church or the food pantry here. I am picking on myself and my inability to act. Why didn't I have $20 in my pocket? Why didn't I follow the lady out the door and offer to buy her some food?

Reading through Luke 11 Saturday night, I found a story where Jesus was talking with His disciples about giving and asking. He spoke about how God is ALWAYS willing to give His children what they need. But they DO have to ask.

Should it be any different for His children? Us? I don't think so. Was I too busy "volunteering" so I couldn't make room for a family without food? Here, read this from Luke 11.

"Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." - Luke 11:5-10

Someone asked for bread yet they were never given any. That's wrong. This is Christmas!! It is a time for giving, not a time of receiving. This poor soul is going to have $20 in his pocket from now one. And it's going to get used!

When Jesus was born there was no room for Him. Who of us would not open the door to Mary and Joseph on a cold winter's night? Far too many I fear. Let it not be us. Let us open the door of our hearts to Jesus and love like HE loved.

People Help The People - Birdy

The Unopened Gift

One last wave goodbye. Bits of shredded wrapping paper cowering under the tree as we toss the rest of its family, screaming,  into the trash. Christmas celebrations are in the books for another year. All the kids are gone and the house, once again, is quiet. Too quiet.

As the sun sets on this day I think back to Christmas's past. Childhood memories seem almost perfect in my eyes - 50+ years removed from today. Any "bad" memories, arguments or illnesses fade in favor of good times had by all.

The first Christmas, the day Jesus was born 2,000+ years ago, only lives in the hearts and minds via stories in the Bible (and the Holy Spirit if you believe). Isaiah 9, Mathew 1&2 and Luke 2 tell the stories that Christmas carols are made of.

Each of us has our own version of the Christmas story in our hearts. Our brains function like that. We try to forget the bad in favor of the good. We don't want to hear about our sin and need for repentance. We picture things through our heart's warm and fuzzy filter. Times we were hurt vs. times we had fun. And that's a problem.

We like to think about the happy, wonderful baby Jesus. In our minds He probably never cried or loaded His diaper. It's a one-sided story. We tend to forget about how Herod had all the other two-year old children in Bethlehem killed in hopes of killing Jesus along with them. Where is THAT fact in our happy, wonderful, filtered Christmas story?

"16 When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under," - Matthew 2:16

WHY Jesus was born is anything but happy - to eventually be nailed to a tree and killed for the things that you and I have done or left undone.

We have spent more time baking cookies and wrapping presents then we have thinking about the truth written in God's Word. And that's another problem.

The reality of Christmas is we have morphed it into something it was never intended to be - a marketing event and a means for people to make money. Christmas should be a time when we give our King gifts, not ourselves.

If you have remembered the true meaning of Christmas and you have it in your hearts, I thank God for you. For you are truly one of God's children and the spirit of Christmas lives in you throughout the year, not just in December.

There is a group called Advent Conspiracy that started up back in 2009. Their mission is to return Christmas to its original meaning. Their four main tenants are these - Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All.

Sounds good to me! :) As Christians, we should be doing that every day. If you have not placed your faith and trust in Jesus, please, take another look under the tree. Or better yet, open a Bible to one of the stories I mentioned earlier. Perhaps there is "an unopened gift" waiting for YOU. :)

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas. One Christmas closer to His return. Let's hope He comes soon. What a Christmas gift THAT would be.

The Perfect Gift - JJ Heller
The Perfect Gift - 2017 Advent Conspiracy Explainer

Fill Me Up

I have a theory. I think our hearts have a heart-shaped feature to them that is meant to be filled up. Some people's cups are over-flowing while others are empty. Some cups are bigger than others, some younger, some older. The purpose of a cup is to have something poured into it while we enjoy it and savor it. How full is YOUR cup ?

This past Saturday I volunteered at Ruby's Pantry - a local food pantry. I LOVE serving there. It always "fills my cup" right to the brim.

It was 18 degrees out that morning. Kind of chilly I guess but I had dressed for it. I probably looked like that kid from A Christmas Story, all swollen up and hardly able to bend my arms. Then I saw a friend of mine and asked her how she was doing.

"I lost both of my parents last month. My mom on November 1st and my father on November 30th."

Turns out my arms could bend after all. As I gave her a hug and told her I was SO sorry, I was actually pouring love from my heart-shaped cup into hers. How awful to lose both parents, one right after the other. I prayed for her right there in the snow.

I think the love we have stored up for ourselves tastes the best when we serve it to someone else in need. The cool thing about giving our love to someone else is, God in turn fills OUR hearts back up for us again.

My wife and I have one, lone Christmas card remaining on our countertop. I has a name on it but no address. I had been sending Facebook messages and texts to this person for weeks but no reply.

Last night I saw this person on Facebook so I sent them a quick message. They responded! I got the address and I got something else too. Filled up!

It turns out that this person's heart-shaped cup was bone dry. After a brief conversation both of our cups were full again.

Love is an amazing thing. We only get love when we freely give of it ourselves. However, there IS a danger. If we give of ourselves without any way to obtain a refill, there is a danger that our cups might become chipped or cracked. That's where God comes in.

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” - John 13:34-35

That same day my wife and I were at a restaurant with our daughter, her husband and our grand daughter. The waitress came by and asked a question we should be asking everyone we meet.

"Would you like a re-fill?"

Pour into someone's life today and you will be filled with the love that never runs out.

Love Never Fails - Brandon Heath

The Swamp

When I was a kid on our farm in Michigan I spent a lot of time in "The Swamp". I'd go down to the swamp and catch frogs, turtles, snakes or anything else that moved. The swamp is where I had my fun. This story is not about THAT swamp.

Sadly, these days "The Swamp" is in Washington D.C. The snakes that live there get THEIR fun out of spending other people's money and making rules and laws that they usually don't obey themselves.

Our latest president won the election based on a word picture that resonated with many American voters. He said he wanted to "drain the swamp". Most Americans would like nothing more than to start over and recall ALL of our senators and congressmen and women from Washington and begin anew. Nothing seems to be getting done.

Our government throws our money at all kinds of ridiculous things.

I saw a video this week about a guy who decided to build some houses for all of the homeless people living in Hollywood. And there are a lot of homeless there! Things were going well with the project. Houses were getting built, people were loving that they had a roof over their heads.

Then the government got involved. They removed their tiny homes and destroyed them. One would think that if someone like the guy building the Tiny Homes wants to build them and give them to people, they would let him. But no.

LA Musician Builds Tiny Homes For The Homeless

Our government spends money on the stupidest things. They spend OUR money watching birds, vacation for people placed on administrative leave, or solar beer. Here's a Top Ten List.

Top Ten Most Ridiculous Government Programs

The model I like for helping others is found in The Book of Acts. If there was a need the members of the church took care of it.

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." - Acts 2 42-47

I'm not saying the church should pay for every government program. I'm saying that when there is a need it should be taken care of, or at least allow people to meet that need if they want to.

Is there someone in YOUR life who has a need? I'll bet there is. When you encounter someone in need, what would YOU do? Think about that. What would God have YOU do?
 
Helping Others

Laborless Day?

So, it's Labor Day. Big deal. I get a day off from my real job so I can "labor" harder than I would if I didn't have the day off. Of course, we all like to get a jump on the holiday and we usually work our butts off in the yard or around the house the days leading up to our "day off". So by the time we actually get to Labor Day we're already too tired to enjoy it.

There might be a parade we could go watch or we might celebrate "the last official day of summer" by taking the family camping or on a picnic to a park but most people will spend it working anyway - mowing the lawn, seal-coating the driveway, or canning tomato sauce.

It could be worse though. For some reason I have this picture in my mind of Charlton Heston stomping straw into the mud so the Hebrew slaves could make bricks. I bet they would LOVE to have a day off from THAT labor!

If you think about it though, Labor Day is a day to celebrate God and the gifts He has given us. God has given us each certain abilities or "gifts". He gave us these skills, not only to put food on our tables, but He gave us the things we are good at to honor Him.

This Labor Day take a look at your job and ask yourself this question. How does what I do honor God? Think about it. You can probably come up with a list of things to thank God for.

Placing food on the table is one thing. What about the roof over our heads? Or the car we drive to work each day? And the relationships we have at work.

So, on this day let us give God thanks and praise for all of HIS labors on our behalf. It is only right and fitting to do so. Otherwise we labor in vain.

^"23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, ²⁴ since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." - Colossians 3:23-24
 
The Ten Commandments: How To Make Bricks
Working For A Living - Huey Lewis and The News

Age

I turned another year older yesterday. I don't feel any different. I'm still a kid, trapped in an old man's body. Older and wiser maybe but most importantly, still alive!! LOL!

Birthdays are causes for celebration all around the world. It is a time for the giving of gifts. Usually, when we celebrate our birthdays, we receive gifts. Not where I work. I shelled out $36 yesterday for some stale Wal-Mart cookies and a grape.

The really good gifts though are the ones that come without a price tag. One year my sister gave me a picture of the two of us as kids. It was so unexpected and wonderful I got up and left the room - my eyes filled with tears. I love my sister. That's why the gift was special.

Today my tastes have aged. It used to be that I thought gifts were all about me. What was I going to get? Would mom and dad really get me the bike I wanted? (Doubtful. I was undeserving.) Yet grace did abound in our family . . . and it still does. :)

These days birthday gifts take intangible forms. They have no shape. Yet they are as gift-like as a piece of cake or a box with a ribbon on it. Perhaps it's a friend delivering a hug or a thoughtful message on Facebook.

As my body has aged so has my thoughts about gifts. The best gifts are the ones from the heart. But for the Christian the best gifts are the ones that WE get to give to others.

Monday night I saw a Facebook post from a young friend of mine. She was not having the best of days.

"Who can I trust? I always seem to get hurt."

This was my reply.

"Jesus! He has promised to never leave you or forsake you. He already loves you unconditionally. What are you waiting for?"

My friend came back with this:

"Oh, well he has let me down too."

Me: "I don't think so. If you think God has disappointed you, you don't really know Him."

Friend: "Yeah... I haven't gone to church ever since high school. I have stopped knowing God."

Me: "I'd love to re-introduce you two."

Friend: "OK" 

How's that for a birthday gift? God provided me with a very special gift - the opportunity to speak into the life of a young soul about Jesus - a gift she can receive that will never disappoint, if she truly receives it. God's gift is free and everlasting. One size fits all! And Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving!! :)

We are all finite beings. Someday we ALL will stop aging. But what happens after that is up to us . . . and God. If you don't KNOW Jesus, please, get to know Him today. Please pray for my young friend. That she might meet with Him and come to know Him . . . and the gift He offers for ALL of His children.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." - James 1:17

"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." - 1 Peter 4:10

The Gift - Jim Brickman
When I'm Sixty-Four -The Beatles

The Gift of Gifts

One of the reasons I love working where I do is the people. I have worked there for 18+ years and many of the people are like family to me. This time of year is especially fun because I get to be an elf. Not for Santa though. For my wife!

Each year my wife bakes dozens and dozens of Christmas cookies. Yet, strangely, we don't eat many of them. That's because she gives most of them away to family and friends. It's gotten to the point where my wife's cookies have become part of the Christmas tradition in the lives of other people.

We usually get together with some life-long friends at this time of year, Dick and Lana. We eat, we talk, we laugh. But the highlight of the night, at least for me, is watching Dick's eyes light up when my wife gives him a plate of her Christmas cookies. He can hardly keep from eating them right then and there. Lana has said she has to hide them from him when they get home.

Just the other day at work a former co-worker of mine walked into my cube. Smiles, hugs, how thoughtful that my friend came to visit me, I thought. Until this question came out.

"Bev usually sends her plate of Christmas cookies in with you around this time of year, doesn't she? I was just talking to Laura about your wife's cookies and she thought maybe you could send me an e-mail when that happens."

People love my wife's cookies. Why? Well, they're pretty darn tasty! But I think that there is a deeper reason - a subliminal, underlying reason they love them. I think it's because they love receiving gifts that someone has actually made themselves, especially for them. It's special. It's unique.

I think hand-made gifts are often the best because part of ourselves are actually IN the gift. The gift wouldn't even be there if is wasn't for their creator.

[Sounds like a perfect segue to a story about God and HIS gifts, doesn't it? Ha ha!]

I have told you before about my favorite Christmas Carol - Little Drummer Boy. A young boy came before the baby Jesus with nothing to give as a gift to the newborn King except for the gift God had already given him - the ability to play the drum. In this sense, God loves re-gifting.

What is YOUR gift? How can you "package" it to give to someone else?

I have a friend at work who "plays her drum" by teaching others how to sew - a gift SHE was given by God. Now she shares it with others through the giving of her time.  Another friend's gift is her voice. She sings in her church's choir, she sings at funerals, she uses her gift to make the lives of others better and more enjoyable.

Several years ago, when I was part of a youth group, I was invited along to document a unique Christmas gift with my camera. A bunch of high school kids, members of the school's Madrigal Singers, were walking around town singing Christmas carols. They stopped at people's houses and sang a song, then asked the residents to join them which many did. What an amazing gift! It cost them nothing, but at the same time, it was a priceless gift.

It doesn't take much time or money to let someone else know that you love them. It doesn't take that much time and effort to pray or offer up thanks to God for giving YOU the gifts He has. May this day be your gift to someone else who could use a hug or some food or a priceless gift . . . the gift of a gift.

^"38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38

Little Drummer Boy - Pentatonix

Got Goat?

How do you show someone you love them? A hug perhaps? A kiss on the cheek? Maybe it's doing something FOR someone like washing the dishes so your wife doesn't have to. Maybe it's rubbing her feet after she has spent a long day using them at work. Not me. I took my wife to see some goats!

I know. That doesn't sound like the most romantic thing anyone has ever done, but you need to know my wife. My wife LOVES goats. Personally, I could take them or leave them. They don't really make me turn my head and shout, "Goats!" But that's how they effect my wife.

Do you do things for people you love to make them happy? Of course you do. That's what love is all about, thinking of others before we think of ourselves.

Do we show God that we love Him in a similar way? How do we love God? What are some of the things we do for Him to make HIM happy? Umm . . . go to church? Umm . . .

15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." - John 14:15

Oh.

Have I kept God's commands? Do I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength? (Luke 10:27). Do I love my neighbor as much as I love myself? (Mark 12:31).

This morning my friend bought me some Munchos. She knows I like them. She was demonstrating her love for me by getting me something I enjoy.

My wife made me fresh green beans last night for dinner? Why? Because she knows I like them and wanted to make me happy.

I think we make God happy when we do things for others. When we sacrifice ourselves or go out of our way to help someone.

A few days ago I visited a friend in the hospital. He fractured his back in several places - shattered his vertebrae. He's in quite a bit of pain. As I stood to leave he reached out his hand to me. As I grabbed it he said this to me.

"Let me pray for you" and he did.

Do you think God was happy when this man offered prayers for someone else, even though he himself was in need of them? I do.

As we walk through this world let us be on the lookout for opportunities to express our love for God through the way we treat others.

"34 Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,[a] you did it to me.’ - Matthew 25:31-46

Love One Another

Lights

Each year, right around this time, I am faced with the task of placing Christmas lights in our front yard and on our house. Then, of course, there is the Christmas tree. Oh, how I dread putting lights on the Christmas tree!
 

Who came up with the idea that the perfect thing to do on a cold, winter’s day, is to literally spend hours decorating the inside and the outside of our houses with lights? The electric company?

The "official reason" is that upper-class people started decorating their Christmas trees back in the 18th century with . . . candles. That couldn't possibly be a fire hazard, could it? The mid-20th century saw Christmas lights spread out of the houses and onto city streets and businesses. Now there are entire displays in parks and botanical gardens featuring MILLIONS of lights. It's spreading!!!

Still, there is something beautiful about a well-decorated and lit up house at Christmas time. Why is that? The only thing that’s different really is the fact that there are now lights where there once was darkness. Now, with all the additional illumination, we can see the things that once were hidden. Like all of the junk I forgot to put away before the snow fell last week.

My wife loves to take drives up and down the city streets during this time of year. She likes to look at all of the Christmas lights on other people's houses. You'd think that would be enough lights for her, but no. WE have to have lights on OUR house as well. The more lights, the better apparently.

I have a theory. I don't think the lights on our houses or on our Christmas tree matter much in God's eyes. I think He would prefer to see The Light within us shining brightly, not the lights in our front yard. 

My wife is doing something neat this year. Maybe you have something like this where you live. It's an opportunity to provide a Christmas for a needy boy or girl. In our town it is called The Miracle Tree. Each year my wife picks out a girl's or a boy's name off a tree at church and then buys a gifts or two for that child. THIS year, however, she has kicked it up a notch. She is going to be providing Christmas gifts for an entire family.

I love my wife.

"16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:16

Do you have people in your life who could use a little extra this Christmas this year? No?

My wife and I have a little running joke. Whenever we find ourselves wondering about the future of our planet, the economy or the future. Somewhere during the conversation that is usually a little prepping humor.

"My next vehicle is going to be a truck. You know. A bug out vehicle!" or "I think we need to build some more shelves in the basement . . . for our stockpile of toilet paper and lard!" We tease each other and joke about it.

The other day my wife said, "I want a goat! We could get our own milk and besides, they're cute!" She was kidding, I think. But I heard something in her voice that told me she would kind of want one. So . . . . that's what I got my wife for Christmas this year - a goat.

Yes, that's right. I bought my wife a goat for Christmas . . . for somebody else through. You can do the same here if you want to.

Compassion International's Gift Catalog.

This is the kind of gift I enjoy giving. A gift that actually helps someone. These days we Americans tend to buy gift cards or give cash so that gift giving will be easier for us. That is SO wrong. Christmas is not about us! Christmas is not about exterior illumination. It's about INTERIOR illumination. Christmas is about Jesus. Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our savior. It is about "being Jesus" in the life of someone else.

That's why I put up the Christmas lights on our house. It's not because I like them , It's because my WIFE likes them.

Shine YOUR light this Christmas!! And remember that "God so loved the world that He gave . . ."

"12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

Let Your Light Shine In The Darkness -  New Scottish Hymns

Presents

This is traditionally the time of year when our hopes and dreams turn to thoughts about . . . Christmas
presents! The exchanging of gifts, or for the children of the world, the receiving of gifts, creates excitement in the hearts and minds of all of us, all around the world. It is an incredible time of the year.

As we grow older and wiser, the excitement of receiving gifts begins to wane and our focus tends to be more on the giving of gifts than on the receiving of them. We begin to find more joy in making someone else happy, someone other than ourselves. That's a good thing. The funny thing is, when we focus more on the giving of gifts, it often seems like we actually receive MORE gifts for ourselves. And the value of those gifts goes right through the roof. Let me explain by way of an example.

This past Saturday I volunteered at one of our local food pantries - Ruby's Pantry. I have been doing that for a few years now. I have gotten to know many of the other volunteers as well as many of the people going through the lines. They are all amazing people, all of them. Well, I received several "gifts" the other day and I KNOW that God gave me each and every one of them. And the value of those gifts was priceless.

I usually get to the food pantry around 7:00 in the morning to pre-register people. There are usually several dozen people waiting in line by the time I get there - some of them have been there for hours in the sub-freezing temps. I am usually the first person they see from Ruby's. That fact alone should send many of our guests running and screaming but they actually seem to like me. It's probably the candy I give them.

As I was about half way through the line a car pulled up and three adults got out. They were wearing leather jackets, bandanas, and some of those gloves with no fingertips in them. All three looked rather "bikerish." I began talking to this one young man. His name was Chris. The guy was probably in his late 20's - early 30's, divorced, four kids. He said he had gone through a bad stretch in his life but "this last month has been amazing!"

He got a new job in town which he loves. He really likes his boss and things are finally looking good in his life again. And guess what. He attributes it all to God. We became fast friends. Later, as we were loading his food into his car for him, he thanked me once again. This guy thanked everybody! He was SO appreciative! Then he stuck out his hand to shake mine. I ignored it and gave him a hug, which he accepted with thanks. He climbed into his car with his friends, thanking us once again as he did so. That young man made everyone feel incredible. Chris was truly a gift from God, for all of us.

Later, I met a lady who had nearly completed her trip through the food line. She was just leaning on her shopping cart, staring at nothing as she waited patiently. I walked up to her and, placing my hand on her shoulder, asked if there was anything I could pray for. She immediately began to cry saying. That's when I learned that her husband had just left her and her girls.

I motioned for my friend John to come over and told him "This lady needs a hug from John" which he freely gave. "I almost made it all the way though without crying until this guy came along," she said, pointing to me. Her name is Kate. Kate received a gift she really needed. Love. She was loved on by two of the ugliest guys you'd ever want to meet, but she was loved. Something she desperately needed, right when she needed it.

Everyone who goes through the line at Ruby's Pantry has a story. Some are amazing stories of resurrection like Chris. Others are the tales of incredible lows like Kate whose husband abandoned her family just one week before Christmas. But everyone, EVERYONE, leaves that place being fed . . in more ways than one. Everyone leaves there feeling loved.

I was talking with a friend of mine that day, another volunteer at Ruby's, who told me that her sister suffers from depression. "You know what I tell her to do? Volunteer!! Help someone else out!" Volunteering is truly the cheapest psychiatrist money can, or should I say "can't," buy. Because love and being loved is truly priceless. Oh, and my new friend and brother, Chris . . . he wants to come back next month . . . to volunteer. I look forward to that day. :)

"42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved." - Acts 2:42-47

 Here's something you don't see everyday. A celebrity giving his time and money to help others. The late Paul Walker . . . volunteering.

"3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." - Philippians 2:3-4