Sharing

This is called the season of giving and sharing. But for Christians that should be the attitude that we possess throughout the year. We should always be looking for opportunities to share our time and concern with those around us. How many of us truly look for those opportunities. The Bible still declares that "it is more blessed to give than receive." That Biblical principle sounds great but do I truly walk with that view in mind? What other gifts do we have to offer? We have the gift of friendship to share. Several weeks ago I wrote about the blessings of friends that God has placed in our lives. But today I want to look at the other side of the equation. Am I offering myself to others in the gift of friendship? What do my acquaintances say about me when I am not in their presence? Do these people describe me as friendly and even more importantly would they declare that I am their friend? As I approach 2009 I want to develop the desire to become a friend to those who are in need of a friend. It is easy to become a friend with someone who has many friends but what about that individual who has no one to call friend? Let us commit to being more sensitive to those around us who are in need of the gift of friendship. All of us possess the ability to become a friend to people and what a joy to watch that friendship develop through the years.

Sharing

Let us continue exploring the inventory of gifts that each of us have to share with those people that God places around us. Do you realize that you are influencing people whether this is your intention or not your intention? As we approach 2009 let each of us commit our hearts to being aware and alert to those "God moments" in which God has strategically placed us to make a difference in the life of someone. What do I have to share with anyone may be a question that constantly arises in your heart? Each of us are blessed with various gifts and talents that God has placed in us so that we can benefit others on their journey with God. Many of us keep these gifts and talents hidden from the view of others. In some cases we do this out of fear that our abilities do not measure up to the ability of others. We fail to share what God has given us because we are always playing the "game of comparison." We need to stop comparing ourselves to each other and just become dedicated to the improvement of what God has deposited in our lives. I once read this challenge from someone; "Just imagine where we would be if we focused our energies on improving our strengths as we did in be-moaning our weaknesses." I am not saying that we do not need to improve the areas in which we are weak; but I am saying that we need to develop what God has placed in us and surrender these gifts to serving Him in His Kingdom. Stop putting your gifts "under a basket"; use them and share them for the glory of God. There are some very gifted and talented people that will read this challenge; lay aside whatever has hindered you and offer your gifts and talents to the body of Christ.

Sharing

Many of us don't share or give as we should because we don't think that we have much to offer. But that is not true, each of us have much to offer if we would only take the time to perform an honest inventory of our lives and the gifts that God has placed in us. In many cases we fail to understand that others will be blessed and encouraged by us taking the time to share with them. Each of us need to take the time to do a proper inventory of our lives. Much of our basis of giving is based on our monetary wealth but I want you to take a look at other resources that you possess. Each one of us have "time" to share with others. The real question is whether or not we will "take the time" to share our time with those who need us. We are all very busy and in many cases the truly important things get pushed to the side. Our children need the gift of our time, our parents and grandparents need the gift of our time, our siblings need the gift of our time, and those special friends of ours need the gift of our time. The list is endless of those who would be blessed if we were just willing to spend some quality time with them. During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season take some of your time and invest it in the life of someone else. You will be blessed and the recipient of your gift will be blessed.

Weekend Review

I was blessed to be able to attend church this weekend with my wife, Ann. I have been speaking about giving and sharing during this Christmas season but I would like to share another thought today. As I sat in the Sunday School class listening to Ann share her heart with the class, the Lord placed her words deep in my heart. She taught about being willing to say "yes" to the Lord decision by decision. I had to ask myself, "Am I truly willing to say Yes to the Lord in each of the decisions that I am facing?" Or do I seek just to say Yes in the major decisions that I face? But the Lord reminded me that I can not make the major decisions unless I learn to make the daily decisions in the correct manner. Today I pause to thank God for reminding me of the importance of be willing to follow the direction of the Lord in the daily manner that pleases Him. Each of us need to ask God to help us make the daily decisions that will open the door of blessings in our lives.

Scripture Reading

"Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be open to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. You parents--if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him" (NLT). Each one of us need to be consistent and persistent in pursuit of our relationship with God. We can not afford to stop asking, seeking, and knocking.

Willing to Share

Each one of us have much to contribute to our fellow travelers on the road of life. The Spirit spoke these encouraging words to the church at Ephesus. Ephesians 4:16, "He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love" (NLT). This is such an encouraging verse of opportunity to each one of us. Everyone of us are given the opportunity to contribute to the success of the body of Christ. Do I willingly share my gifts, talents, and abilities with my brothers and sisters in the Lord? Do I shrink back from my duty because I view my abilities as inferior to my fellow believers? Yet the Bible declares that as I do my "own special work" the body grows and matures. Look what you miss and look at what others miss when you hold back what God has given you to share. During the Christmas season of 2008 let us recommit ourselves to sharing what God has placed in our lives. Do not hold back from sharing the great gifts that God has deposited in your life. God has created you and me to share with others; don't be a "spiritual Grinch" this Christmas.

Reflections on Giving

As I was praying this morning the Lord reminded me that He set the pattern regarding giving and sharing. He shared His Son, Jesus, with with the world. Jesus shared His life with the world and was willing to die on the cross for the sins of humanity. Jesus shared His life as a ransom for those who were bound in the bondage of sin. We can rejoice when we consider all that God was willing to do that we might have the opportunity to have fellowship with Him. This brings us to the question of the day. What am I willing to share with others? I want us to think beyond the obvious of money, gifts, and other materialistic items. I want us to think about our "personal" offerings to others. Most of us look at our ability to give based on our material wealth. We think in terms of dollars and cents rather in terms of availability to God. We think in terms of comparison and competition rather than in terms of encouragement and support. Each one of us have many resources from which to draw if only we can become willing to give cheerfully and to give without looking for anything in return. The real blessing comes when we give to someone who needs what we can offer and they do not have the ability to return a gift of equal or greater value. Let this be a season in which we give cheerfully. We will look at some of the resources that we possess as we proceed through this Christmas season which serves as a reminder of God's gift to this world; the gift of Jesus Christ our Savior.