GIFT 2

Last week I talked about buying that special gift for that special someone, knowing just what to buy.
Of course when you do buy that special gift that you know they will just go crazy over, you want to give it right away because you want to see that look on their face. Don't you just hate having to wait to give that gift, I wish that I had enough money to give Becky a special gift every day of December, but I don't, and even if I did I don't have enough ideas. To think of one makes my brain hurt. But Christmas will be here soon and then we can all give that special gift to that special someone.
Have you ever wanted something so bad that you just ached for it? Have you ever wanted something so bad that you ached for it but you didn’t really know what it was that you wanted, you just knew that you wanted something? What do you give a person who has everything? Or a person who thinks they have everything? Do you ever ache to give a gift to someone, a gift that they really need, but they don’t know that they need it? As a believer we possess a gift like none other in the entire world, a gift that is impossible to understand until you have it. A gift that people are aching for and they don’t even realize it. A gift that we should be wanting to give so bad that we just can’t wait. You know, that special gift for that special someone. That special gift is Jesus, that special someone is the person God puts in your path, how bad do you want to give that gift? Are you willing to go and tell?
We have that very opportunity, as an association we voted to become an engaging association, and to adopt a people group in Africa. We have adopted the Mbalantu people in Namibia Africa. You will have the opportunity to go there and tell these people about Jesus, if there is just no way that you can go, maybe you can help others go. There is one thing that I know you can do, PRAY! For the Mbalantu people in Namibia Africa, they are a forgotten people who are lost and without Jesus, without hope. I am planning on going in 2009, are you? Begin praying about it, get your passport ready, if you don’t have one, get one, and above all, pray!

GIFT

Have you finished all of your Christmas shopping yet? Have you bought that special gift for that special someone? It always makes you feel good when you know what you are going to buy for that special someone, and then you go out and get it, of course it always helps when they give you a lot of hints. The best is a list written out and given to you, it’s only fair, that’s what they want from you. Of course if you wait until December 24th it’s a lot easier, you just pick up whatever is left. The selection isn’t as vast, but the decisions are easier, “Do I get her a snow shovel or a water hose, ice melt or a skateboard, mittens or flip-flops? Snow shovel, ice melt and mittens, then she will be all set for….” Maybe this isn’t the best way to do it but when you wait until the last day, this is what you get, trust me I know. It’s times like this that you really push that “it’s the thought that counts” thing. Maybe we should put a little more thought, a little bit earlier into it. Of course if you are like me, I go to buy Becky that special gift that will just make her day, and I go to the store, and since I don’t have a list, I forget what it is (snow shovel, ice melt, no no that’s not it, now what was it). But those times when I do come through it makes me feel great to know that I did good.
Of course when you do buy that special gift that you know she will just go crazy over, you want to give it right away because you want to see that look on her face. Don't you just hate having to wait to give that gift, I wish that I had enough money to give her a special gift every day of December, but I don't, and even if I did I don't have enough ideas. To think of one makes my brain hurt. But Christmas will be here soon and then we can all give that special gift to that special someone.
So what is the most special gift that you have ever given someone? Let me know.

SILVER BELLS

Christmas makes you feel emotional
it may bring parties or thoughts devotional
whatever happens or what may be
this is what Christmas time means to me;

Silver Bells, silver bells
it’s Christmas time in the city
ring-a-ling, hear them ring,
soon it will be Christmas day.

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks
Dressed in holiday style
In the air there's a feeling of Christmas
Children laughing, people passing
Meeting smile after smile
And on every street corner you'll hear

Silver bells, silver bells
It's Christmas time in the city
Ring-a-ling, hear them ring
Soon it will be Christmas day

Which Christmas song do you hear that takes you back to that special time in your life, that time when Christmas was still magical and it took forever to get here? When you hoped and hoped that you would get what you wanted, and you rip the presents open and you got clothes.
Now that you are all grown up, Christmas seems to come around a lot more often than it used to. And you hope at Christmas that you will get clothes that fit. But most of all you hope to just have everyone together, safe and sound.
Christmas is a time when you can feel emotional, thinking of years gone by and loved ones gone on. But we need to remember to live in the present, not the past. These are the days that are making memories for others. Let’s do our best to make them special.