Posted December 14, 2023

December closes out the year with Celebrations of:

Victory - Hanukkah, an ancient tradition called the "festival of lights", celebrates how a small group of Jewish fighters, against all odds, regained The Temple when a tiny supply of oil kept their Menorah lit for eight days.

Resilience - Kwanzaa is a contemporary tradition which began in the 1960's, centered around seven principles to uplift and celebrate the strength of African Americans following the devasting Watts, California riots.

Giving - Christmas is a celebration of the unselfish love of God for us; a celebration of the “gift” of Jesus Christ, given to us to rescue us from our hopeless imperfections; and the gift waiting for All mankind to unwrap.

 
To Love is an action "after God’s heart". To Give is also an action "after God’s heart". God so loved the world that He gave the world His only Son, Jesus Christ. He is our gift, our Savior, our example to Love and Give. As His eyes and hands in the world, we should always “regift”, in kind, when we are blessed. We are blessed to be a blessing. "Be generous and you will be prosperous. Help others, and you will be helped” (Proverbs 11:25). “Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.” (Philippians 2:4, The Message translation).

A daily online devotional entry from In Touch Ministries, "Generosity is Encouraged" (March 31, 2022), recaps 2 Corinthians 9:6-15. This scripture is about a promise to those who give generously versus those who hardly ever give. It reminds us that God is able to give you more than you need when you are a giver, so that you will always have all you need for yourself and more than enough for every good cause. Let your blessings flow to others, while remembering that we can Never "out give" God!

Pastor Rick Warren, in an October 2022 "Daily Hope" online entry, discusses the early church as givers: “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” (Acts 2:44-45). Whatever “good” one person had was for the benefit of all - not only for those who labored or served in church, but to be shared with everyone. These early Christians didn’t give just their money. They were generous with everything they had. They were radically generous. Pastor Warren tells us God doesn’t give us resources solely for us to enjoy. Our blessings should flow to others, to make a difference to those around us. We are blessed to be a blessing. Doing this gives God glory, showing His grace at work in our lives when we "talk the talk" and "walk the walk". And it will be evident through those you help: “This service you do is a proof of your faith. Many people will praise God because of it. They will praise God because you follow the Good News of Christ, the gospel you say you believe. They will praise God because you freely share with them and with all others....Let us Thank God for His Son – His Gift too wonderful for words" (2 Corinthians 9:13,15).

The Group Fire - Fix It (Official Music Video) (youtube.com)

(I do not own the rights to this music)