Dear Ones,
Hope you had a glorious Christmas! We are home now from the cities and had a wonderful time with about 35 relatives for two days. So thankful as we all had good roads, a wonderful time together, lots of sharing, games, shopping, and just being together. I came home feeling so full of blessings from above!
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Christmas is a time of giving for God gave His very best gift by sending His Son. But every day is a time for giving if our hearts overflow with gratitude and thankfulness. Today I came across a couple verses in Proverbs that speak of giving. I know the Lord doesn’t need our gifts for He owns everything, but He wants our hearts to be open to give to others as unto Him.
I read the from Proverbs 11:24-25 (Message), “The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.” As I read these two verses I thought of a friend of mine whom I recently visited and whose life is blessed as she knows the joy of giving. It isn’t that she has a lot to give, for she doesn’t, but she wants to give what she has. All year long she thinks of what she can give at Christmas to those who give her care and those around her who need care. Since she has very limited sight and is confined to her wheelchair, she has to be very creative. We both pray that she will be able to give each person on her list something special. This year it was jewelry for the women and warm socks for the men on her list. She couldn’t rest until all the gifts were wrapped and addressed so she could give them out. She found so much joy in giving, especially to those who would not otherwise receive any gift for Christmas. When I arrived to see her, she and a friend had a table set up in her room with pretzels and eggnog that she was going to serve to the aids and friends. She gives without expecting anything in return.
How opposite the world’s way is of holding on to things, and saying mine, mine, mine! People want more and more possessions and run out of room to even store them. Really, who need a house for two people that is bigger than a hotel? But God’s way is for us to give not only of our possessions, but our time and our energy too. The paradox is that when we are generous we become satisfied and richer, but when we are stingy we become poorer and we just keep wanting more without being satisfied.
Let us be giving and generous and not withhold what God prompts us to give.
Challenge for today: Gladly give to someone in need the next time the Holy Spirit prompts you.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy