Note: Bloggers – today is Part I of the Cheerleading Link up (We tweet encouragement using #RaRaLinkup). Tomorrow is the actual linkup day.
Christmas is that time of year when I mark off the calendar as “busy”. It’s that time of year where I continuously pull out my checkbook to “gift” and to “card”. Christmas is that time of year, where parties can just leave me tired. Where people can leave me drained. Where giving can feel not so gracious.
Why? Because I feel worn. I feel tired. It’s year-end and I have given and given and given myself.
It sometimes gets me feeling guilty too – like I am missing the point. And, it makes me wonder – where’s Jesus amidst Christmas busy? Where’s Jesus in this hustle and bustle? Does he look down on this kind of behavior?
See the True Gift
Yet, while pondering these questions, the Lord placed the most wonderful gift in my lap – a gift of truth. And, as I held this adorned box, staring at it’s meaning, I started to understand the beauty of Christmas busy. It’s not all about the wrapping paper, about the bows, about the act of wrapping, but it is about the heart – a receptive heart.
And, as I open God’s gift to me. The heart of the matter comes to light; I see the love of Christ. Authentic. Deep. Heartfelt love.
I admire the gift of Jesus – a gift I am called to share with others.
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35)
I realize, if I can’t find joy in the gift giving, I have entirely missed the gift-giver and the heart of the gift.
Because we have joy when our joy is derived from Christ. Suddenly, through the amazing gift of Christ, all we can do is give, sacrifice and love. Suddenly, all the Christmas busy isn’t seen as acts of drudgery, but as acts of service, of adoration, of worship.
What True Giving Is
Christ endlessly gave – not out of obligation, but out of love. There is no greater gift than to give. We are blessed when we give. We find meaning to life when we give from a cheerful heart.
Let’s let our busyness come from pure motivations not busy obligation. Because in many ways, busyness is the essence of Christmas. Busyness that relies on Christ. Busyness that feels overwhelmed but trusts God. Busyness that is fueled by the Spirit. Busyness that shines Christ. Busyness that extends grace. This is where the joy of Christmas is found.
Just as Christ served, preached and loved endlessly, we can give, host, serve and love endlessly too – through his power and strength at work within us.
Helpless we come in this world, and through the amazing gift of Christ – he helps us. He empowers us, he equips us and he calls us to his work.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God– (Eph. 2:8)
Truly, the greatest gift we ever received is the one that lies in a humble manger. The one who calls us to purify our hearts. The one who can never stop handing out grace. The one who reached others tirelessly with truth.
Behold Christ
Behold the gift of Christ, his grace and his enduring love. Let go of striving and grab hold of the ultimate gift – who lays in a manger in a town called Bethlehem.
He lays ready to be embraced and adored.
In a little town of Bethlehem, lays a baby who was never afraid to sacrifice.
In a little town of Bethlehem, lays a baby who extends grace beyond compare.
In a little town of Bethlehem, lays a baby whose power is perfected in weakness.
In that little town of Bethlehem, lays the heart of Christmas giving.
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 believers, we have a perfect gift. This perfect gift frees us through the covering of grace. And, through this gift, we can joyfully give it all and exalt Christ.
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What a beautiful reminder of the true motivation behind our giving. Jesus gave us so much, how can we not give joyfully and bountifully. It is up to me to remember that, and not let the activities of Christmas suck the joy right out of me. Lovely post, Kelly. Merry Christmas!
I hear you Leah. It can be so hard to keep focused on Christ amidst all rush. I hope and pray that your Christmas is full of so much love and joy! You are certainly a blessing to so many and I pray that rejoicing in your Savior can be a blessing for you.
This is beautiful, Kelly. The gift I want to give Jesus this week is service to my family friends and church without getting stressed and cranky! I know I can only do it as I receive more and more of the gift God has given me: Jesus!
Amen Betsy, I am saying a prayer over this for you today. It can be hard. I hope you can focus on Christ, so all the other things also come into focus. Most of all, I hope that you are able to rejoice in the power of your Savior. Merry merry Christmas!
Kelly, with three kids, a hubby who shepherds our church, and endless other things that could be inserted -> here<-, I sense God teaching me something. He wants me to stop seeing things that I don't want or like to do as interruptions, but instead as "receptions."
He desires to be honored and celebrated in every stage of life-through joys, trials and the mundane. I have to embrace every moment that air fills my lungs as God giving me that chance to spread His love a little further.
The biggest encouragement to me is that though I can never love or give enough, HE never tires of loving or giving. He is a God worthy to serve even when my flesh might try pinning me to the mat to believe otherwise!
Those thoughts help my put some "merry" up in my "Christmas!"
Christy, wow you certainly do have a lot going on. I get you. I love how you are stopping to see the interruptions as receptions. I think I would be a lot less anxious sometimes if I could do that too. It is all about being in the moment, right? I am so glad you are encouraged to have some “merry” up in your “Christmas” – too cute!
Thank you for this wonderful post about the true Giver and giving during this very busy time! As always, I leave your post feeling encouraged, challenged and uplifted. Your writing encourages me to keep my steadfast gaze on Jesus despite the busyness of Christmas time. There would be no true gift if Christ had not come to our rescue – that is something worth dwelling on this week! Merry Christmas Kelly! 🙂
Thank you Kelly for encouraging me to share a few paragraphs on this topic today! This topic spoke directly to soul!
Beginning with lesson one, “God has us just where he wants us to be.” The thought that comes to mind is that He wants us to be “present” where He is…which is everywhere. He is omnipresent. He is aware of our circumstances at all times. And He is at the center of it all. Just today I wrote these words in an email, “Jesus at the center of it all.” And I broke down right where I was in tears of gratitude. Even now the tears are welling up in my eyes as joy is welling up in my soul. Just the thought of His faithfulness to love me, keep me, protect me…right where I am…is pleasantly overwhelming.
Lesson two is also timely in that I humbly submitted to a time of preparation, reformation, and transformation for five years before I felt God release me to go forth. Yes…that is how long God had me to push pause on ministry. Sometimes God needs to do the unthinkable to get our undivided attention so that we can be fully and properly equipped for what He has called us to do.
Finally, we are all called to something. The important thing is that we know that we know that we know what we are called to. We cannot rely on what others advise us of. And we cannot covet the call on someone else’s life. God’s plan for our lives is perfect. And we must first be willing to seek Him for clarity regarding what it is and then be willing to follow His divine directions so that His plan, purpose, and will for our lives can be fulfilled.
Yolanda, your words are beautiful and God-inspired. I love – LOVE – how God led you to search out truth in your real calling. It will still be an adventure, but he will honor the time that you took to prepare, reform and transform – in Him. God does have you here – and I am so glad you are “present”. In your presence, you are a present to us all. Thank you for sharing your heartfelt words with us. We are all in awe of God’s work through you.