12/19/2017 - The Best Gift You Can Give Yourself

Christmas is associated with giving. The very act of Christ coming to earth is a gift -- and his free gift of salvation is available because he was willing to come. We use this season as a time of gift-giving to others.  

Is it okay to give ourselves a gift? There are several gifts you might be able to give to yourself that end up blessing and encouraging others as well.  

• the gift of perspective - taking a moment or two before you respond in haste might give YOU perspective and allow you to show grace to others
• the gift of rest - stepping off of the gerbil-wheel of activity might give YOU peace and allow you to be at your best
• the gift of thankfulness - being truly thankful for all that God has done might give YOU a different attitude and change your environment
• the gift of salvation - while technically this isn't a gift you give to yourself, allowing yourself to experience Christmas through the eyes of faith and belief might give YOU abundant life.  Jesus said, "I have come that you might have life and have it more abundantly."  

Walking with Christ and receiving his free gift is the best gift you could ever give yourself!  John 1:9-14  "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.  He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Merry Christmas!