Happy Christ Giving & The Importance of God’s Promises
Happy Christ Giving? I know it sounds weird but hear me out.
It came about in our family as a mixture of Thanksgiving and Christmas where we could all celebrate together before everyone goes off to celebrate with their own families. My children are grown, and I am sure like many families it is difficult to get everyone together around the holidays. This year has been significantly difficult for me as this is my first year as an empty nester. I was dreading being torn between my four children’s homes and so the tradition and birth of Christ Giving started in our family.
I was so scared of being left behind over the holidays, completely lost without my kids and lonely or disconnected as they go on to celebrate with their families and children.
Maybe you are in a season of being lost and lonely?
As the holidays approach many of us are so busy getting ready to celebrate, getting ready for family, getting ready for presents, getting ready for a day of eating and celebrating together. But for some, and maybe this is you, this is a time of dread, of loneliness of hopelessness and of feeling lost.
I am currently in Australia visiting my mother. There is a national park at the back of her home and as I was walking down a dirt path alone, I was thinking about what it must have been like to be Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem. I can’t help but think that they must have also had moments of feeling alone and lost, as an unmarried pregnant couple. Maybe in the moment of their travels and when arriving in Bethlehem they felt as if they had lost everything, as there was nowhere to go and no family to greet them.
“And She gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn,” — Luke 2:7
However, I want to impress upon you that Jesus came as a gift from God, so that through Him we may know God’s love for us and that we may choose to turn our faces towards Him for guidance in our lives.
“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6
The perfect gift of Jesus sent by God to demonstrate His love and grace. By the coming of Jesus, we were able to know and have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. This really got me thinking about what other gifts we have received through Jesus.
As I set out to make a list of gifts and scriptures to go with each, I quickly found that the Bible gives us so many examples that it is not possible for me to list them all here, so I want to encourage you to pray and ask God to illuminate other scriptures this Christmas as you study His word.
I pray these gifts and promises God makes to those who believe in Him, blesses you this Christmas and provides you with hope and comfort as we remember the true meaning of Christmas. Oh, and by the way Christ Giving, has now taking on a more relevant meaning for our family. Be Blessed and Free!
Promises / gifts that God gave us through the birth of Jesus:
Restoration of relationships - 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, 1 Corinthians 7:10-11
Restoration of health - Jeremiah 30:17
Forgiveness of sins – 1 John 1:9
A clean slate – Hebrews 10:17-27, Psalms 19:13-14
Shame removed – Isaiah 6:1-7
Direct communication through our Advocate the Holy Spirit – John 14:26, John 16:13
Life and life abundantly – John 10:10
Protection – 2 Samuel 22:3-4
God’s unconditional love – 1 John 4:7-8
Brokenness healed – Isaiah 61:1
God is a promise keeper - Joshua 21:45; 2 Peter 3:9
You are my father and my friend – 1 John 3:1, John 15:15
Your goodness follows me – Psalm 23:6
The gift of our identity – Psalm 139:14, Ephesians 2:10
God will never leave, nor forsake me – Deuteronomy 31:8
The gift of the Holy Spirit that dwells within me – 1 Corinthians 3:16
He cares for those who trust in him – Psalm 125:1
Joy, peace, and grace – Romans 15:13
What is meant for you, will be for you - Psalm 84:11
Purpose - Psalm 57:2, Proverbs 19:21
Father God,
I want to thank you so much for sending Jesus so that through Him we may comne to know the goodness of your heart and turn our lives towards you. I thank you God for each person reading this today. Lord, please provide comfort to those who feel lost and alone these holidays. I pray that this post will bless the hearts of those that follow you Lord and encourage those who don’t know you to begin a journey of seeking after your heart. Thank you, Father God, for our families and for your unconditional love that has no end.
It is Jesus’ name we pray,
Amen
#christmas #thanksgiving #blessings #promises