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The Best Gifts to Give This Year


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If your Christmas shopping isn't completed yet, you are running out of time!  But you are not alone, this weekend will find me scurrying around to finalize my shopping as well.

I did get a good jump on shopping for the Christmas season. Knowing that there were many activities that would need 'small gifts', I found some items in a local chain store that would be perfect. The gifts I was looking for needed to be similar, so after finding a few perfect things, I cleared the shelf....and unashamedly went around town to the other stores of this chain to purchase more of these items.  Although shopping is not something I love to do, there was a feeling of great accomplishment when these packages were ready!

Now it is days before Christmas and after a few gift items for Christmas morning, our family will be all set. In the stress of searching for the perfect gift, sometimes I ask myself why go to all this trouble? But, a gift is a representation of love, appreciation and simply to acknowledge how much the gift recipient is thought of. It is an act of love, care and thoughtfulness. 

In the midst of the search for 'the perfect gift', may we take a moment and ponder the first Christmas, and the Gift given to the world - Jesus. He came as a baby, but through His life, death and resurrection is the Risen Lord and King. As Christians, we love and serve Him and should desire to present Him with wonderful gifts.  But, what do you 'get' the King of Kings?  He created and has complete control over everything, He knows everything and He lacks nothing. Our gifts from the heart are what we alone can freely give and what means the most to the Lord. Here are a few gift ideas to give to the Lord:

The gift of trust 
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."
In order for God to direct a person's path, they must first be doing what they know to be right. Obedience activates God's promises. Trust and obedience are gifts we surrender and give.
Trust is a gift fit for the King. 

The gift of obedience 
John 14:15 "If you love me, you will obey what I command."
God's commands are not meant to hinder, harm or keep us from joy. They are standards that when followed, open up a life of grace, joy and fulfillment. Obedience is an active choice to do what God wants us to do. Obedience is not just an outward motion - it is also an inward attitude - and a gift fit for the King.

The gift of praise 
Psalm 50:6 "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." 
Anytime we are in the presence of God, praise will result. Praise is also a continual choice that we make again and again until it becomes a habit. Don't let anyone or any circumstance keep you from praising God!  Praise keeps us kneeling before the manger and is a gift fit for the King.

The gift of sacrifice 
Romans 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 
The Wise Men came; bringing gifts that required sacrifice because they knew that true worship always involves sacrifice. Gold, a precious metal, Incense, a rare and expensive product used in worship and Myrrh, an expensive perfume were the gifts they brought to Jesus. Sacrifice goes beyond what is required or expected. The best gift - the most expensive and extravagant gift - should go to the one whose birthday we celebrate.  Gifts of trust, obedience, praise and sacrifice please God and are gifts fit for the King.

The Gift of Prayer 
James 5:16 The effective, [b]fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.
Prayer is our gift to others this Christmas season Prayer is a powerful gift we can give to  those around us – praying for salvation for our unsaved friends and family, prayer for the needs of our friends, neighbors and others in our community. 
But the best gift of prayer is one to the Lord, offering ourselves to Him and to be all He has created us to be:                     
Lord, today I celebrate Your birth. Thank You for the gift of life and love I find in knowing You. My Christmas gift to You is everything I am, everything I have, everything I hope to be. I love You, Lord. 

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