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| JESUS CHRIST IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON |
Christmas means a joyful time of the year. It is a time of
giving and sharing. There is so much joy going on in the atmosphere. Christmas
is all about Jesus. You know it’s easier to celebrate Christmas if you know
Jesus because He is the reason for the season!
I want you all to know that Christmas season is a time to
receive and share God’s love.
The Word of God says: For God so loved the
world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish, but have everlasting life
(John 3:16).
God is a God that delights in giving and sharing. The gift
of His Son, Jesus Christ is an everyday addition to the world and humanity in
general. His works of creation, like the trees, sun, moon, star, water, rain,
plants, animals, fishes etc, are blessings to man. One way to keep joy in the family
long after Christmas is for members of the family to express love by giving and
sharing, not only among family members, but also extending hand to those
outside your home and family. This is not something that should be done only on
Christmas season also everyday even after Christmas is over.
Many people often find the heart to give only at Christmas
but this should not be so. Giving and sharing should be an everyday practice.
The volume of what you give is not what matters, but the heart behind your giving
and sharing is what matters. Giving and sharing are not limited to gifts, but acts of
love, helps and services you render to others. You may not have money or
material things to give; but a word of compliment, a commendation, a helping
hand or even a smile will go a long way
Jesus Christ, all through His life-time here, was a gift
to mankind and was an everyday giver. He gave eyes to the blind, health to the
sick, hope to the hopeless and helps to the helpless. The act of giving and
sharing towards your family, the needy, the poor and helpless should be done
all through the year and not just at Christmas only.
One of the secrets of giving is that when you give or
share something with someone else, you make that person happy and you create
room for someone else to make you happy. What you sow is what you reap (Genesis 8:22).
When you give those who are not in position to give you back, like the less
privileged, needy or poor, you create room for God to bless you. Usually, when
God pays back, He pays back in ways that no man can ever pay you. Endeavour to put smiles on the faces of the needy during
this month of Christmas, and God will reward you abundantly. Knowing Christ is the foundation for enjoying a sweet home.
Also as the Christmas season is on and the year 2013 comes
to an end, I know some are already complaining and murmuring what a boring
celebration and listing out some of their expectation for the year that never
came to pass. My advice to all is if you tried fasting and praying and nothing
happen; why not switch to praises and thanksgiving. Let everything that hath breath praise the
Lord. Praise ye the Lord (Psalm 150:6). Do you still have
breath? You owe God thanks. The scriptures says: Let everything that hath
breath praise the Lord. It didn’t say, “Let everything that has car, house,
wife, good job, husband, etc” You owe God thanks for your breath. Why don’t you turn your
request into thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is a must, for you to keep the joy of the
Lord flowing in your home and family. It opens up the gates of God and ushers
you into His presence, thereby granting you audience. In the excitement of the
season, time must be set aside to appreciate and thank Him for His faithfulness
towards you and your family. You show appreciation for divine protection,
divine provision, divine health, unity, security, safety, promotion, etc. These
are the faithfulness of God.
You need to spend time to think deeply and you will see
that you owe God thanks. Think of His mercies and loving-kindness towards you
and your family; without Him things could have been worse. Many started the
year with you, but not too many are alive to see the end of the year! Often
times, a lot of us are so bothered about what God has not done, that we tend to
forget what He has already done.
Have you enjoyed God’s benefit since the year began? Don’t
take God for granted. Give Him quality thanks. The fact that you are still
alive is worth thanking God for.
Let the woman who did not bare, thank God with
joy in her heart for even making her a wife to a man. Let the unemployed thank
God for the gift of life and health. Let the single persons thank God that they
are qualified candidates to be married, Let the businessman that is yet to
break even at the end of the year, stop pointing an accusing finger at God, but
thank Him for his unspeakable gifts.
There are a lot of things to give God thanks for. Has God
done anything for you this year? If you think well, you will know that He has
done so much. Thanksgiving is a commandment from God as instructed in I Thessalonians
5:18 and Ephesians 5:20. If you want Him to continue His
blessings in your life and family, obey His commandment. When you obey the
commandment of thanksgiving, you open the door for great blessings. A life of
thanksgiving is a life of sweat less and tasteful Christian experience. If you
settle down to acknowledge Him, He will acknowledge you too.
Give God thanks for what He did yesterday and you will
compel Him to act today. You don’t have to wait for a reason to thank Him; just
thank Him for who He is because what you call a challenge now is another person's prayer point. When you stop having a reason to thank God, then you
have created a reason to be imprisoned. There is always a reason to thank God.
The Word of God says:
Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless
his holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who
forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy
life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies
(Psalm 103:1-4).
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY
NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!
