Re-Gifting is a good thing!

Have you ever been given a gift and then rewrapped it and given it to another person? We all probably have. Sometimes we think this would be perfect for ...... or we think I am not sure I like this but I will give it to ....


We open gifts and sometimes say, “Just what I always wanted"! Trying to make people think we are happy about it, when we have already decided to re-gift it to someone else.


A gift from God is on the way. The basic reason we offer Christmas gifts to each other is to honor and reflect the only perfect gift ever offered—the gift of God through a Bethlehem baby named Jesus.


I think Re-gifting can be turned into a good thing.

Jesus came and gave us himself as our Gift!

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Luke 2:10

The good news is that He has given us some amazing gifts. Here are some of my favorites;




Salvation
    The Holy Spirit
        Freedom from our sin, our past, ourselves
           The Fruit of the Spirit
              Unconditional Love
                  Mercy     
                    Peace that passes understanding
                      Protection
                         Comfort
                            Joy
                              Grace


For many of us there are a thousand things we think of when we think about all that Christ has done for us. He has given each of us the gift of a relationship with him and that is Good news!


When we receive Christ's gifts we have a choice in how we Re-Gift.

We can be like the unmerciful servant who was forgiven and had his debt cancelled in Matthew 18. This man’s account was wiped clean and instead of re-Gifting this to others, instead of offering the grace and mercy that was shown to him, he was unforgiving to those who owed him money.

He did not remember what had been given to him.

In the midst of this busyness we can forget.  We can be so focused on giving and getting that things become all jumbled.

I am trying to choose to remember all that He has given me!

Or

We can Re-Gift with love and excitement and Joy like the woman at the well. After meeting Jesus and realizing who He was, she went and told everyone. "Come and see the man who told me everything I ever did! Is he the Christ"?


We have an opportunity to share his love and peace, grace, mercy and hope to others.


This year, during this season, you and I have a choice to Re-Gift Jesus.


Who will be the person that you give Him to?

Father, thank you for giving us your son.  What an incredible and loving gift. Jesus, thank you for all that you have given to us. Choosing to love us when we are sinful and undeserving. Choosing to die for us. Choosing out of love to love us.  Thank you.  Holy Spirit, thank you for coming, for guiding, comforting, convicting and filling.  I ask that you would lead us and guide us to show others your great gifts of love.

Jann

Prayer is like a vacation.

Did you know that the words "Be still" mean to vacate?  It is where the word vacation comes from. Each time we come to the Father in prayer and are still, we take a vacation, a breather, a repsite.  It is a time that we can rest and listen and just be still.


Ruth Haley Barton writes of a time that she was told to do this.

"you are like a jar of river water all shaken up.

What you need is to sit still long enough so that the sediment can settle and the water can become clear."

What are the things that are swirling around you?

busyness,

   emotions,

     strife,

       relationships,

         pressures

           worries

Sit still long enough so that the sediment, the (junk) can fall to the bottom.

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about      many things."

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

Let the things of this earth fall to the bottom and you will see more clearly!

Father, thank you that you have made us to need the connection of prayer. Thank you for being God! Thank you for taking the craziness out of what is swirling around us and bringing peace. 

Thank you for giving us a vacation anytime that we are still and invite you in.  Please remind us to do this more often.

Brown layer

Image via Wikipedia

Brown layer!  That doesn't sound very good does it?  This weekend, my husband and I attended our church's marriage retreat.  Paul and Susie Ulrickson were our speakers and they reminded us that being a couple takes some hard work.  We did exercises that helped us communicate feelings and come to a better understanding of each other.  At one point the term "Brown Layer" was introduced.
Paul explained it to be like

 the outer portion of an onion.  The stuff that we throw away.

 Often the first things that we begin to share with each other are much like this "Brown Layer"!  It was a great concept for me, since I often process verbally and don't always filter what is said.  It gave me permission to say, "I think that was "brown layer" let's start over!"

It is probably why in Scripture is tells us to be slow to speak and quick to listen!  We are to listen more than we speak!

I will try to put this into practice. My husband has already become used to the phrase "Brown Layer"

Father,

Help me to guard my tongue and choose wisely the words that I speak. Lord help me also to recognize when I say things that are "brown Layer and to own up to them. Give me quick ears and a slow tongue.

Jann