From the Preacher's Pen December 2009      


Enjoying your Gift


Over the years you can probably think of some of the surprisingly wonderful gifts that you have received for Christmas. Some of those gifts were very practical and you still are wearing that dress or shirt even after five years. On the other hand maybe because of some physical changes in your life that dress or shirt no longer fits. Many of the gifts we have received may have already made their way to that place where all broken and now even dangerous thing end up, the dump. But there is probably that one special gift that you hold dear. It may be as simple as a card or letter that you still have safely tucked away in the top drawer. It may be that heirloom that your mother gave to you which she received from her mother, your grand mother. That gift you treasure may be something that was made by the hands of someone special to you, homemade, what a great gift. It may be only a memory of something that you shared in the form of a movie or a play with a friend or a loved one. What ever it is you can still enjoy the gift even if it is only in your mind and heart.

The Christian, because of the life of Christ, has received in Jesus what the Apostle Paul describes as an "indescribable gift." God's grace in Christ Jesus is truly and indescribable gift that just keeps giving. In II Corinthians 9 Paul is reminding the Christians at Corinth about their readiness and enthusiasm to give a monetary gift for the relief of the effects of a famine among the Christians in Jerusalem. The Grace of God working in the hearts of God's people would produce a generous gift, not as one grudgingly given. God's grace produces a cheerful giver of gifts, not those who give out of compulsion or reluctantly. God is able to make all GRACE abound in you so that you will abound in every good work. God, in his GRACE, has scattered his gifts to the poor. Many times isn't it the gift that comes from the heart that we receive with the greatest sense of joy. This gift would not only meet the needs of people; but this gift of GRACE would result in thanksgiving to God. When we allow God to use the GRACE of generosity that he has put in our hearts to bless the lives of other people they will praise God for our obedience that accompanies our confession of the gospel of Christ. The generous gifts of GRACE that we give will cause the hearts of people to go out to us because of this wonderful grace that God has given us. We as Christians should thank God for the indescribable gift of his GRACE in his Son Jesus. God's grace working in our hearts is a gift we can enjoy day after day and year after year. The gift of God's GRACE is a gift that keeps on giving all through the year. So this Christmas season and throughout the year enjoy the gift of God's GRACE. Enjoy the gift of God's grace as his GRACE keeps giving generously through you.

We hope that you will enjoy the gifts of God's GRACE as presented to us on December 18 & 19 by the SVCC Drama team as they present "The House of Holidays" The other gift will be give to us on Christmas Eve by our youth choir as they present "The Best Christmas Present Ever." We hope that you will enjoy each of these gifts that will lift up Jesus as he is the reason for the season.

So the next time you see a roller coaster with all of its ups and downs, thank God for His promise to you that He will always be with you through the UPS and the DOWNS of life.

                                                                                     Enjoying the gift of GRACE.