Christmas is a time for giving. The tradition started with the magi who brought gifts for the Christ Child. Now we celebrate the birth of Jesus by giving Christmas presents to one another.
God is the original gift giver. Of all the gifts He has given, one of the greatest is the gift of memory. Consider this amazing gift. At any moment you can pull from your built in memory bank memories that date back decades. Without leaving the comfort of your easy chair, memory can transport you miles away to faraway places.
In Philippians 4:8 Paul said, “Think on these things.” By an act of your will you can activate the gift of memory. You can recall special moments. You can relive good times with family and friends. The gift of memory can take you back to days gone by like Scrooge’s ghost of Christmas past. By exercising God’s gift you can experience what the songwriter wrote, “Precious moments, special people, happy faces, I can see” (Somewhere In My Memory).
The gift of memory is included in James’ statement, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17). Be aware of the fact that Satan delights in misusing the gifts of God. Satan wants the gift of memory to torment us. God wants His gift to bless us. It all depends on how the gift is used.
This Christmas season take time to reflect. Remember the good, and be thankful. Most of all, remember that into this dark world God sent light in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. Into a hopeless situation, hope came wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
As you open presents this year, remember the many wonderful gifts of God. As it says in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,” one of which is the gift of memory itself.
Pastor Todd Weston
God is the original gift giver. Of all the gifts He has given, one of the greatest is the gift of memory. Consider this amazing gift. At any moment you can pull from your built in memory bank memories that date back decades. Without leaving the comfort of your easy chair, memory can transport you miles away to faraway places.
In Philippians 4:8 Paul said, “Think on these things.” By an act of your will you can activate the gift of memory. You can recall special moments. You can relive good times with family and friends. The gift of memory can take you back to days gone by like Scrooge’s ghost of Christmas past. By exercising God’s gift you can experience what the songwriter wrote, “Precious moments, special people, happy faces, I can see” (Somewhere In My Memory).
The gift of memory is included in James’ statement, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” (James 1:17). Be aware of the fact that Satan delights in misusing the gifts of God. Satan wants the gift of memory to torment us. God wants His gift to bless us. It all depends on how the gift is used.
This Christmas season take time to reflect. Remember the good, and be thankful. Most of all, remember that into this dark world God sent light in the person of His Son Jesus Christ. Into a hopeless situation, hope came wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.
As you open presents this year, remember the many wonderful gifts of God. As it says in Psalm 103:2, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,” one of which is the gift of memory itself.
Pastor Todd Weston