| Christmas is upon us again. No better time of year. | | | | Christmas, would you grab your wallet and ask the |
| The snow, the cold, the lights, the music, and........the | | | | person, "how much did this cost? You shouldn't have. |
| presents. Don't try and hide it, everyone likes rushing | | | | Here, let me give you something. I know It's not much, |
| down to the Christmas tree on Christmas orders in the | | | | but let me give you something for your trouble." That |
| air, and all those presents sitting underneath the | | | | would be incredibly rude and so embarrassing to the |
| Christmas I always look and try to guess which one is | | | | giver. |
| mine. Naturally, I do this very arbitrarily. I can't let on to | | | | These same things prevent us from receiving the |
| people that I'm looking. | | | | greatest gift of all time. God's gift of His forgiveness |
| "It is more blessed to give then it is to receive." This is | | | | and a new life. |
| a phrase that we are all familiar with around Christmas | | | | You see having faith in God is not about doing, it's |
| time. It is so true. There is a magic that happens inside | | | | about receiving. The difference between Christianity |
| your heart when you just give to someone resources | | | | and any other religion is this. With any other religion you |
| to ever pay you back.do that. | | | | work a to do list for God. He takes all these things |
| But what about receiving? Christmas giving and | | | | from me and I get brownie points with God. In |
| receiving? That is something different. That is the | | | | Christianity, God does the work, He gives to me, I |
| hardest thing to do. Why? What is it that makes it so | | | | receive, and He gets all the credit. This is the truth |
| hard to reach out to a hand that says, I want to give | | | | about Christmas. |
| to What is it about receiving that we struggle so much | | | | For people who were raised to always do for |
| with? Things like, "I have my pride", or, " I don't do | | | | yourself, it's not an easy task to Like the girl in the |
| charity". | | | | story, "I can do it myself." God should be happy He has |
| Our down economy has put a lot of people, good | | | | me on His team. |
| people, educated people, loving themselves in the soup | | | | Just like the lady couldn't keep her car from going over |
| kitchens, and sleeping in the homeless shelters. | | | | the side of that cliff and plunging to her death, she |
| Receiving is hard. | | | | could not do anything without all those people helping |
| I want to tell you about a lady who fell asleep while | | | | her. Doing what I want and a stubborn heart, always |
| driving her car. The car spun off the road, crashed | | | | keep me from living the kind of I can't live that kind of |
| through the guardrail and hung onto the side of Several | | | | life no matter how hard I try. |
| motorists stopped and tied the rear bumper of the car | | | | What I could not do, God did. This is what Christmas is |
| to a tree so it Every little movement of the car, they | | | | all about, and this is what Christianity is all about. years |
| could her the girl inside screaming. It took two and a | | | | ago. We celebrate the entrance of God into our world |
| half hours, but the fire department finally pulled the car | | | | at Christmas. There was only one reason He came. |
| back said so many times before, but of all her | | | | To pay the penalty for your sin and mine. The price for |
| vocabulary she chose that to say. She didn't realize | | | | sin is death. (Romans 6:23) The gift of God is free. |
| that it took all these people and almost three hours of | | | | (Ephesians 2:8-9), (Titus 3:4-5) |
| work to free her. | | | | Now the way is open. too. Jesus said, " I have come |
| What would you think of a person who just did | | | | that they might have life and have it to the full." |
| something nice for you? Why? What about Christmas | | | | Now my friend all the obstacles have been removed. |
| charity? Christmas giving? Christmas help? Do you | | | | There is nothing standing in your way, except a |
| need Christmas help? | | | | stubborn, disobedient heart, and Just ask Him. That's |
| Why Receiving is so hard to do; | | | | why He came. Learn to receive. Reach out and take |
| 1. individuals have let us down in the past. (hard to trust | | | | His hand. He has a gift for you. All you have to do is |
| anymore) | | | | receive it. |
| 2. Ego or Pride. ( Why do you think guys don't ask for | | | | Revelation 3:20; " Listen! I am standing at the door and |
| directions) | | | | knocking! If anyone hears My voice and opens the |
| 3. Emotional Insecurity (I give to forget who I really am) | | | | door, I will come in and dine with him and he with Me." |
| 4. Past Incident (we feel unworthy to receive) | | | | Jesus is knocking. Can you hear His voice? Why not |
| What if somebody gave you a Rolex watch for | | | | open the door and ask Him to come in. |