There are billions of dollars spent on gift cards each year during the holiday season. I have mixed emotions about gift cards. I do like to receive them, because they are usually to a good restaurant I like, or to my favorite ice cream shop.

In a way, gift cards are a way of saying, “I’d like to get you a gift, but will give you the money instead so you can get what you want.

I’m also conflicted this time of year about gifts. I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to buy me a gift just because it’s Christmas. I would rather watch the grandkids opening their gifts; that brings me joy.

No one can top the greatest gift I’ve ever received, the gift of life. When I gave my life to Christ at 16 years old, my life changed forever.

I no longer desire the things of this world; they just don’t satisfy me.

I’m praying this Christmas that my family and friends and many that are reading this, are blessed, and if you don’t know of the greatest gift of all (eternal life), that you’ll receive it this year.

Gifts are free; you don’t have to pay for a gift.

Accept the gift of eternal life - Jesus, He paid it all for each of us; His gift to you.

Romans 6:23 - “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

I can remember when my daughter was younger and wanted a guinea pig as a pet. I can’t remember how long we had it, but I can remember her wanting to carry it around. Most kids like to carry their new puppy or kitten around like it was a baby.

Isn’t this the way we treat anger at times? We carry it around like a baby kitten, stewing about how someone wronged us or angry that we didn’t get the job we wanted or the promotion we deserved. Anger can eat at your insides, making you physically sick at times.

When you’re hurt and hang onto resentment or betrayal, you’ll find yourself mad at God. How could God let this happen to me? Why me? Being angry isn’t a sin, but being controlled by it is. God may allow things to alter your course, make you upset, but know this: God is there, amongst all the pain and hurt.

I’ve found out that the best thing to do in these situations is to not carry around this anger all day, but give it to God. Pray for the other person that hurt you. Most times they don’t realize they did hurt you, or even care that it upset you.

It’s okay to be angry about something that hurt you, but don’t dwell on it. It’s circumstances, history that we can’t control now or in the future.

Satan wants us to dwell on the hurt. He wants you to get even with the other person. This only shows them that you’re just like them, and no different than the average person.

Let the anger go. Don’t hold onto it. It will only make you bitter and resentful.

James 1:19-20 - “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

Manure is good for a garden. You can spread it around the garden and the plants will thrive from this nutrient rich dung.

I heard a pastor give the analogy of manure and money. He said that if you leave manure in a pile, it really stinks, but if you spread it around, it helps out the plants and living things in the ground grow. So it is with money. If we hold onto money, it’s of no good to anyone, but if we spread it around, others can prosper from it as well.

I can attest to the fact that in the past, when I have had money and used it for my own benefit, and didn’t give to others, my life stalled. It wasn’t going anywhere, and I didn’t realize that the money that I get as a paycheck is not my money. God loans it to me to use.

As a single mom, I used to lose sleep over money, worrying if I had enough to pay the bills. It wasn’t that I didn’t make much money, because I had a good salary. It’s what I did with the money that was the problem. I kept it to myself. I bought what I wanted. Of course I provided for my kids, but I was very selfish with whatever was left over.

As I grew in my Christian walk, I started realizing that I am very fortunate. Once I started giving to others, my life started changing. I can remember living in Oklahoma, and had the lowest paying salary I had ever had in my career, but the money was always there at the end of the month. I kept my bills paid and family fed. What was different? I was giving to the church; my money, my time.

God knows your heart. If you’re holding onto money for your own pleasures, be very careful. In the book of Mark, Jesus asks the man to go sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor. The man went away sad and Jesus goes on to tell that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Are you holding onto your money so tight that it’s starting to stink? Pay it forward; give to others; share your time with those in need.

Don’t be stinky, or stingy.

Mark 10:21-22 - “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

Property manager.

I’ve never been a property manager, but they have their work cut out for them.  I can’t imagine having property, and people are relying on me when they have problems. Sounds like it would be a pain.  It does have benefits though.  If you had several properties to lease, you could make a lot of money.  But, is it worth the complaining tenants?

Did you know that as a Christian, we are property managers?  Our property is our body.  God gave us this one body to use while we’re here on earth.  That means that we are to care for it physically, emotionally and spiritually.  

There are so many things being thrown at us in this area.  You’ll see commercials on tv about cheeseburgers, decadent cakes and cookies, etc.  Smoking and alcohol ads are everywhere, and our youth are being exposed at an early age.  

Keeping your body healthy is a 24/7 job.  The temptations are out there, in our face every day.  God knows this, and if you ask, He will help you overcome these harmful addictions that can cripple our bodies.

How about you? How are you treating your property that God gave you?  

I’m looking forward to a new body some day, a heavenly body that God promises to those who have gave their life to Him.  

I’m not a perfect property manager of my body, but I do try to take care of what he gave me, and the areas where I struggle, I ask for his help.  He’s never let me down.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

In 2018, I went a whole year without buying any clothing of any kind. I didn’t miss the shopping, and never needed any clothing that I didn’t already have. It goes to show you I already had enough clothes in my closet to wear. I admit, in my 20’s and 30’s, I kept buying clothes, even though I already had enough.

Clothes do wear out, but rarely do we keep them that long. We give the used clothing away (which is a good thing), and buy more new things we think we need.

Did you know that this earth is wearing out as we speak? We’re not taking care of what we have. Our natural resources are dwindling, and what we do have, we’re polluting and replacing God’s green earth with cement and other man-made structures.

It says in Isaiah that one day the heavens will vanish like smoke, and the earth will wear out like a garment. All mankind will die like flies.

But, there is good news in all this, and that’s, our salvation will last forever.

Don’t put your trust and money in the things of this world, as one day it will all be but a vapor of smoke.

Trust God, who makes old things new.

Isaiah 51:6 - “Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies. But my salvation will last forever,
my righteousness will never fail.”

I’ve had my fair share of moving. It’s a pain; packing, loading, unloading, unpacking, etc. One thing that is consistent each time I move is filling out a change of address form. A necessary step in moving. Had I not filled one out, all my mail would be sent to my old address.

Most don’t like to think about it, but one day everyone will move on from this world to a final destination.

If you ask some people where they plan to spend eternity, they will say, “I hope in Heaven,” or “I’m afraid I’m headed to hell.” This is no laughing matter. Whether you believe in God or not, we were all born and we will all die some day.

You have a choice in this matter. If you’re still breathing and haven’t accepted Christ as your savior, you can change that today.

Just think, this one decision could change your eternal address forever.

None of us know what tomorrow may bring. Sleep good tonight knowing that if tomorrow is an eternal moving day for you, that you can rest in the promise that God will take you home to Heaven.

Luke 16:22-23 - “The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.”

The first thing I can remember owning was a car. It wasn’t much of a car, (1970ish) Ford Maverick, but it was rightfully mine. I had the title; mom helped me pay the insurance so I was legally allowed to drive the car on the road. I did end up selling it a few years later. The weirdest thing about that car was it took more oil than gas to go on a long road trip. Lol.

We can also take ownership in our job, our position or status in the community.

As a Christian, what is fueling your faith? In order to grow as a Christian, you need to own your faith, by motivation or experiences from God.

You can’t become a Christian because your mom and dad went to church, or because it’s a tradition in your family. Once you give your life to Christ, you can’t lost it just because you sinned. If that were the case, we would have all lost our salvation after day 1.

If you do sin, recognize it and ask God to forgive you; He will. It’s called mercy.

For many that become a Christian in their teens, they do ok, stumble along, until they leave for college or leave home and eventually they drift; quit going to church altogether.

Owning your faith comes from a lifetime of choices to follow God, for yourself. Not because it’s tradition or it’s what your parents did.

Seek God, alone. Spend time with Him. Let Him know that He is Lord of your life.

Own it!

Romans 12:2 - “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Did you know that both salt and light change the environment where they exist? They both have properties which affect things around them. Salt gives taste to bland foods; light gives substance to a dark room.

But what happens when both of these lose their power? If salt loses its taste, it’s no good for any flavoring. If a light bulb goes out, it has to be thrown out and replaced.

God speaks of both salt and light in the Bible. As Christians, we are to be the light of the world; a bright energy force in this dark and depressing world.

We need to be deliberate in seeking the lost.

This doesn’t mean that we have to bring out our Bible and start preaching a sermon to the lost person in the airport.

When Jesus taught, He often taught among the uneducated people. He told stories, parables that they could easily relate to.

Our faithfulness should be evident to those we meet. Onlookers should be drawn by the light that comes from us.

Be an influence everywhere you go and when they ask you why you seem so radiant and happy, you can tell them the good news of Jesus, and how He changed your life.

Be the change the world is looking for.

Matthew 5:13-16 - “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”