Gift Exchange

I am not really sure how the concept of exchanging gifts for occasions began, but the reality of presenting people with gifts as a means of marking significant achievements and milestones has become quite commonplace. Month after month, I peruse my calendar in search of a friend or family member's birthday, anniversary, or monumental achievement. I search all year long for the perfect gift to give at Christmas to those near and dear to me. Sometimes I reevaluate who is on my gift giving list and why I continue to send small tokens of love their way when often they may not deserve it or worse I don't feel like being nice. Never do I plan or purchase a gift with a thought of reciprocal pleasantries. I give gifts because the people in my life are special, their celebrations are special, and I don't take them or their lives for granted. My hope when sending a loved one a gift is that he or she knows that his or her life has meaning and that their accomplishments are significant not only to them but to me and the rest of the world.

Too often, though, we wait for some extraordinary feat before we give away a gift. We get so busy with life that we fail to realize that God gives us a gift every day, and we in turn should share our gifts everyday. John 3:16 tells us that God loved us so much that He gave His most precious gift, Jesus, so that whoever accepted His gift would have a wondrous new life. Then God showed off and gives us a new day every day to celebrate, worship, and pass on the gift of salvation. When Jesus died for our sins, He took captivity(bondages of life) captive and gave gifts to men (mankind). Isn't that awesome? God gave us a gift, and our gift - Jesus gave us even more wonderful gifts that we would share with each other.

Do you realize that your life is a gift to someone else? You were created with special gifts and talents that Jesus put inside you to make someone else's life better. Usually the gift that God put on the inside of you is one that comes so easily out of you that you may not even recognize how special it is or how filled with purpose you are. Some people sing with little effort and it blesses everyone within hearing distance. Others have the gift of helps and encouragement, they make life better and easier for everyone and get great joy out of doing it. Several folks are gifted with faith, they can believe God for the impossible for the lives of those connected to them. Many have a gift of wisdom or knowledge, they have a right word at the right time for the person and it solves problems and answers questions that the person otherwise would not be aware. Dozens of people are gifted with visions and dreams, God has placed ideas in their minds that will deliver nations. These gifts have been given not to benefit the gifted but to take to those who cross our path. There are people that God has assigned to your family, your job, your lifestyle who are in desperate need to receive the blessing of your gift. You don't have to wait until some monumental occasion to touch their lives; you must share your gift today. After all someone's life may be depending on it.

Thousands of people are not even aware that they have a gift. Others deny the gift that God has given them because they desire someone else's gift. They don't think that what they do matters and that life would be more glamorous if they were like somebody else. But the truth is that God said in Jeremiah 29:11 that He knows the thoughts and plans that He has for your life. You were not born with the wrong gift; your life would not be better or easier if you could do what someone else does. God has equipped you to be you and to bare your gift. Just think, you were not created to be an ox. An ox was designed to be an ox that is why it can bare great loads without giving way or breaking its back or giving up before the job is done. If you had to be laden or corralled it would kill you because you were not made to be an ox but you were made with another purpose in mind. So look at your self in the mirror, and decide today to operate within your gift. Make up your mind to share your gift freely with everyone that God brings into your path. If you are not sure what you are called to do, then pray and ask God to reveal to you what your gift is, how He wants you to use it, and that He sends the people onto your path who are waiting to encounter Him through you. Even if you discover that you are not the next greatest whomever, know that you are special because you were created to share the greatest gift of all - the love of Jesus!

Remember you were created to give gifts away. So when you give your gift to others, don't look for anyone to celebrate you for being obedient. Don't expect any applause or a gift in return. Don't be offended or rejected when others don't want your gift. Don't expect everyone to be excited by your gift, after all it has a set purpose and a targeted audience. Don't fear that you are unqualified or incapable of sharing your gift. Think of it as the birthday gift you give to your loved one, you don't think twice about it you just give it in the spirit of love. Be like Jesus give of yourself freely to whoever is willing to receive!