A Christmas Series: The Gift of Grace

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17, NIV)

Christmas is only days away. And even though this marks the end of our series, I pray all 3 gifts (forgiveness, encouragement, and grace) continue to impact our lives in Christ. 

I chose gifts money cannot buy, yet are very valuable. In fact, these gifts are priceless. Also, I spent time asking the Lord which gifts to highlight. 

But this week, instead of waiting on God, I began researching an entirely different gift. Because I felt grace is widely discussed and covered.

Then, the Lord captured my attention when He whispered to my heart: 

Karen, grace is the greatest gift, a good and perfect gift (James 1:17) that came down from Me to you as my Son the first Christmas.

'Grace is the greatest gift, a good and perfect gift (James 1:17) that came down from Me to you as my Son the first Christmas.' ~ God #grace #christmasgifts Share on X

Grace Defined

(1.) Google defines grace as “courteous goodwill.” So I find it interesting how grace plays a major role in the Christmas story along with goodwill (desire to do good to others, act of kindness, charitable gift). 

An angel announced the Savior’s birth to shepherds, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!’” (Luke 2:13-14, NKJV, emphasis mine) 

The Savior embodies God’s grace and desire to do good to us and offer us kindness. And Jesus Christ remains the greatest act of charity (spiritually needy) known to mankind.

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A Christmas Series: The Gift of Encouragement

Welcome to our second week on gifts. For this series, I imagined someone asked me to make a list of the top presents money cannot buy, but that I enjoy receiving from others. These gifts are intangible, yet they often gift us with the most important parts of life. Such as the gift of forgiveness we discussed last week. We continue with another valuable gift to both receive and give, encouragement.

Google defines it as, “the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.” And dictionary.com explains it as “to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.”

So on the flip side, discouragement means “a loss of confidence or enthusiasm; dispiritedness” (Google).

Recently, this hit close to home. Discouragement knocked on my heart’s door and attempted to enter as a house guest through unkind words.

Encouragement to the rescue! My sweet husband spoke encouraging words, cheering me on with the truth and lifting my spirits. Then my stepfather came to town relaying words of life and hope, redirecting my heart and kicking discouragement to the curb.

Encouragement gifts us with the support, inspiration, confidence, hope, and courage we need. And when we need it the most. 

Encouragement gifts us with the support, inspiration, confidence, hope, and courage we need. And when we need it the most. #giftidea #encourage Share on X

Powerful Quotes on Encouragement

Look at how this gift really makes a difference in our lives. 

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A Christmas Series: The Gift of Forgiveness

When we think of Christmas gifts, our thoughts ponder what to buy that family member who has everything. Or, the person who is particular in their taste. Perhaps we wonder what treasures lay under the tree for us.

Over the next 3 weeks until Christmas, we are embarking on a series about gifts. These are not the typical gifts we imagine at Christmastime. Yet, each gift offers some of the most glorious things in life. 

We begin with the gift of forgiveness. And to be gut-honest, my tendency is to only see it as a gift when I receive it. Because forgiveness is a difficult present to hand out. Especially if the hurt runs deep and the offense cuts into our soul.

Starting in my childhood, a person has inflicted injury upon injury to my heart. Even threatening the unthinkable just two years ago, and causing a recent emotional wounding.

Still, God gave me the power and ability to truly and fully forgive her. Although our relationship remains in a less than whole state. And her patterns of behavior haven’t changed. I am living in wholeness and walking in freedom by giving her this gift. 

Why? Refusing to forgive places us behind bars—imprisoning our hearts and shackling our souls. Forgiving unlocks the prison cell, making us free!

Refusing to forgive places us behind bars—imprisoning our hearts and shackling our souls. Forgiving unlocks the prison cell, making us free! #forgiveness #gift Share on X

Sometimes forgiveness neither restores a relationship nor is the best or healthy result. But it restores us.

However, this gift comes with a warning label: Offering it with a limited warranty or an expiration date renders it unacceptable.

Gift Description

Let’s look closer at our gift through these definitions and wisdom.

(1.) “To cease to feel resentment against (an offender): PARDON: forgive one’s enemies” (Merriam-Webster).

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