Date: 12/8/2009
<br>Author: Devin
<br>Title: Wish List
<br><br>Once again, we find ourselves in the middle of that great gift-giving time of the year.  In what is billed as being “the most exciting time on the calender”, many find that it actually becomes the most stressful time of the year.  Anxiety fills the air for most when trying to figure out what kind of gifts to buy for all the folks on their shopping lists.  And of course, when considering our gift purchases, we want to put a great deal of thought into “who gets what”.  We want each present to be just the right thing for those who are to receive it.  We want each gift to convey a sense of appropriateness and thought.  And of course, I suppose what we want most of all is the fact that the person actually needs and wants what we get them.<br><br><br>I want to share with you for just a moment some gift ideas for those around you that won't cost a dime.  These gifts won't have to be size appropriate and they won't have to be wrapped with a pretty red ribbon on top.  You won't have to deal with long lines at the store or encounter folks who are crabby because they have had way too much caffeine and fruit cake.  As a matter of fact, you won't even have to wait until December 25 to give away these fantastic gifts .... you can begin now.<br><br>RESPECT ..... Romans 13:7, Ephesians 5:33, 1 Thessalonians 4:12, 1 Timothy 3:4<br><br>LOVE ..... Matthew 5:43-44, Matthew 19:19, John 15:17, Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 13:13<br><br>TRUTH ..... Psalm 145:18, Proverbs 23:23, John 8:32, John 19:35, Ephesians 4:15<br><br>TOLERANCE ..... Matthew 7:1-2, Luke 6:37, Romans 2:1, Romans 14:4, Colossians 2:16<br><br>ATTENTION ..... Mark 9:37, Luke 19:1-5, Acts 4:32-35, Galatians 6:10<br><br>FORGIVENESS ..... Matthew 6:12-15, Matthew 18:21, Mark 11:25, Luke 6:37, Colossians 3:13<br><br><br>As you know, this list could go on and on.  Fact of the matter is, I bet some of you could come up with far more gifts than I have, but I think you catch my drift.  When I begin to consider the great gift given to me by God ..... in fact, the greatest gift ever given to mankind (John 3:16), I begin to realize that maybe the greatest gift I could ever give anyone would be one that no money could buy.  If our lives are lived in a dedicated effort to possess the fruits of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22), the end product will be our desire to shower those around us with as many of the above gifts as possible.  The result of our year-round, gift-giving lifestyle will be priceless ..... relationships will be begun, restored, and healed ..... priorities will change, optimism will be revealed, and honesty will reign.  It will be amazing to see what giving something away without a bar code will do for your life.  Go try it out today.  What have you got to lose?  You just might find out that the one who ends up with the best gift will be the one who gave it away in the first place ..... you :)<br><br>Go the extra mile - Devin<br>