gifts

A Wise Man Named Joe

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And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. Matthew 2:11 ESV

“What’s for dinner honey?” I said with a laugh knowing that it would be lentil soup for its third and final performance. During those first years of marriage, (circa 1975) our food shopping was a low-cost adventure. So, with Christmas not far away, even putting up a tree with decorations was something we couldn’t afford. That year, Christmas Eve was pay day and at four thirty I waited in line for my check. “Merry Christmas” My boss said winking as he handed me my envelope. “There’s something extra in there for you tonight.”  

I peeked inside and drew a quick breath in astonishment. “Wow thanks Joe! Merry Christmas to you too” I said amazed at seeing a fifty-dollar bill tucked inside! so I drove home through the heavy traffic getting there just before five. “Come on Nancy! Let’s go buy a tree!” I shouted as I ran up the stairs to show her my bonus. Five minutes later we bundled up and drove to a Christmas tree lot where the owner was delighted to sell us a tree for five dollars, just before he closed. Then we raced over to the Woolworth store, where for ten cents each we bought some colored glass bulbs and a string of lights with tinsel. God didn’t have to send the wise men with gifts to make it Christmas; but He did. That Christmas our wise man was named Joe and he left us a special gift on that Silent and Holy Night!

Love Lifted Me and our Unseen Grandson! — Walking With Lambs

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And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:10 NLT When the call goes out for helpers for nursing home ministry, many people don’t volunteer, simply because they feel they have nothing to offer. “I can’t sing – I’m not good in front of people’” […]

Love Lifted Me and our Unseen Grandson! — Walking With Lambs

A Beautiful Aroma

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 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could – Mark 14:6-8a ESV

While my wife was away for three months, taking care of her sister because of a serious medical condition, today’s scripture became very real to me. Neighbors, fellow church members and sometimes even I, asked why she was taking so long. Sadly we sounded a lot like the folks in this familiar Bible story. It just seems to be part of our human nature to begin to question when a gift seems too costly. Even in the case where someone is giving to us, we sometimes react with the words, “You really shouldn’t have!” But if they buy a new car or a bigger home for themselves, we all shout, “Wow! Fantastic!”

When someone like the woman in today’s verse gives extravagantly, without expecting in return, we start criticizing. Maybe the reason is because of our own miserly giving. Instead of pouring out on the feet of Jesus we have kept the perfume for ourselves. I have found that it helps to ask, “What will I do with my alabaster jar in heaven?”

What will I do with my alabaster jar?

Here is the only place and today is the only day I can break it and give it away to Jesus. Remember that we can still smell the beautiful aroma of this one woman’s gift after 2,000 years!