HOW MUCH WOULD YOU GIVE?

In Indonesia a friend prepared for each of our children’s Christmas stocking filled with trinkets and surprises. The excited children then declared it an annual family custom. So each year early in October I begin to hear hints of various items suitable for inclusion in the stockings.

From remnants of material or coloured crepe paper, I construct the stockings which I fill according to age and sex of each child.

For the girls hanks, powder, rollers, stockings, notepaper, sweets, rubbers, ribbons, soap, book-tokens, stamps, a fun whistle, stickers, undies. For young children: toys, marbles, yo-yo, rubber ball, match-box toys, coloured pencils, puzzles, dot-to-dot books, chalk, combs, hair-clips. For the boys: shoe laces, socks, tissues, notebook, envelope, a film, sports magazine, batteries, torch, Christian paper-back, screwdriver, nuts, dried fruit.

The surprise articles collected for each stocking during the year are extracted to the delighted cries of ‘Just what I needed’.

Today many women are participating in the Shoe-boxes for children, through

Samaritan’s Purse, who supply an appropriate list for all ages. This has proved a great delight to children who otherwise would not receive anything at Christmas.

God provided amazing surprises when He sent His Son. He knew our needs when He gave the gift of His Son that first Christmas morning. He gave lavishly.

He gave us richly all things to enjoy ( 1 Timothy 6:17 ) when He gave His only Son.

( John 3:16 ) through Whom He said, ‘I will give unto them eternal life ( John 10:28)

In exchange for restlessness, tension and frustration, He says, ‘My peace I give unto you ‘ ( JOHN 14:27 ) . This same Lord Jesus is also our Good shepherd who gives His life for the sheep.’ ( John 10:11) . Even the faith to believe is His gift, ‘for by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. ( Eph 2:8 ) .

Also the Lord said, ‘I will give them a heart to know Me.’ ( Jer 24:7) and ‘I will give them a heart of flesh. ( Ezek 11:19 ) in place .of a cold, lifeless, stony heart.

Busy? Wornout? Tired? ‘Come unto Me all you that labour and are heavy-hearted and I will give you rest. ‘ ( Matt 11:28 )

Poor? Needy? Destitute? ‘ my God is able to give you all your need" ( Phil 4:19) And if you are uncertain or in doubt be sure of this, ‘ If any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God who gives liberally ,’ ( James 1:5 ) If you are thirsty for a deep heart experience

‘Ask and He will give you Rivers of living water ‘( John 7:38 )

Every good and perfect gift comes from above down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variableness neither shadow cast by turning.’ ( James 1:17) The most excellent and superb gift is Jesus Christ for ‘He gave Himself for us.’ ( Ga,2:20)

If you as a human know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask.’ ( Luke 11:13)

‘Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift,’ ( 2 Cor 9:15 )

Thou has brought to me Down from thy home above Salvation full and free

Thy pardon and Thy love, Great gifts you brought to me: What have I given for thee.

( F.R. Havergal ) You may call Gwenda hgsteward@cobweb.com.au