Gifts you can give all yearGifts you can give all year

Giving does not expire on December 26

Praise

Prayer

Gratitude

Understanding

Kindness

Presence

ForgiveLove

Example

Let's Unwrap these gifts!

Praise

Mark Twain said he could live 2 months on one compliment.

Critics destroy - - - But - - -An Encourager builds upMake it a point to express praise when you can.Compliments are free!1 Corinthians 11:2 – Now I praise you brethren2 Chronicles 35:2 – He (Josiah) encouraged them to the service of the house of the Lord.

Understanding

Deep down – most of wish for more understandingWe want to be understood

Solomon could as for anything hewanted. He asked for understanding.1 Kings 3:9, 12 – He was given a “wise and understanding heart.”

Husbands and wives wouldsolve many issues with a clearunderstanding of each other.

Kindness

Ephesians 3:32 Be kind to one anotherRomans 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor, giving preference to one another2 Peter 1:7 Add to godliness brotherly kindness

Presence

Visit the sick, shut-in, nursing home, hospital, funeral home.It is not so much what you say – It is your presence thatbrings them comfort.Your presence matters.James 1:27 – Pure religion = visitMatthew 25:34-40 The saved are thosewho give, went, visited, showed up, supported, helped.

Gratitude

“Gratitude is the mother of all virtues.”Ephesians 5:20 – Giving thanks alwaysfor all things to God the Father in thename of our Lord Jesus ChristLuke 17:17 – Were there not 10 cleansed?But where are the nine?The percentages are about the same nowRomans 1:21 – The heathen gentiles “didnot glorify His as God, nor were thankful”

Prayer

Song: “For You I Am Praying”

James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasingRomans 12:12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Forgive

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you. Matthew 6:14-15 14 "For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:21-22 21 Then Peter came to Him and said, "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" 22 Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Example

1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. Matthew 5:13-15 We are to be the light of the world and the salt of the earthMatthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. “I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one.”

Love

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Peter 1:22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,

John 13:34-35 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Giving should not be limited to special times, holidays and birthdaysTrue gifts can (and should) be given everyday of the yearActs 20:35 – Better to give than receive

The greatest gift ever given was the gift God gave – His Son – John 3:16Would you give your life to him?Are you ready to live a life of giving?