Category: Advent

They spread the word. God sent an angel to announce the birth of Jesus, the Messiah that God’s people had been waiting on for hundreds of years. God didn’t choose to reveal this exciting news to the priests or religious leaders who were familiar with the words he had spoken through the prophets. Instead, God chose some ordinary shepherds who were out in the field keeping watch over their flocks at night.

“Do not be afraid,” the angel said to them. “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you:  You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

The shepherds rushed off to Bethlehem to see for themselves the things the Lord had told them about through the angel. Everything was just as they had heard.

Luke recorded how this impacted not only the shepherds but those who the shepherds shared the news with, “When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them…. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told” (Luke 2:17-18 & 20).

I love the 2^nd chapter of Luke that tells about the miraculous birth of Jesus. I can only imagine what it was like for the shepherds as the glory of God shined around them on that dark night. I can just picture them racing off to see for themselves and then finding themselves in awe that the Savior had really been born. What an honor it must have been to have received this news straight from God and to have the opportunity to visit God’s Son.

My heart is filled with joy when I read that they spread the word and that all who heard it were amazed. The shepherds didn’t keep this news to themselves; they had to share it.

I thought about those ordinary shepherds as I opened a Christmas card tonight from my friends Hary and Janee’ who are serving God in Belgium. Janee’ is just an ordinary woman who grew up in a tiny town here in the Midwest, and Hary is an ordinary guy from Syria who works part-time as a welder.

The spiritual battle rages in their Muslim community, and the government sometimes makes ministry difficult. But despite one of their partners being thrown into jail for five months this year and despite the challenges they face to simply gather to worship, they spread the word about Jesus.

They spread the word because of the things they have heard and seen. They share the Good News because they know that Jesus is the Savior and that life is found in him. They spread the word because of the impact that Jesus has made on their lives and their desire for others to know the love, joy, hope, salvation and peace that is found in him alone.

Those who experience Jesus cannot keep from sharing the ways in which he has blessed them. They spread the word just like the shepherds. Who do you know who needs to hear about the hope that comes through Jesus? Go spread the word!

“For nothing is impossible with God.” The powerful words leaped off the page.

Since Advent began on December 1 this year, and the book of Luke has 24 chapters, I decided to read a chapter of Luke each evening of Advent and go back to chapter 2 (the birth of Jesus) on Christmas day. Luke’s introduction of the book makes it clear that Luke had “carefully investigated everything from the beginning” and wanted to write an orderly account to tell the truth about Jesus. His writings would confirm the teachings of the apostles who had been with Jesus up to his death, burial, resurrection and ascension. And so it seems a good book to study and meditate on through this season that celebrates the birth of Jesus.

As I attentively read through Luke chapter 1, many things caught my attention, but the words in verse 37 burned in my heart, “For nothing is impossible with God.”

I read through the chapter again. God was doing some seemingly impossible things for sure. First of all, an angel appeared to Zechariah to let him know that his prayer had been heard, that Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth would have a son and that they were to name him, “John.” Zechariah didn’t understand how this could be. He and his wife were both old.

Not only would Elizabeth give birth in her old age, the baby would be very important. He would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. He would be a joy to many as he would go before the Lord to prepare their hearts for his arrival.

Elizabeth’s pregnancy of this special baby wasn’t the only seemingly impossible thing that God was doing in chapter 1. An angel appeared again in the chapter, but this time to a young woman named Mary, a virgin who was pledged to be married.

The angel spoke to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”

Mary didn’t understand how this could happen since she was a virgin. So, the angel explained, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.”

For nothing is impossible with God. He can open the womb of a barren woman. He can cause a virgin to conceive a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. And greater still, He can raise a man to life and save man for eternity.

God sent his Son, Jesus to fulfill what he had spoken through the Old Testament prophets. Jesus would be the Messiah God’s people had been waiting for.

You see, God is holy and perfect; he can’t tolerate sin. He created man in his image. However, man sinned when he chose to disobey God.

The punishment for sin is death, eternal separation from God. We can’t fix that separation on our own.

Matthew, Mark and Luke all touched on this when they wrote about a rich man who later came to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. The man claimed to have kept God’s commandments and wondered what else he needed to do. Jesus told him to go sell his belongings and then come back to follow him. The man sadly walked away because of his wealth.

The disciples questioned Jesus about this, “Who then can be saved?” they asked. Jesus replied, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.

There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. Only God can give us salvation. We are saved by the grace he extends through Jesus. God sent Jesus, the promised Messiah, to pay the price for our sin.

The baby growing inside Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit was Jesus. He was born of a virgin just as the Old Testament said. He was both God and man. While he lived here on earth, he was tempted in every way just like we are. However, he did not sin. He lived a perfect life, and the blood he shed for us when he died on the cross paid the price for all of our sin.

Jesus conquered death when God raised him from the dead, and because of his great sacrifice, his death and his resurrection, we too can live. Do you understand this? We were given the death sentence because of our sin. There was nothing we could do to make things right. Salvation was impossible for us, but salvation is possible with God, for nothing is impossible for God!

When we realize our sinfulness and cry out to Jesus to save us, he will. When we accept God’s gift of grace, God sends the Holy Spirit to live in us, to guide us and transform us. The Holy Spirit gives us the desire to do things God’s way instead of ours.

No one is out of God’s reach. He is able to transform any heart that is willing to surrender to his will. For nothing is impossible with God, and that’s the best news ever!

December can be a pretty hectic month! The calendar can get pretty full with Christmas programs, parties and family gatherings. Our to do list can get pretty long with decorating our homes, sending Christmas cards, shopping for gifts, baking cookies and cleaning our houses for guests. Our schedules can get pretty tight leaving little time for enjoying our families, resting our worn bodies or reflecting on the actual miracle of Christmas itself. We must remember the reason we celebrate.

Today is the first day of the Advent season, a time to remember when God’s people were awaiting the birth of the Messiah who would save us from our sins. Advent is also a time for us to anticipate Jesus’ second coming when He will return to take us home.

Today we light the first Advent candle which is the “Prophecy Candle” or “Candle of Hope.” This candle reminds us of both the fulfilled prophecy of Jesus’ birth and the prophecy of his second coming, for which we continue to wait and hope for. The candle’s purple color represents Christ’s royalty as the King of Kings.

My prayer for each of you is that during the hustle and bustle of the season, you will keep your focus on Jesus. I pray that you will reflect on Him, be aware of His presence, become overwhelmed by His love, grow closer to Him and experience His peace and hope. As you excitedly prepare to celebrate His birth, I pray that you will also anxiously anticipate the day that He will return again to take us home.

Don’t let yourself get too caught up in thinking you have to stick to every Christmas tradition in effort to make the day special for your family. We can easily miss the beauty of the season when we go overboard in decorating, shopping, gift wrapping, baking, cleaning and involving ourselves in every single program and party that pops up.

Keep things simple, reflect on Jesus, the Greatest Gift of all. Remember how He left the comforts of heaven to be born in a stable. Be thankful that He lived a sinless life and took the punishment for our sins by dying on the cross in our place. Focus on His love, goodness, mercy and grace. Share the Good News with others. Anxiously wait for His return.

Throughout the Advent season, may your life be full because your focus is on Jesus and all that He is, yet simple because He is all you need. We must remember that He is the reason.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ~Isaiah 9:6

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him” ~John 3:16-17

“Oh. come let us adore Him. Oh, come let us adore Him. Oh, come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”

On Christmas day we light the white Advent Candle which represents purity and light. Jesus is pure and sinless. Those who receive Him as their Savior are washed of their sins and made whiter than snow.

“’She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel’ (which means ‘God with us’)” (Matthew 1:21-23).

“’Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool’” (Isaiah 1:18).

In Jesus, we find comfort, strength, joy, hope, peace, salvation, life, eternal life…. His love is pure, unconditional and perfect. Let us praise Him, worship Him and adore Him today. He is worthy.

Merry Christmas! I pray that your Christmas will be full because your focus is on Jesus and all that He is, yet simple because He is all you need.

I looked down and saw a small, chubby hand reaching out to me with a paper poinsettia. He had attached a sparkly green pipe cleaner on the back side to make the flower into a ring. “This is for you.”

It was my first time to volunteer at the school where my son was teaching, and I had never met the little boy before. “Are you sure that you want me to have it?” I asked. He grinned and nodded.

“Thank you so much! It’s beautiful,” I said as I placed the ring on my finger.

My heart was touched. I had no relationship with this little boy who had come to class ready to offer me his sweet gift. I had shown him no affection or done anything to deserve this act of love.

At the end of the day, I got to talk with this little boy and get to know him better as he waited for his dad to pick him up after school. He was precious.

My son’s school was over 1000 miles from home, but I was able to go back to volunteer for a week each semester until my son took a position at a different school. Each time I went, my little friend was waiting anxiously to see me again. He will always have a special place in my heart.

His gesture reminds me of God’s unconditional love for me as well. Even before I had a relationship with God, He was reaching out to me with a beautiful gift He had prepared. Before I was even born, He had this grand plan to send His Son, Jesus, as a sacrifice for me.

I had shown God no affection or done anything to deserve this act of love. Yet, He was ready to offer me this amazing gift and initiate a relationship with me.

You see, God is my Creator. He created absolutely everything, including the human race. He is pure and holy, and He created us in His image.

God had a wonderful relationship with the first man and woman He created until the perfectly made couple disobeyed God’s command. At that point, their relationship was broken.

Since God is pure and holy, the man, the woman and all future generations were separated from God because of their sin. But, “God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

So, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus became “God in the flesh” when He came down from heaven to be born of a virgin.

Jesus spent His life teaching about what it means to be a part of the Kingdom of God. He also performed many miracles that only God could do. However, His greatest purpose in coming to earth was to sacrifice His life to pay the price for our sin.

God has won my heart and blessed me with an intimate relationship with Him through Jesus. He loves you as well. If you do not have a relationship with Him but recognize the gift that He is offering to you, accept His overwhelming gift of love. He’s reaching out and waiting for you.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

It’s all about the love. It’s not about the wrapping paper or if the gift gets wrapped at all. It’s not about what’s inside the box. It’s about the love that prompts the giver to search for a meaningful gift that would make the recipient feel special and loved.

Love comes from our Father and enables us to love like Him. Let us love each other with the same love that was manifested when Jesus died on the cross for our sin. It is a love that isn’t dependent on whether or not the recipient is lovable or worthy. It is a selfless love that comes from our obedience to God’s commands. May we love with the love of Christ regardless of how we are being loved.

I am ever thankful for a God who loved me enough to die for me. I am thankful that when I gave my life to Him, He sent His Spirit to live in me. I am thankful that His Spirit enables me to love others with the same love in which He loves me. I am ever thankful to know and experience His love which is the greatest most perfect love there is. I am thankful that my life is forever changed because of Him.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed His love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.” ~1 John 4:7-12

Today we light the fourth Advent candle, the “Angel’s Candle” or “Candle of Love.” It reminds us of the angels announcing the birth of our Savior, Christ the Lord, and of God’s greatest gift of love.

Remember this week as you are finishing up your shopping, wrapping, baking and cleaning, that the most important thing that you can do is to love. It’s all about the love we have because of God’s love for us and about sharing that love with everyone.

Oh, to be truly thankful! I will never forget the sweet little face that showed me what it looks like to be truly thankful.

I spent the week before Christmas volunteering in my daughter-in-law’s 2^nd grade classroom. We ended our busy week with “pajama day,” hot chocolate, a movie and gifts.

The children were excited when it was finally “present time.” I watched as a few of the students presented small gifts to their classmates. As I glanced from child to child, one little boy stole my attention. Tommy (name changed) was so excited that his friends had brought something for him. His smile stretched from ear to ear as he was given a card, a pencil and candy.

Next, it was my turn to distribute the gifts that I had brought. I handed each child a small gift bag with a few inexpensive toys and a couple pieces of candy. Tommy was overjoyed when he peeked inside the bag. He raced across the room to give me a hug. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” he exclaimed. “Now I will have more toys at home!” He sat at his desk looking like he had won the lottery.

My daughter-in-law, Cassie, saved her presents for last. One of the gifts that she gave the children was a box of colored pencils. This was just too much for Tommy. Tears started welling up in his eyes. “These are really for me?!” he asked in amazement. His little lips began to quiver.

“What’s the matter, Tommy?” Cassie asked.

Tommy was so overwhelmed that he was unable to verbally communicate his feelings. He ran across the room and threw his arms around his beloved teacher. Tears began to stream down his little cheeks. He was smiling and crying at the same time.

“Are you crying tears of joy?” Cassie asked Tommy. He nodded his head and hugged her again.

At this point, other children began to notice that he was crying. Uncertain how to respond, they began to talk amongst each other, “Look, Tommy is crying!”

“He is crying tears of joy,” Cassie explained. “He’s happy.”

“They are Christmas tears,” I added. “Those are the best kind of tears.”

Cassie and I had a difficult time holding back our own tears. We were both humbled by this sweet and grateful little boy. At that moment, I knew what it looked like to be truly thankful.

I thought about his tears of joy… his “Christmas tears.” This is how we all should feel at Christmas. Oh, to be truly thankful like Tommy.

If like Tommy, we are surrounded by people who love us, we have reason to be thankful. We should be thankful for the small acts of thoughtfulness and the little things that we are given. Most of all, we should truly be thankful for Jesus.

Christmas is the day that we celebrate the birth of Jesus, and we must remember the whole reason He was born. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His One and Only Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

God is holy and He created man in His image. Their relationship with each other was wonderful. However, man sinned when he decided to do things his own way. The wages of sin is death, separation from God. So, God sent His Son, Jesus to save us.

Jesus was born of a virgin as was prophesied hundreds of years before His birth. He became God in the flesh. He was tempted in every way just like we are. Yet, He never sinned by giving into His temptations.

Because Jesus was able to live a perfect life, He was able to become a sacrifice for us. He took our punishment by dying on the cross in our place. He shed His blood to pay the wages for our sin and to satisfy God’s wrath.

Jesus who was sinless, took the blame for every single sin ever committed and every single sin that was yet to be committed. He died in my place! He died in your place! He died to save us! For that we should be truly thankful.

May we cry tears of sorrow because of what we have done and tears of joy because of what Jesus has done. Like Tommy, let us exclaim, “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Let us find ourselves humbled and in awe that God would sacrifice His One and Only Son to save us from our sins. May our hearts be so moved that we cry tears of joy, “Christmas tears,” when we realize the gift of eternal life that we have received through Jesus. Oh, to be truly thankful.

Who is God to you? As you read through the Bible, you will find many different names for God. These names describe God’s character and nature as He revealed Himself personally to individuals. When He revealed himself, the people came to know Him in a real and personal way, and their relationship with Him grew deeper.

Just a few of the names for God that are recorded in the Bible as He revealed Himself to his people are Abba Father (Daddy), El Shaddai (God Almighty), Jehovah-Jireh (the Lord Will Provide), Jehovah-Nissi (the Lord is my Banner), my Hiding Place, my Refuge in times of trouble, the God Who Saves Me, the God Who Sees Me, a Forgiving God, Creator of heaven and earth, God my Maker, the Rock of our Salvation, our Redeemer, God of Peace, God of Truth, Most High, Holy One, Eternal God…. The list of His names and all that He is goes on and on! You have probably experienced Him in some of those ways and know Him personally by some of those names.

My favorite name for Him is “I AM WHO I AM.” He exists! He is, He always was and He always will be. There is no one like Him and no one who can compare to how Mighty, Perfect and Awesome He is. He is Holy, Faithful, Mighty, Sovereign, All-Knowing, All-Powerful, Righteous, Merciful, Ever-Present, Omnipresent, Unchanging…. He is Truth, Wisdom, Light and Love.…. He depends on nothing and no one, yet absolutely everything depends on Him. Whatever we need, we find in Him.

I have experienced God in many ways. He is my Hiding Place, my Comfort, my Wisdom, my Confidence, my Strength, my Guidance, my Light, my Hope, my Peace, my Deliverer, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Lord, my Life… HE IS MY EVERYTHING! He is always there when I need Him and the Only One I can always truly depend on. He is the One who loved me even when there was nothing to love about me and He is the One who sent His One and Only Son to die so that I can live. He is God. He is all I need. He is enough.

Who is God to you? Think today on all that God is and reflect on how He has been personal with you. Let all that He is draw you into worshiping the Great I AM and living a life that brings glory to Him. I pray that each of us continues to know Him more intimately not only through this Advent season but forever.

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” (Exodus 3:14).

What are the treasures on your Christmas List? I remember writing my Christmas list as a child and continuing to add to that list. I could hardly wait until Christmas morning to see what was inside all of the beautifully wrapped boxes!

As an adult, I have invested hours of my time searching for just the right gifts for family and friends. I’m always anxious to watch the recipient open their gift. I feel great when I chose a gift that the recipient loves.

However, even the very best gifts that I wrap up and put under the tree won’t last forever. Some of those gifts will break or wear out over time. New clothes may not fit after all of the great holiday food, and if they do, they probably won’t be in style for too long. “Must have” toys, video games and movies will become boring after a while. Newer versions of electronic devices will be on the market before the user can totally master the ones they receive at Christmas.

How many gifts of Christmas past are simply gathering dust or taking up space in a cluttered closet? Maybe some of our “must-have” items aren’t really as important as we think. After all, we can’t take any of our belongings with us when our earthly bodies die, and our belongings can’t buy our way into heaven. In the end, Jesus is all that matters.

Giving gifts can be a reflection of God’s love and all that he blesses us with. He has given us so much, and it is only natural for us to want to give to others as well. The problem is when our gifts or possessions become more important to us than Jesus.

In Luke 18:18-29, a man asked Jesus how he could inherit eternal life; he had kept God’s commands. Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” The man became sad; wealth was the one thing that kept him from following Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t ask all of us to sell our belongings, but He does want to be our greatest treasure. He doesn’t want anything to get in our way of following Him. He wants our hearts to be set on eternal life with Him in heaven and on sharing that message with others. How many precious souls will gain eternal life because you told them the Good News of the Gospel?

Jesus says in Matthew 6:19-21, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

As you finish making the final purchases on your Christmas list, remember the greatest treasure is Jesus. He is the reason we celebrate. Share the Good News!

I started crying tears of joy when I opened Messenger on Thanksgiving Day, 2016. “Hello Paula. I’m Karina the girl of Panama. You remind me. God bless you.” The translation from Spanish to English was a little off, but I immediately recognized the beautiful name.

Along with the message were pictures of a rag doll and a letter in my handwriting. She had kept them all these years.

God brought the two of us together in January of 2004 when I was given the opportunity to deliver shoe box gifts to Panama with Operation Christmas Child. The purpose of the trip of course was to share the Gospel while showing the recipients God’s love in a tangible way. I was being sent to give, but I found myself to be a recipient.

Our family had packed several shoe box gifts that year. However, one of the boxes I packed was more special to me than all of the others I had packed. I had poured a lot of love into that box and really wanted to know where it would go. In fact, the desire to see who received my box was so strong that I bought special wrapping paper. That way, I could recognize it if by some miracle it showed up in the next year’s promotional video. It was a long shot, but it was worth a try.

I had never contemplated getting to deliver the box. In fact, there was no way to sign up for a trip. Even if there was, I wouldn’t have done it. First of all, I was afraid of flying. I always said that I wouldn’t get on an airplane unless God asked me to. I also had some health issues. Another big reason I wouldn’t have signed up is that I was a stay-at-home mom with four young children. I had never traveled alone for more than a couple of hours away. Furthermore, we didn’t have money for the trip, and I never would have used the money just for me if we had it.

I was totally caught off guard when our regional representative for Operation Christmas Child called me to invite me. She told me that she was allowed to choose just one person in her five-state area to go with her to Panama for a distribution. She wanted me to go. I couldn’t believe I was being offered this rare opportunity.

I thought of the many reasons why I couldn’t go, but I also thought about that special box I had packed. If I went on this distribution trip, I could deliver that shoe box myself!

I talked things over with my husband. I prayed a lot. It was a big leap of faith for me during that season of life, but I decided to go.

We had several scheduled distribution points once we arrived in Panama. I prayed that God would show me exactly who to give that shoe box to. It was very clear when a young girl came to a distribution late, and there were no boxes left at that site for a girl her age.

I still remember getting to open the box with her and seeing her eyes as she lifted the lid on the musical jewelry box and saw the dancing ballerina. I told her that I chose the little rag doll because it was similar to my favorite childhood rag doll that also had orange hair. I got to share with her in person how much Jesus means to me.

It was a brief encounter, and I was sad because I didn’t think I would ever hear from her again. There was no postal system there, and technology wasn’t near what it is today.

It is amazing that she found me again because the address and e-mail address that I wrote on her card have changed. Thankfully, she found me on Facebook.

I cried tears of joy that she found me and that she still had the rag doll and letter. She too cried tears of joy when I sent her a picture of our photo that I keep on the shelf in my “little sanctuary” on my porch.

She thanked me when she sent me her message, but I too am thankful for her. She is the reason that I experienced this life-changing trip. God used that extra special shoe box to draw me out of my comfort zone and teach me to trust Him more.

My relationship with God deepened on that trip as God took care of every single fear and obstacle I faced. He took care of the money, my health, my family, the drive on a 100% ice covered interstate to the airport, my navigating through two airports alone, the plane ride, my accommodations…many tiny little details as well as the big ones.

It was a time in which God taught me that I can fully rely on Him. He opened my eyes to many different things that gave me a desire to share His love and message with others even more.

This Christmas, I hope you find yourself more blessed to give than to receive and that you remember that the greatest gift that you can share is to tell others how much Jesus means to you.

“…remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” ~Acts 20:35