Make Christmas Count

You can share the love of Christ with those without hope this Christmas. Here are some practical ideas of things you can do to make this Christmas everything you’ve ever dreamed it could be. It requires a spirit of giving and a determination to focus on others instead of yourself.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
─ Romans 1:16 ESV

Give Your Time
There are many places you can give your time to this Christmas. The important thing is to get that specific time, date and location on your calendar and then show up.

• Wrap presents for children through an organization that collects toys for underprivileged children. They usually have a time set aside for volunteers to come and wrap gifts that have been purchased.
• Prepare a meal for a neighbor or person in your church who is shut-in. Take the meal over and spend some time with them.
• Christmas is a very stressful and busy time for young parents. Perhaps you could offer to babysit while the parents go out and invest in their marriage.
• Join a team that is serving meals to those who will be in shelters this holiday season.

Make Christmas count by sharing the love of Christ with everyone you meet.

Give Kindness
During the holidays more people are stressed and in a hurry. People are often short-tempered and rude to one another.

• Choose to be patient. I hate waiting in lines—and so does everyone else. It really helps if you can keep a good attitude while waiting.
• Offer a kind word to those behind the cash registers. Customers can be hasty and rude, and I think they find it refreshing when someone offers encouragements instead of complaints.
• Smile and say “Hello” as you pass people coming and going. If they don’t reply, that’s okay. You did your part.
• When you’re stuck in traffic, prefer others and allow them to merge into traffic in front of you.
• Be exceptionally courteous. How often do we forget to say, “Please” and “Thank you?”
• Make Christmas count by sharing the love of Christ with all you meet.

Be Generous

• When you go out to eat, give your waiter or waitress a nice tip.
• Perhaps you’ll choose to give more this year financially to organizations offering help and hope.

Today’s One Thing
Ask the Lord to show you how you can give this Christmas season by making a difference in the lives of people you don’t even know.

Go Deeper

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