Spirit of Giving at Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM THE SOLBERG FAMILY!!

Christmas is a special time of the year. If you can look beyond all the sales and hype, it is a unique time each year when many folks really do have a "Spirit of Giving". And, of course, this all ties back to the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place - JESUS!

And in keeping with the theme of giving, wanted to share a article from our recent December update to our Ministry Partner Team. God bless you this Christmas!!

If you are like most Americans, you will be exchanging presents with loved ones this Christmas. As the Bible says, “It is better to give than receive”. Exchanging gifts is a fun Christmas tradition — but the most important question we can ask ourselves this day is: “Have you ever received the GREATEST GIFT ever given?”

You see, the GREATEST GIFT ever given was Jesus Christ. He was sent as a baby to a manger in Bethlehem as a gift to the world. The book of John tells us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…”. Jesus is a gift to you and to me and to the world.

But why did God need to send Jesus to earth? The angel said to Joseph, “...you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Jesus came to save you and to save me from the penalty of our sin. The penalty for my sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in and through Jesus Christ. Jesus knew that you and I were separated from God by our sin. So He came to die on the cross of Calvary to pay the penalty we could not pay. God’s Word clearly teaches that Jesus was Emmanuel: God with us! He was not simply a great teacher but was God in a human body. He is our Savior from sin!

But simply knowing the facts about our sin and Jesus’ death for our sin is NOT enough. We must receive His gift by faith. John tells us, “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God.” Like a present you are given, you must OPEN and RECEIVE it. It does you no good to leave it under the tree. His gift is by grace: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- not by works, so that no one can boast.”

So what do you say? Are you ready to move past knowing the FACTS about Jesus to receiving Him into your life? God’s Word tells us, “if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” If you are ready to receive Jesus, the greatest gift ever given, as your Lord and Savior, then just tell Him in your own words that you are a sinner and that you need Him to save you from your sins. In your own words tell Him that you want Him to be the Master of your life and that you want to follow Him. He is faithful. He is listening. He will hear you!

And please do us a favor, if you have received Jesus as the great gift that He is, please tell another Christ-follower of your decision AND please tell us as well. We want to rejoice with you AND give you some resources to get you started in your new life with Christ. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!!

Find out more at: http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/