“Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” -Acts 3:6

This Christmas as I handed out Christmas cards, I’d often say, “Silver and gold, I have none, but what I do have is a Christmas card!” At this point in my life, I don’t have all the money I’d like to just go out and bless everyone that has been a blessing to me.

At first I felt guilty and then I got down on myself. Then I thought…I don’t need to be able to give a gift or a gift card to bless someone, I’ll just give what I do have to give: Encouragement, time, my service, a meaningful card, etc.

You might not be able to buy everyone you know gifts this Christmas, but you do have something that you can give. The question you should ask yourself is:

What can I offer people that would be better than just getting them a gift?

Maybe you could:

• Take someone out to coffee and encourage them
• Write letters to the people that have impacted you the most
• Volunteer to help them with a project they need to get done at home
• Offer your expertise to someone who could use it
  
• Call someone and let them know they’ve made a difference in your life
• Send out text messages thanking people for the impact they’ve had
• Introduce people to people that can help them!
  
• Give someone an opportunity they don’t deserve!
• Give up your morning, afternoon, or evening just to spend time with someone.
  

Don’t think that the only way to bless someone this Christmas is through money and gifts. You have more to offer than you realize.

What do you have to give this Christmas?

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. -Psalm 84:10

“I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than . . .” I believe this is a heart that God wants us to have when it comes to serving Him.

So many times when it comes to serving God, especially as we grow and mature, we can get to the point where we think we’re above certain tasks. What used to satisfy us, doesn’t any more, our attitudes shift, we think we should be doing “more important” tasks. We become frustrated that we’re not advancing as we think we should.

Anyone else guilty of this other than me?

God’s really been showing me that He wants me to have the attitude of the psalmist. Recognizing that if I’m doing anything for God, it’s better than anything else I could be doing with my life.

I’m recognizing that it doesn’t matter if the only thing I’m asked to do is to hold a door for the rest of my life, if it’s for God, I’ll do it, I’ll be faithful, I’ll have a great attitude and I’ll do it with all of my heart.

Faithfulness is a much bigger issue than we’ve made it out to be. Faithfulness is a heart issue. Promotion is a God issue. If we take care of the faithfulness issue, God will take care of the promotion issue. In His timing.

Are you willing to be a door holder for God? What areas of your life have you let a bad attitude sneak in because you forgot who you’re really working for and why you’re really doing it? Repent, and with humility, become a door holder!

Thoughts?

Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions -I John 3:18

The “Pay it Forward” principle comes from the movie, “Pay it Forward” If you haven’t seen this movie, you need to. The whole concept is this: Help three people in a really big way, do something for them that they can’t do for themselves. In return, ask them to “pay it forward” and do the same thing for three people in their lives.

Ask God to put three people on your heart, something to do to help each of them, and then do it.

Think about that. Have you ever done something for someone that they couldn’t pay you back for? It’s the most rewarding thing in life!

I would encourage you to put this principle into practice -> Ask God to put three people on your heart, something to do to help each of them, and then do it.

When they want to pay you -> just say, “No thanks, just know that God loves and cares about you very much. If you’d like to pay me back, do something for three people in your life that they can’t pay you back for!”

If we’ll put this into practice, and once we’re done with our three people, find three more, we really will change the world one person at a time.