Truly Meaningful Christmas Gift Ideas

by Tiffany S.
from Virtuous Daughters, December 2014~Volume 14, Number 9

100% Guarantee:
Will be cherished by the recipient; will never be returned or exchanged; will have an eternal impact on both the recipient and the giver!

• A Servant’s Heart--“If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.”—John 13:14-15 What a beautiful way to reflect Christ’s love—to walk in His steps by humbly serving others. Depending on who you give this gift to, think of practical ways: for your mother, could you offer to take over the laundry for a month, or a year? How about balancing the checkbook for your father? Maybe for brothers and sisters, this could be helping with their chores. Or consider telling your family that you are giving them the gift of a servant’s heart this year—that when they call on you for assistance, you will joyfully respond. A servant’s heart makes a great gift for those outside your family as well—raking the leaves in a neighbor’s yard, cleaning your grandmother’s kitchen, offering to be the chauffer for a busy family, etc. Be creative!! 
• The Gospel--“How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”—Romans 10:14-15 What better gift to give than the Gospel of Jesus Christ! This is something we have freely received and should joyously freely give...to everyone! Pray for opportunities to share His light and the hope of salvation with store clerks, neighbors, unsaved relatives or friends, and anyone else you might come in contact with. Consider investing in some good tracts to get you started.
• Godly Encouragement--“Wherefore  comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”—1 Thessalonians 5:11 Why not write a letter or tape a recording of a message from your heart that is filled with biblical encouragement?! You can use the Scriptures to present the “blessed hope” we have in Christ our Savior, and to spur others on to a deeper walk with Him. What about sending out a Christmas letter sharing about God’s faithfulness in your life in 2014?
• A Joyful Noise--“Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing.”—Psalm 100:1 Not only does a joyful heart honor our Lord, it is a gift to others as well! Proverbs 15:13 says, “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.” Make an effort to smile more, complain less, and speak the glorious things of our Lord! This will happen more naturally if our hearts and minds are focused on the rich mercies bestowed upon us by our loving Lord!
• Time--“But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.”—2 Corinthians 9:6-7 Time—your most precious commodity. How can you “sow bountifully” by making yourself available to others in need? It might be as simple as a listening ear or as extensive as volunteering a week of your time for a project. But give it cheerfully!
• Search the Scriptures and seek the Lord for additional ideas!