Every Good and Perfect Gift

James 1:17

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Can you remember any gifts you’ve gotten over the years? I remember my first new bike (my sister and I shared an old one together but one Christmas we both got new bikes). It was a red bike – because red has always been my favorite color. I rode that bike – almost every day. It was my favorite gift that year. I kept it for many years. I would later put a banana seat on it and monkey handlebars (you have to be old to remember those). I remember putting old baseball cards in the wheel spokes to make noise like a motorcycle at my cousins. I delivered papers with that bike – putting a basket on the front and two saddle bags on either side of the rear wheel. But – alas – it got old and eventually I had to get another bike. But – while it lasted – it was a great gift.

Can you remember any gifts you’ve gotten over the years? I remember once – when my brother and I were into the show Combat – we got walkie-talkies. We would talk on them all the time – pretending to be soldiers. We played in the church cemetery and in the sand dunes behind my grandmother’s house. But – alas – they broke and were of no use after a while.

Are Our Sins Covered?

Psalm 32:1

Blessed is the one whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

Ok – Christmas is coming – ready or not. Have you finished your shopping? How about your wrapping? There are only a few days to go till Christmas.

My children often ask me what they can get me for Christmas. As I have often written before – my answer is always – children who love their father.

Can you remember your favorite gift of all time? I remember my first new bike – it was red and I road it till late teens. I remember putting a banana seat on it (now that is dating me) and monkey handlebars. We use to put old baseball cards in the spokes to sound like we had engines on our bikes. When I delivered papers I had baskets all around.

Do We Use Our Gifts?

1 Peter 4:10

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

Christmas is a time that we give and receive gifts.  I already received a gift – yesterday morning – from a dear couple at our church.  They are long time friends and gave me a Christmas card with a gift in it.  What gifts can you remember getting in years past?  I spoke about my red bike yesterday in the sermon.  I rode that bike for like 10 years or more.  It lasted through the banana seat and monkey handlebar fads.  I used it to deliver papers – putting rear baskets and a front basket on it.  I put baseball cards (no Orioles – mostly no names) in the spokes (sounded so cool).  It was one of my favorite Christmas gifts of all time.

Can you remember a special Christmas gift?  Can you remember the ones you used a lot?  I bet you don’t remember – at least not with fond memories – those you returned or put in the closet.  Were there gifts you had to drag out when certain people visited?  Did you ever get the picture of the dogs playing cards – LOL?