Month: December 2020

The Gift that Keeps on Giving

/ breakthruministries / 7 Comments

It’s one of the most wonderful times of the year, Christmas – a season I have loved since childhood. For some, this is the best time of the year to show love to family and friends, giving gifts, Christmas carols, and much more. It is a time to receive the items they have asked for and the excitement of Christmas cookies, cakes, and pies to children. In our household, Christmas was special because we knew it was a time for the family to come and celebrate together. I looked forward to seeing my cousins and favorite aunts and uncles under one roof. Although those years have come and gone, I can remember the anticipation of waking up and unwrapping gifts that I had asked for earlier that year. I appreciated the presents for a few months, but soon they would lose their luster, eventually ending up pushed to the side or put in the toy box and forgotten about. I know what you are thinking, how unappreciative. These gifts that I anticipated and talked about all year, in a few months, are forgotten. I was grateful to have parents that did not get upset with us for not appreciating the gifts that they purchased for us those many years ago. Not that we didn’t appreciate the gift, but after the moment had gone, the season had changed, or something new had come along- we no longer felt the value.   

May God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Philippians 1:2 NLT

I am so thankful for my parent’s patience with us. Even now, with my children, this same behavior has been passed down through the years. Am I the only one? Sometimes we get upset with our children when they fail to appreciate small gifts; however, we too undervalue God’s gifts of grace and peace. Compared to the bold and bright packages of the world that are constantly seen and given, we may not know the package’s value. We may overlook them when nestled next to the worldly gifts that we can feel and see. Sad to say, we seek the tangible gifts that this world offers and overlook the intangible packages marked grace and peace.

When the Father places these gifts in our lives, what a blessing we gain. If only we knew what hides in these seemingly small gifts. Although the Apostle Paul prayed this for Philippi’s people, the value seen carries the same weight today. Once unwrapped, the treasure in a small package will always find significance in our lives, young or old. I don’t know about you, but these are priceless things that I have come to appreciate over the years. Christmas gifts may cost a fortune at one time, but we find ourselves replacing them later on; in my life, the gifts of grace and peace have proven priceless.

My appreciation has grown daily over the years to appreciate the Father’s gifts. Just think, waking up every day expecting to unwrap new grace and peace.  This package trumps the best Christmas gift you could ever possibly have received. Grace is the goodwill of God and Christ exercised towards humanity, that continues to have a purpose no matter where we find ourselves in life. God has given this freedom to all of us who want to accept this gift. That is the blessing of the present, that once we receive it, we can always possess it.

For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your doing; it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8 ESV

What a perfect gift. When we realize that God loved us enough to send His son, Jesus Christ, to be the ransom for what we could not afford, the only thing we need to open this gift is to accept it. We gladly accept the ones that our loved ones give us during this holiday season. So even more, we should receive the well-thought gift of a loving Lord’s grace expressing how much we mean to Him, daily. The peace we experience by reconciliation.  I realize that God has been with me in some of the darkest moments of my life; that is the real gift. When I stop and think, it is the presence of God in my life that gives me joy. What about for you?

Do you want to experience the greatest gifts that bring the greatest joy every day? Do you have a desire to live every day in peace with our Lord?   

Father, Help us receive the most generous gift daily, which we experience when we accept you as Lord. Thank you for the reminder of how your gifts of grace and peace bring continuous joy. Let us not forget the true gifts that can bring us the greatest joy daily. Help us to remember in this season that you give the greatest gifts for all to receive and not just for a day but a lifetime.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“Dress It Up”

/ breakthruministries / 10 Comments

Flip, tuck, pat, rub, Dad seasoned the bird with precision.

Growing up, my dad did most of the cooking in our household. Sunday dinner was the highlight of the week because we knew we would be in for a treat. Throughout the week, dinner typically consisted of smaller portions of our usual everyday meal. But Sunday was my favorite–it would include a whole chicken or a roast with many sides.

I can remember watching him season the bird with celery, onion, and various other seasonings. Dad used to say, “These seasonings are all good, but salt does a little extra. It dresses it up.” At the time, I was not concerned about salt, pepper, or paprika. What I knew was that I was going to eat like a king. Or at least in my mind, this is what I believed.

As a kid, those many years ago, I did not realize the effectiveness of salt not just for flavoring but in many other ways. Salt enhances. It’s one of the spices that can improve any food if appropriately used.

Let your speech always be with grace as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

~Colossians 4:6 NASB

Is this why Paul compared our speech to salt? God gave him an inside tract as to how we, as believers, could influence those in our sphere of influence. He realized that if we sprinkled the light of Christ in how we responded to those around us, no matter how negative or cold their attitudes were, there would be an improvement.

Like the flavoring of our food with natural salt that brings the best out of it, our speech should minister grace to the hearers. Our words should be pure and life-changing. Our words should cause the world to desire to hear more of what we have to say, and bring them to realize there is something different about us and the message we share.

I love Chick-Fil-A French fries. They are the perfect balance of the salt to potato, and the crinkle-cut presentation enhances my desire to eat more. I often find myself saddened, peering down into an empty fry carton as if someone stole the last few morsels from under my nose. On the other hand, if there were too much salt on these slivers of goodness I would have an adverse reaction. What am I trying to say? Salt will enhance, but only if it is appropriately used. But, salt can also hinder when it’s overused.

The spiritual application is this: Our words can enhance, or interfere, when we are speaking to those around us. So we must use discernment as to when and how much to speak. How many of our conversations would be different if we adhered to Paul’s recommendations? Words have the power to build up, or tear down, and that in an instant. Christ always wants us to build up.

There have been pivotal times in my household that I overwhelmed my wife with my words, and she did not want to receive anything from me at that moment. However, there also were times when she has wanted to hear more of what I was saying. This same principle can apply with my children. It can apply with relatives, friends, and even in the workplace.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

~Ephesians 4:29 NASB

Salt also preserves. In biblical times, salt was added to the sacrifices. Those sacrifices were set apart to be given to the living God. It would help us say the right things in the right manner if we remembered that our words also are sacrifices to God. I don’t know about you, but this concept is not easy, and I don’t always remember to do this. Nor do I act like I should.

We should want to maintain our character, conduct, and conversations as holy, so that we represent Jesus Christ appropriately. We should maintain a lifestyle that helps others to desire a relationship with Christ as they listen to our words. When we view our speech this way, the effectiveness of our witness will be tasted by many.

Whether on our job, in our relationships, in our community outreaches, or perhaps even with our enemies, we want others to taste how good our Lord is by observing our speech and actions and how we preserve the presence of God in our daily lives. When we can still smile or give a pleasant word when we are cut-off in traffic, this is a witness. When those around us are complaining, but we bring hope to a negative conversation, this also is the seasoning of grace. When the climate around us is negative, rash, and hostile, we can still sprinkle hope and peace. These are the attributes of salt given for all to experience.

While there are some positives to salt, there are also some negatives. If the salt has lost its distinctiveness and the flavor is bland, it will not fulfill its purpose. Have you ever tasted bland salt? What did you do with it? You probably threw it away. Imagine, if my father had put bad seasoning on his famous chicken–I probably would not like chicken to this day. If salt cannot be tasted in food, then it is not being used correctly. If there is no enhancement or distinct difference when salt is added to food-then it is not suitable for anything good, and must be discarded.

When the Holy Spirit cannot be seen in our speech, we cannot effectively influence those we contact. Or if we do speak, and what we speak is negative and not exalting Christ, is it worth saying. Friend, let’s discern when to speak, how to speak so that Christ is exalted, and maintain lifestyles that shows others we are the Lord’s people.

Friend, examine your words as salt. Allow the Holy Spirit to season your speech with grace, so others can see Christ in you. Be purposeful with your words. Let them be like my dad’s delicious chicken–all dressed up and seasoned to perfection.

Are your words, like salt, precisely and effectively used, and full of grace?

Father God, I desire the distinct presence of Your Holy Spirit to be with me daily. Please help me to share Your good character by covering me with Your presence. Help me when I loose my effectiveness to witness to those I see every day, whether at home, work, or in the community. Allow me to spread Your love to all I meet so that those in my sphere of influence will desire to taste and see how good You are.

In Jesus’s Name, Amen.