On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. (Matthew 2:11, NVI)

What gift would you like to give God this year?

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite TV Christmas specials was “The Little Drummer Boy.” This is the sad, yet tender story about a young orphan who joins the Maggi in their search for the newborn King of Israel.

The Star of Bethlehem leads the caravan’s way onto a humble manger, where they find Baby Jesus with Mary and Joseph.

The young orphan soon realizes that this is a very special baby and marvels at the rich gifts the Magi present to Him: gold, frankincense and myrrh. The drummer boy wishes he had something to give as well, but he is poor and feels he has nothing to offer.

However, when Baby Jesus begins to cry, the little orphan does what comes naturally to him. With Mary’s consent he starts playing his drum. This sweet offering sooths the crying Baby and turns His tears into a smile.

Are there times when you feel like the boy in this story – poor and broken, with nothing good to give? Perhaps you compare your talents with those of people around you and feel yours come short.

And you wonder, “What good will my gifts do?” “What difference could they ever make?”

This Christmas Season I invite you to take a step of faith and bring your presents to the manger:

• Your service
• Your worship
• Your heart

No matter how lowly or simple your gift might seem, in God’s eyes it is a pleasing offering, one that will put a smile on the face of Jesus.

Merry Christmas!

Ana
http://anastinescorner.blogspot.com

My husband and I didn’t pick the smartest week of the year to get married.  We were juniors in college and got married two weeks before classes started.  On one hand, we prepared all summer, on the other, we had little time to squeeze in a honeymoon before school and jobs started up again. 

Between moving in to our new apartment, working part-time, and full-time school, writing thank-you notes for our wedding gifts fell to the bottom of my to-do list.  Month after month went by, and it was Christmas break before I seriously thought about them again.  By that time, I was just plain embarrassed to send out notes.  My closest family received them, but I neglected the rest.

That breach of etiquette has bothered me for 25 years.  It probably explains why I’m a stickler for my children and me to write thank you notes for every gift.  In hindsight, I should have sent out the notes at Christmas.   Truly “better late than never” should have been my guiding principle.

Jesus spoke about a similar principle in the parable of two sons (Matthew 21:28-32).  Both were asked to work in the vineyard by their father.  One said “no,” but changed his mind and went.  The other said “yes,” but didn’t go.  Jesus asked the poignant question, “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”  The answer was the first. 

Jesus used this parable to show the religious leaders that the “tax collectors and the prostitutes” were entering the kingdom of God ahead of them.  The religious leaders professed to obey God in their heart and actions, but they didn’t.  I think this is a principle we can apply to our everyday life.

Many times we know God is calling us to do something.  It could be to share our faith with a co-worker or family member.  Perhaps God has been tugging on our hearts to increase our financial giving.  Maybe we need to take a leap of faith and change careers, go back to school, or do mission work.  We say “yes” when God first prompts us, but then do nothing.   Time goes by, and we think, “It’s too late now.”

Unfortunately, that type of thinking leads to disobedience.  This parable shows us that it’s never too late to obey God.  It doesn’t matter how old you are, or what you’ve done since God first asked you to do something.  It doesn’t even matter if you’ve stomped your foot, crossed your arms, and told God “no.”   Today you can make your Father happy by doing His will.  

We serve a gracious God who doesn’t hold our disobedience against us.  We may need to confess it as sin, but when we do, it’s as good as gone. If God has asked you to work in the “vineyard” and you’ve said no, or delayed obedience, make today the day you get to work.  I wonder if I still have that wedding gift-list