Canyon Creek Church | Mill Creek, Lynnwood and South Everett, Washington
This Week's Sermon
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YOU are a gift
By Pastor Di on 12/16/10
Canyon Creek just sent out giving reports for 2010; including current giving for the Amazing Race. At our house Brandon and I received a giving report, and so did our 14 year old daughter Rachel. I flipped to the last page of Rachel’s giving report to find that she has fulfilled 133% of her Amazing Race pledge! Rachel is an amazing young lady. She took that pledge very seriously, and she worked really hard for the money that she gave. For the first half of the year she had a regular babysitting job in addition to a weekly allowance; essentially her Amazing Race pledge was her weekly allowance and she still had her babysitting job for spending money. Half-way through the year Rachel lost that babysitting job, and to fulfill her pledge she had to give every penny she made every week for the last 6 months!
Yesterday I pulled out her giving report to show her. I wanted Rachel to know how proud of her I am. She was very surprised to find out she went OVER her pledge and she was excited to know the total of what she gave to the Amazing Race in one year. Her total was $213. After I shared the amount she paused for moment and said “so the church can buy like ONE CHAIR with that?” Immediately my eyes welled up with tears and I replied “sweetheart, it is not about the AMOUNT you gave, it is about the SACRIFICE you made to give it.”
The Christmas season is all about giving. We give to our family and loved ones, and many of us share with those in need. But Christmas also marks the day that Christ was born to live his life in order to give it for us. In return, He asks that we give the gift of ourselves to HIM. This next week and a half before Christmas, let me remind you, the season really is about giving, but not just gifts that can be wrapped in paper and ribbon.
I encourage you to give the gift of YOU, both to Jesus, and to those you love. Be sure to set aside time to be at church, to thank God for the blessings he has given you, and spend time with those you love. You are gift.
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