Gifts to Give at Christmas Time and Around the Year!

The Gift of Praise

Appropriate mention, right in front of the other fellow,

of superior qualities or of a job or deeds well done.

The Gift of Consideration

Putting yourself in the other's shoes and thus

providing your genuine understanding of his side of the case.

The Gift of Concession

Humbly saying at just the right point,

"I am sorry, you are right and I am wrong."

The Gift of Gratitude

Never forgetting to say "Thank You"

and never failing to mean it.

The Gift of Attention

When the other fellow speaks, listen attentively.

If his words are directed to you personally,

meet his eye squarely.

 

The Gift of Inspiration

Plant seeds of courage and action in the other person's heart.

The Gift of Personal Presence

In sickness, in trouble, or in great joy, there is nothing quite equal to your personal expression of sympathy or congratulations.

Resolve to give these gifts each day. You will be pleasantly surprised at what you will receive in return.

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: outreach ideas to use during this holiday season. https://buff.ly/32glLQn

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Want to get 5% off every ongoing curriculum order? Use the recurring ordering plan! https://buff.ly/2zdjMjK

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Breathing Life into Sunday School by Ken Braddy - https://buff.ly/2LRKYh8

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Find the right Bible study curriculum that is best for you/your church. https://buff.ly/2MKuNBO

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Discipleship Pathway Assessment (DPA) – an online tool to help your congregation see their strengths and weaknesses in their discipleship - https://buff.ly/2vlnqWS

FOR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: WOO Marriage - Do you want an online video based pre-marital and marriage counseling helps that would alleviate the burden you have in these counseling endeavors? This can help! https://buff.ly/2ZdNwI8

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Disciple Her by Kandi Gallaty - https://buff.ly/2yi9CxF

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sacred Holidays by Becky Kiser - https://buff.ly/2GxEmiT

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Heroic, The Surprising Path to True Manhood by Bill Delvaux - https://buff.ly/2uCpLw5

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: DiscipleNow resources (from sermons to tee shirt designs) - https://buff.ly/35fgE4G

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Discipleship Deficit by John Paul Basham, a guide for strategic discipleship - https://www.lifeway.com/en/product/discipleship-deficit-P005789356

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: "Letters to My Students" by Dr. Jason Allen. First volume is on preaching. https://buff.ly/2I2N9de

FOR PRETEEN MINISTRY: Forged - Use this brand new 2 year preteen curriculum to prepare them for what lies ahead for them. https://buff.ly/311rVno

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Join the Concrete & Cranes VBS Director's Club. Everything you need to plan for build a skyscraper of a VBS next summer. https://vbs.lifeway.com/directors-club/

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Curriculum Comparison Chart - https://buff.ly/2FPKNOh

FOR KIDS MINISTRY:  God’s Plan for You - Use this 6 week study in your Kids ministry to explain the Gospel: https://buff.ly/2N3lr1Q

What Are You Focusing On?

As a minister was addressing a group of men, he took a large piece of paper and made a black spot in the center of it with a marking pen.  Then he held the paper up before the group and asked them what they saw.  One person quickly replied, “I see a black mark.”

“Right,” the preacher replied.  “What else do you see?”  Complete silence prevailed.  “Don’t you see anything other than the black spot?” he asked.  A chorus of “no” came from the audience.  “I’m surprised,” the speaker commented.  “You have overlooked the most important thing of all – the sheet of paper.”

Then he made the application.  In life we are often distracted by small disappointments, and we forget the innumerable blessings we receive from the Lord.  But, like the sheet of paper, the good things in life are overwhelmed by the adversities that monopolize our attention.

Rather than concentrating on the trials of life, we should fix our attention on its blessings.  Let us say with the psalmist, “Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits” (Psalm 68:19).

We tend to exaggerate the negative things in life (and they are many) but as we approach Thanksgiving I encourage you to set some time aside to focus on the many positive things in your life. Create a list of them.

Then on the final line of that list, write that these many positive things you have listed will enable you to face, endure, and even conquer the negative things in life.

Happy Daily Thanksgiving!

 

THINGS YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN ….

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: outreach ideas to use during this holiday season. https://buff.ly/32glLQn

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Want to get 5% off every ongoing curriculum order? Use the recurring ordering plan! https://buff.ly/2zdjMjK

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Breathing Life into Sunday School by Ken Braddy - https://buff.ly/2LRKYh8

FOR BIBLE STUDY LEADERS: Find the right Bible study curriculum that is best for you/your church. https://buff.ly/2MKuNBO

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Advent resources - Here's your go-to place for Advent supplies and resources. https://buff.ly/2WtnNvg

FOR DISCIPLESHIP:  Register for a free webinar on the 8 signposts of discipleship and how to use it to develop a strategy for discipleship! https://buff.ly/2VjcxE5

FOR DISCIPLESHIP: Discipleship Pathway Assessment (DPA) – an online tool to help your congregation see their strengths and weaknesses in their discipleship - https://buff.ly/2vlnqWS

FOR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT: WOO Marriage - Do you want an online video based pre-marital and marriage counseling helps that would alleviate the burden you have in these counseling endeavors? This can help! https://buff.ly/2ZdNwI8

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Disciple Her by Kandi Gallaty - https://buff.ly/2yi9CxF

FOR WOMEN’S MINISTRY: Sacred Holidays by Becky Kiser - https://buff.ly/2GxEmiT

FOR MEN’S MINISTRY:  Heroic, The Surprising Path to True Manhood by Bill Delvaux - https://buff.ly/2uCpLw5

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: "Letters to My Students" by Dr. Jason Allen. First volume is on preaching. https://buff.ly/2I2N9de

FOR STUDENT MINISTRY: Milestones - Use this 6 volume set to establish your youth in 10 key spiritual principles (God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Creation, People, Salvation, Church, Family, Community & World). https://buff.ly/2vJmQlS

FOR PRETEEN MINISTRY: Forged - Use this brand new 2 year preteen curriculum to prepare them for what lies ahead for them. https://buff.ly/311rVno

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Get your Concrete & Cranes VBS Director's Kit. Everything you need to plan for build a skyscraper of a VBS next summer. https://buff.ly/2MWo0Uy

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Children’s Camps to consider for Summer 2020 - https://buff.ly/2mWl7bP

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: Kids Ministry Curriculum Comparison Chart - https://buff.ly/2FPKNOh

FOR KIDS MINISTRY:  God’s Plan for You - Use this 6 week study in your Kids ministry to explain the Gospel: https://buff.ly/2N3lr1Q

FOR KIDS MINISTRY: The Gospel Project for Kids; Christmas Edition – 5 lessons for December - https://buff.ly/2SFsUGi