Serving God throughout the Hoilday Season

Serving God throughout the Holiday Season

Perhaps, like me, you are in a season, where more doors for service seem to be closed, rather than open. Currently, I am helping to care for two people who have serious chronic health problems. Jesus wants us to serve our family members, especially our parents. Yet, God uses the Holy Spirit to show us additional opportunities for service, as well. God knows our strengths and weaknesses, and He uses service opportunities to help us to grow and become mature Christians.

For some us, the areas of “boundaries” is a stumbling block, creating an inner conflict as to how much or too little serve. Some, reading this message, may be too rigid in setting boundaries. When faced with a chance to serve the overwhelming fear may be that the task will be draining and too much energy will be expended in an attempt to try to serve others.

For others the need to serve tends to be never ending. These servers are overly generous with their time and talents. This can result in a feeling of exhaustion, at times. These servers brush off any signs of fatigue or self-neglect. Their innate need to try to “give” as much as possible can cause an emotional and/or physical imbalance that can lead to poor health.

All of us, from one time or another, may have been undecided as to what service roles we should accept. As Christians, we desire to be good role models for the children and teens in our lives; therefore, it is important for us to set aside our wants and needs and prayerfully ask God how we are to serve.

It is certainly difficult to leave a service situation when we have felt that the Holy Spirit has called us to serve. This is especially true when we know that God used us in a larger way to bear fruit for the kingdom. Yet, we need to be obedient to God's plan. If we are spiritually aware and know that we are being guided by the Holy Spirit, we can see the signs of a door that is about to shut. We must allow the door to close, be patient and willing to walk through new doors of service that will be open to us in the future.

Today, as I listened to a sermon Walking in the Spirit, delivered by Dr. Charles Stanley, I was reminded of how powerful the Holy Spirit is in our walk with God. The Spirit will lead us to the areas where our spiritual gifts can most effectively be used. If we are walking with God and are spiritually aware, the Spirit alerts us to these opportunities. We, in turn, are given the free will to be obey or to disobey. Naturally, it’s much easier to desire to be obedient when we are leading a God's centered life. If we find ourselves in a place where we are being led astray, the Holy Spirit will step right in, and help us to get back on the right track.

Take some time each day to pray to God about how He wants to use you. Perhaps, this holiday season there is something special that God has planned for you and the children in your life. Your service opportunities may lead you to projects that will bless many people. Or, perhaps, God will be selecting you to participate in smaller, behind the scenes types of service opportunities. These types of service opportunities are just as important and should never be discounted. There isn't one single service opportunity that is more important than another. In Romans 12, Paul talks about spiritual gifts and the importance each of us equally can play for the benefit of God's kingdom.

To help you to discover how God can use you to serve others, please read an earlier message that I wrote this year.
Please see Having a Heart for Jesus


You can help your children lean about service throughout the upcoming holiday season by becoming involved in community service projects. The following is from the amonco.org website. Copyright 2007-2010.

“Become involved in a project and possibly enlist the help of other families and friends. First, call your local nursing home or children's hospital and explain that you would like to bring handmade gifts to the patients. Find out the do's and don'ts of acceptable gift giving. Now, get busy and go to work.

Visit the FamilyCares website. Scroll down until you see Project Ideas. Decide whether you want to make a cooking, sewing or other type of craft project. One word of caution here. The first time we became involved in a community project, we got a little carried away by our enthusiasm and spent more than we wanted. Don't make the same mistake. Meet with your other community project partners and agree that you will set a spending limit. To make the project enjoyable for everyone, be sure to also consider the age, ability, interest, and attention span of the children/teens involved in making the gifts.

Visit some craft, yardage and stationery stores in your area, and ask to speak with the manager. Explain what your group is doing and ask to see the remnant racks and bins. Inquire about possible discounts. You can also cut costs by purchasing baking items at many discount grocery chains. Peruse through your favorite Sunday newspaper for sales and coupons. Although many stores have greatly limited their inventory, with a little perseverance and a positive attitude, you will find what you need.
Below, are some additional sites and recipes to consider for your cooking projects."


Sara Ambarian provides ideas and resources to help us minimize the cost and maximize the enjoyment of this season. Numerous helpful links will help you to get started on your family gift giving and Christian community service projects, as well. Please read Re-thinking Holiday Priorities During Tough Times to access this article.

Links to additional Christian based holiday projects are listed below:


Teaching Bible Verses Using Crafts


Thanksgiving Bible Crafts from Christian Preschool Printables

Kids' Christian Thanksgiving Crafts

Christian Christmas Crafts for Kids - Religious Christmas Craft Ideas

May you and those around you who participate in these Christian outreach projects also be blessed in numerous ways throughout this special holiday season.

Joyfully Serving Others throughout the Season of Giving

This year commit to do something fun yet really meaningful for those in your community who are are sad and lonely. Become involved in a project and possibly enlist the help of other families and friends. Jesus came to this earth to show us how to serve. What better way to show Christ's love, than by reaching out to those who are sad, very ill and may not yet know Jesus. In Mark 10:35-45, Jesus speaks to the twelve apostles about serving.

See Biblegateway.com

35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask."
36 And He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"
37 They said to Him, "Grant us that we may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on Your left, in Your glory."
38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" 39 They said to Him, "We are able."
So Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink, and with the baptism I am baptized with you will be baptized; 40 but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared."
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be greatly displeased with James and John. 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

Last Sunday, I went to a nursing home to visit an elderly lady. As I walked through several hallways, I couldn't help but notice the amount of lonely senior citizens sitting in wheelchairs. I was saddened by the vapid expressions on their faces. Christmas can be such a lonely time for shut ins, and many of these people are so appreciative to know that others still care about them. Likewise, many children spend Christmas bedridden in a hospital. Prayerfully consider how you can make a difference in the lives of the very young and elderly.

First, call your local nursing home or children's hospital and explain that you would like to bring handmade gifts to the patients. Find out the do's and don'ts of acceptable gift giving. Then, get your team assembled and go to work. :-)

Visit the Family Cares website. Scroll down until you see Project Ideas. Decide whether you want to make a cooking, sewing or other type of craft project. One word of caution here. The first time we became involved in a community project, we got a little carried away by our enthusiasm and spent more than we wanted. Don't make the same mistake. Meet with your other community project partners and agree that you will set a spending limit. Almost everyone is watching their pennies these days, so sticking to budget is a must!! To make the project enjoyable for everyone, be sure to also consider the age, ability, interest, and attention span of the children/teens involved in making the gifts.

Visit some craft, yardage and stationery stores in your area, and ask to speak with the manager. Explain what your group is doing and ask to see the remant racks and bins. Inquire about possible discounts. You can also cut costs by purchasing baking items at many discount grocery chains. Peruse through your favorite Sunday newspaper for sales and coupons. Although many stores have greatly limited their inventory, with a little perseverance and a positive attitude, you will find what you need.

Although these projects are welcomed at any time of the year, Christmas is the ideal holiday to spread God's word. Make sure that the home baked cookies or home made gifts are accompanied by a religious bookmark, Christmas card or other Christian item.

See the following sites for some ideas:

Make Your Own Christian Bookmarks
Christian Christmas Crafts
Christmas Religious Kids Crafts

Below, are some additional sites and recipes to consider for additional projects.

Family Cares
Old Fashioned Sugar Cookie Cutouts
Scented Baskets

May you and those around you who participate in these Christian outreach projects be blessed in numerous ways throughout this special holiday season.

Merry Christmas! Jesus IS the reason for the season!