by Danny B. Smith, Purple Ark Ministries

© Copyright Reserved  Decenber 24th 2009

"Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers who have prepared

gifts to celerbrate the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ".

Happy Birthday, Jesus

"The Gift of Giving"

Romans 12:1-2  Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

For the last four years, I have look for ways to give Christmas back to Jesus. We celebrate the Holidays with our friends, co-workers and family with little thought that the birthday party should be for Christ.

In the last fews days here before Christmas, we have experiencd a wonderful time teaming up with friends to wrap toys for a special Purple Ark Ministries program called, “Kids without Christmas”.  Christian from different denominations and the surrounding cities put away their banner and come to wrap gifts for the poor families and nursing home souls that spend most of their holidays alone.

In the second week of gift wrapping, I had picked up a selection of gifts from Life Way Christian Book Store, one particular gift package was called “Happy Birthday, Jesus”, it was subtitled, “Celebration in a Box”. I look with curiosity at the contents. It included 3 candles, nine plates, 9 napkins, 9 noisemakers, 6 balloons, 1 coloring book and some online stuff. I felt like a kid going to a party! That evening, I showed it to my wife and the group of volunteers who had come to help wrap the final selection of toys for Christmas giving. “I said to my wife, “Look at this birthday party pack for Jesus”, my wife turn to me and said, “this kit is for the birthday of a small child”, I immediately started to plea my case that the packet was for the birthday of Jesus”. We later agreed that uniquely, the kit was to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.

Today we see Christmas  as a joyful time in the celebration of giving to friends and families this glorifies too God also, but imagines proclaiming the very purpose of Jesus by giving to the poor at Christmas. Truly this character of Christ would honor God?

What would be a perfect gift for Jesus, he has so many gifts in Heaven, what more could be added? I believe the continuation of the gathering souls to honor the Father is a perfect present the leave at that altar. As we look to the word of God there are many places in the bible that demonstrate the character of Christ giving.  Let us use this devotional as a starting point to give to celebrate Christ giving on His Birthday.  In Jesus Name.

Happy Birthday Prayer

Happy Birthday Jesus, I know you are at the altar waiting to celebrate new souls for the Kingdom of God. I am so proud of you Jesus and so bless that you are a part of my life. I know a little of your suffering, I praise Your name, day and night Lord, it is now the day before traveling to bless the poor. I want You to know that each gift is in Your name Lord, each gift is our birthday present to you. Each soul that we love is for your birthday.

To God be the glory, Amen