The Gift of Giving

A very gifted Sunday School teacher came up with an inspired idea to teach her class the importance of giving at Christmas time.  I was asked to participate.  Mrs. A had carefully thought out her lesson plan so that it would be sure to be a success.  She had a box of new candy canes from the store.  She made some bookmarks with the story behind the candy cane, then tied it with a ribbon to each of the 14 white and red striped candy canes. She gave the lesson to her one eager student, Tricia (not her real name) since the rest of her students were away that day. While Tricia and I were assembling the candy cane and bookmark, she explained what the candy cane means.  I wasn't aware of the legend behind the candy cane.  Here it is:

The shape is the same as the shepherd's staff, signifying the shepherds in the fields who saw the star the night Jesus was born, and Jesus is the gentle Shepherd of our soul. Turn it upside down and it is a "J" shape standing for Jesus.  The peppermint signifies the spice, one of the regal gifts given to Jesus by the wise men.  The red is the sacrifice of Jesus shedding His blood for us.  The white is purity, the way He makes our heart clean when we are forgiven of our sins.

So while the service in our church went on, Mrs. A., Tricia and I went downtown and Mrs. A gave Tricia the basket of candy canes. We looked for random individuals to give the candy canes to.  We started out in the parking lot of a large grocery store.  With each surprised person we approached, Tricia explained to him or her that she was learning the true meaning of Christmas, and that was giving.  Then she handed them the candy cane.  One middle-aged man who looked stressed and troubled smiled and said to her, "You made my day!"  Who knows what kind of day many of these people were having, or what kind of struggles they were battling?  Some people tried to give Tricia some money, but Mrs. A, said no thanks, this is a lesson about giving! We could tell Tricia was really enjoying herself and she even commented early on how much fun she was having.  

We went back to the Sunday School room and Mrs. A had one candy cane put aside for Tricia that had broken, and gave it to her. But by this time, Tricia had experienced the real joy - and that was in the giving, not so much the receiving.

As for me, something happened in my heart and the stress of the season seemed to melt away with each person we met who were surprised by this small act of kindness.  Such a small and precious act of kindness that has likely changed the life of a little girl, and certainly touched the heart of everyone who received from her.

Sometimes giving can seem overwhelming as pressures mount in deciding what to give our loved ones and friends for Christmas.  But I am reminded of this verse in the Bible:

2 Cor 9:7  Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

If we are not cheerful in the giving, perhaps it is not the right gift to the right person.  Gifts do not have to be elaborate, for even the smallest kindness to someone not expecting anything at all can be the greatest gift of all.  

Popular Opinion or the Truth?

Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

2Pe 2:18  For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

2Pe 2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

In Canada, we have just come through a much heated and stress-filled federal election campaign.  The Liberal party won over the Progressive Conservatives, not because the PC had done a bad job of running the country, but largely because the Liberals had a strong and positive campaign to win voters over.  While the Liberal leader (soon to be PM), Justin Trudeau, made some lofty claims of what he planned to do, it was more because of his positive and charismatic style that won over the votes.  It appeared that these voters didn't think about things like balanced budgets, tax breaks, national security, or strict immigration policies to protect Canadian citizens that the PC had worked so hard to achieve.  No, they seemed to get swept away by the popular rhetoric of the would-be leader of our country.  What made it a critical battle on the spiritual front is that the PC stand for Christian values that support struggling families, seniors, small businesses -- in other words, the "pure religion" spoken of in the Bible, "to visit the fatherless and the widows."  They believe in the sanctity of life and that it is immoral to support the aborting/killing of the innocent unborn and helpless child. And they supported Israel.  

I watched in amazement as the votes started coming in and clearly the Liberals were in the lead.  I wondered what could have happened that people would disregard the strong and secure national economy that the PC had successfully achieved?  Were they blind and not cognizant of the many tax breaks we were getting?  Did they forget that the PC’s led us through a severe world-wide recession and we came through practically unscathed?  Instead, they were voting in a nearly unqualified candidate whose experience in the vast, complex and demanding political arena is so scant that it is difficult to imagine how he is going to be able to make sound decisions for an entire country and keep it all from becoming unraveled and fall apart through the tough times!  What could the voters have been thinking? 

I followed the media and it appeared that they wanted the Liberals to get in, so it seems that they did everything in their power to make Prime Minister Harper look bad.  In fact, they did such a good job that people forgot the many benefits we were able to enjoy under the PC leadership.  Throughout the campaign name calling became ugly and people were divided.  Really, it amounted to a frenzy of who was right and who was wrong, and was very divisive.  Unfortunately, under such a deluge of bad media publicity, the PC’s and all their voters had an unfair advantage.  The only sensible media that had shared their research regarding the Liberals was The Rebel Media (formerly Sun News Network) who, on their website, offered researched information that the mainline media had neglected to include to properly inform the voter before making any decision on who to vote for.  These professionals are promising to continue to do their research and broadcast it online via YouTube as the new Liberal party settles into office. 

So this brings us to the opening verses.  Who do we listen to and who do we believe?  Should we be swayed by popular opinion to fit in and not feel like an odd ball?  Or should we follow after Christ?  Political parties each have their own set of beliefs (ideologies).  It becomes clear as they go into power if they are for or against God and the things of God!  Clearly the PC government has stood for the things of God.  Alarmingly, in several key areas, the Liberal party clearly, and as yet, do not.  Hopefully that will change!

Many times throughout the election, I was challenged by someone opposed to the PC for whatever reason and I had to patiently explain that the mainline media had a deliberate campaign to destroy the PC government, and not to believe everything they were hearing or reading. I shared the well documented videos and articles that The Rebel Media had provided regarding the Liberal leader.  I tried to explain the sometimes disastrous and unsuccessful results of the Liberal party when they have been in power in the past, having been a Political Studies student in university, and a high school History teacher.  When you’ve lived through many elections, it’s hard to forget when a political party is not working for you, but just taking your hard-earned money and foolishly spending it.  A good politician is a civil “servant” who serves the best interests of the people, and most likely at a personal cost to himself or herself for the many sacrifices they will make and hours they will put in.  They will be concerned about the welfare of every age group, and not just cater to a select group here and there who whine the loudest.  They will have morals and ethics that are based on the Bible, God’s Word, which cannot change, and will not change.  They will either be for God or against God.  Yes, politics are very much intertwined with faith, and when a government leadership is not leading in line with God and they disregard even the basic Judaic laws, they can bring down an entire nation. History has recorded this more than once, and it is recorded throughout the Bible.  Without God, individuals fail, families fail, society fails, and nations fail. 

We may be tempted to be swayed by popular opinion, and especially if something sounds positive and right.  But if it doesn’t line up with the Word of God and is off even a tiny bit, then we can be sure that this is another lie from the serpent designed to ensnare.  May we be vigilant when it comes to what we believe and what we stand for, and always turn to the Word of God as the final authority in every situation.  

Please keep the prayers coming for Canada and its new government, for we will surely need it.

Who Really Holds Political Power?

In my beautiful and beloved country, Canada, we have just gone through a feverish and very heated federal election campaign.  It was a spiritual battle in every sense of the word.   People were either wanting radical change with a new Liberal government, or they wanted the moral and Christian-based ethical foundation, safety and the economic security of the continued leadership of the Progressive Conservatives.  Many believe that Canada was blessed by God in every way since this PC leadership continued to support Israel in spite of outside pressure to do otherwise.  The Bible says that whoever blesses Israel will be blessed, and that is a no-fail promise of God.  We will soon see if they will continue to support Israel, and if not will this favor of God on Canada be lifted with the new leadership!  The Liberal-slanted media had a heyday with their put-downs of the PC government that had worked so diligently to balance the books and not create a tax burden on its citizens like previous governments had liberally done.  During the campaign, the Liberals, who had lost their party several years ago, this time around had a charismatic leader, Justin Trudeau, for the first time in decades.  He seemingly knew the right words to say (however lofty) to the right people, apparently very liberal minded citizens who seem to voice their concern more for environmental issues than they do for saving the life of the unborn child.  Trudeau won an overwhelming majority of electoral seats mostly in the eastern part of our expansive country.  Many prayers went up for this election, and now many more prayers must go up for the Liberal leadership over the next few years.  Whether they will uphold Christian ethics and values or not which will benefit the entire country remains to be seen.

With the many promises Trudeau made regarding change and a "new" and "better" Canada, it is only those who know the Truth and the power of the Word of God that know that "new and better" without Christ is just another way of pouring new wine into old wine skins.  The real change that counts and lasts can only come from righteous living which brings honor and glory to God, and all according to His Word which every human being is to live by.  

Looking to governments and leaders and to people to meet our needs rather than recognizing and ultimately looking to the Highest and only power which is God, is a mistake to begin with.  Look at the following verses.  

Isa 40:15  Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Isa 40:17  All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.

Isa 40:18  To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him?

Isa 40:21  Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth?

Isa 40:22  It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in:

Isa 40:23  That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity.

Isa 40:24  Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble.

For whatever reason, it is important to know that God, and not the voters, has allowed this Liberal government to be put into place.

Rom 13:1  Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

And the success of any county will all depend on the Christians ongoing prayers for the leadership that has been put in place.  We must never be lax or lazy in this regard.

1Ti 2:1  I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, andgiving of thanks, be made for all men;

1Ti 2:2  For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.

1Ti 2:3  For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;

And finally, a powerful image keeps coming to mind regarding who is really in authority and who holds all the power; for one day we will all bow to the Lord and give an account of our life to the Lord.  So it is not so much to judge what others do and say, it is what WE do and say that we are accountable for!

Rom 14:11  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

Rom 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Having said all this, friends, this is very important on the world scene and for North America in particular, please keep Canada in your prayers at this critical time in our history.  We are continuing to believe for miracles and to see great things happen to the glory of God due to the power behind the prayers of every God-fearing, Bible-believing Christian.