Giving and receiving gifts

Today is the day after Christmas day, December 26th 2016. Did you give any gifts yesterday? Did you receive any gifts yesterday? Do you know how to give and receive gifts? You know, some people do not know how to give or receive gifts. I have heard people say "I don't give Christmas presents" and I have heard people say "I don't want any presents because it feels like charity" Why do you suppose this is?

You might be interested in the fact that we had a tenant begin moving out of one of our houses a couple days ago after we allowed them to be 2 weeks late in paying December rent. That was a gift by our not evicting them. How did they receive the gift? They rented a trailer and moved out of the house throughout the night until 330 a.m. and disturbed their neighbors who were so kind to them, they left like thieves in the night. They didn't give notice. They left trash and a dirty house behind. They never cleaned the ac filter. When confronted by phone, they said they would were moving in a week AFTER thy had already left the home. Why? How did thy leave their jobs? They pretended like they were going to work the next day knowing they were moving. These people were on the receiving end of many gifts from the landlords and neighbors and yet they never received the gifts. They never said thank you. They were "TAKERS" and they were selfish.

What I am most concerned for these folks is that not only did they not give any gifts and they have not learned to receive a gift but that they have not received the gift of the Holy Spirit. My Christmas wish for them and you is that you will make room in your heart for Jesus to move in and live so that you might find true joy.

Acts 2:32–42,

“This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this which you see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens; but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, till I make thy enemies a stool for thy feet.’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know assuredly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”