Philip Yancey says that today, “We make faith not an attitude of trust in something unseen but a route to get something seen-something magical and stupendous, like a miracle or a supernatural gift. Faith includes the supernatural, but it also includes daily, dependent trust is spite of results.
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Peter Loughman on Dec 21, 2007
THE GIFT
A professor of mine from seminary told us this story: When he was a young man, all of 23, he had the opportunity to take a summer tour of Europe as a graduation present, he was from a well to do family. He traveled about Europe by train, boat and sometimes by bicycle. Finally he ended up
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by David Ward on Aug 26, 2006
based on 3 ratings
| 2,495 views
In Our Greatest Gift, Henri Nouwen tells a parable of faith and hope. He imagines twins–a brother and a sister–talking to each other in their mother’s womb:
The sister said to the brother, "I believe there is life after birth."
Her brother protested vehemently, "No, no, this is all there is. This
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Baptist
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
based on 1 rating
| 5,147 views
Children leave gift of love @ funeral
The Rev. Harry Pritchett Jr. is rector of All Saints Episcopal Church in Atlanta. His church includes specific ministries for the poor, for street people, for college students. It is Pritchett who called my attention to a boy named Philip.
He was 9 – in a
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Contributed by Darren Ethier on Apr 9, 2002
based on 148 ratings
| 8,275 views
NOT THE GIFT, BUT THE GIVER
A man told a story about the time his son’s sixth birthday was approaching. He had mentioned he wouldn’t mind a party, and as his son usually was very specific about the kind of presents he liked. The dad asked him what he could get him. Bill expected a well-planned
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Pentecostal
Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 10, 2002
based on 33 ratings
| 5,270 views
THE EMPTY GIFT
"I was enjoying 1st grade to the fullest until one day in December when the little girl behind me set "it" on her desk. It was the tiniest Christmas present imaginable, less than an inch on each side with white glossy paper tied up with a sliver of red cellophane. Immediately I was
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Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 16, 2003
based on 6 ratings
| 3,666 views
[illustration]
On Christmas morning, the children in a family do not usually all receive the same gifts.
One gets a football, one a puzzle, another receives a doll house, and another a table game.
Yet, although each child does not receive the same gifts as the others, the parents intend the gifts
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by A. Todd Coget on May 16, 2003
based on 8 ratings
| 6,372 views
[illustration]
Imagine how a parent would feel if on Christmas day when the gifts for their children were handed out, the children just took them, said “Thank you,” and laid them aside with no attempt to open the gifts not even to find out what they were!
Imagine how the Lord must feel when he has
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Evangelical/Non-Denominational
Contributed by Sermon Central on Jun 18, 2007
based on 2 ratings
| 4,044 views
The Gift of Us
Marjorie Tallcott was married and had one child during the Great Depression. The family managed to scrape their way through, but as Christmas approached one year Marjorie and her husband were disappointed that they would not be able to buy any presents. A week before Christmas they
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Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008
based on 1 rating
| 4,596 views
GOOD GIFTS
Go to God--he is the source of our goodness on this earth.
Matthew 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
This story about Hudson Taylor, a well-known
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Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 28, 2008
based on 1 rating
| 5,792 views
THE BEST GIFT
Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn't wear boots; he didn't like them, and anyway he didn't own any. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them, and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold.
Bobby had been in his backyard for about
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Contributed by Ed Sasnett on Jul 8, 2010
THE GIFTS IN THE FRIES
If you have one or more of the gifts of service, you are critical to the work and glory of God. Do not think lightly of your place in God’s plan.
A man goes to buy a hamburger for lunch. The young lady behind the counter asks, “Do you want fries with that?” The man
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Baptist