Tested Giving? Vs Divine Timing.

TESTED GIVING? AN APPOINTED TIME --- DIVINE TIMING --- DUE SEASON

MIGHTY IS OUR GOD --- HE HAS EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL ---

YOU CAN TRUST HIM AND HIS PLAN...

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

I. HAVE WE EVER GAVE SOMETHING WE HOLD DEAR?

GIVING ON PURPOSE?

A. Years ago I was sitting in front of Wal-Mart on a beautiful sunny day.

My wife was inside shopping and I was enjoying watching the hustle and bustle

of the Christmas season. I was sitting next to a Marines' box where people were to drop

off toys to give to the "poor kids."

A huge $70,000 Lincoln Continental pulled up to the big box, a little girl and boy jumped

out of the car and ran up to place their toys for kids in the box. The kids were so proud of

their giving. I noticed their gifts. The boy had a rusty Tonka truck with three wheels?

The girl had a doll baby. Her doll had a hair cut and most of the hair was gone.

The baby doll had permanent magic marker all over it's face and body.

They joyfully jumped back in the car and away they went.

I thought, wonder what they will get for Christmas?

I said in my heart: " THEY BETTER BE GLAD I AM NOT GOD!"

I would wrap the truck and the doll in beautiful paper and place it under their

tree in their fancy house.

Could you imagine what joy they would have had to receive what they gave?

B. Let me tell you another story.

We asked people at our mission church in the mountains to bring in a gift.

A little girl had this MISS BEASLEY doll, it was her favorite, most prized doll.

I watched Sara Rose, as tears ran down her face, come to the altar when no was looking and

she placed her most prized doll baby at Jesus' feet. As she walked away, she turned and

looked back and said: GOODBYE, MISS BEASLEY."

I saw her dad watching her in the back of the church, he was crying very hard.

As I think of this story 30 years later I have tears running down my face.

I had the pleasure of wrapping Miss Beasley and driving over the mountain on Christmas

day and going into the home of a large, very poor family. I watched the little girl that had

very little, open the present and hugged Miss Beasley. The little girl said, How did you

know? This is the doll I wanted. Both little girls are now grown and graduated from college.

They do not know the story in my heart. But God knows.

II. WE HAVE NEVER GIVEN A PERSON TO DEATH --- THEY WERE TAKEN...

THERE IS A LOVE LESSON THAT GOD GAVE --- HIS ONE AND ONLY SON.

A. Our Father, His Son --- Jesus and the Holy Spirit gather and over looked the wonderful

creation and GOD said: IT IS GOOD...

B. GOD HAD A PLAN --- God knew man would disappoint and break His heart.

C. GOD'S PLAN WAS TO BRUISE OUR ENEMY'S HEAD AND BRUISE HIS HEEL.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever

believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

III. COME LET US LOOK UNDER YOUR CHRISTMAS TREES...

THERE SEEMS TO BE A PRESENT FOR EVERY ONE?

NO WAIT: I DO NOT SEE A PRESENT UNDER THE TREE FOR JESUS CHRIST?

NOW, WHO'S BIRTHDAY IS THIS DECEMBER 25TH?

A. GIVING SURE SHOWS A LOT, IT IS NOT ABOUT THE GIFT?

BUT ABOUT THE GIVER?

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken

together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that

ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

B. Are we teaching paganism and selfishness?

Christmas is about GIVING... LEAST WE FORGET THE REAL MEANING---

WE NEED TO CELEBRATE GOD'S GIFT AND GIVE TO THE CROSS...

C. Is there a meaningful, ON PURPOSE GIFT UNDER THE TREE TO THE FATHER... ???

IV. WHEN MY SONS WERE REALLY LITTLE, WE TOOK A CALENDAR AND WOULD

PUT AN X ON THE DAYS BETWEEN THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS?

25 MORE DAYS, 24, 20, 15, FINALLY WITH GREAT EXPECTATION THE DAY WOULD

COME...

A. I PONDER DID JESUS GET EXCITED ABOUT THE APPOINTED DAY IN HISTORY

THAT HE WOULD PACK HIS SUITCASE AND LEAVE HEAVEN'S GOLDEN STREETS

FOR DUSTY, DIRT ROADS?

B. Mary did you know? Mary your gift will BRING US TO AN APPOINTED DAY...

C. MARY AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS YOU WILL STAND ---

FOR THE APPOINTED DAY HAS COME... YOUR BABY JESUS...

KNOWS THE PLAN...

D. JESUS GAVE IT ALL ---All to Him I owe.