GO AND DO THE SAME
This is the last Sunday before Christmas. Christmas is the time of the year when Christians worldwide celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in a manager, surrounded by stable animals, instead of the soft and comfortable accommodations that were fit for a king. And, normally, at this time of the year, I would be writing about His birth, about Joseph and Mary, and the angels that appeared to herald the news that the Son of God was becoming flesh. But, that is not what I am going to talk about today.
Today, I am going to talk about giving. It was love that brought Jesus to the world, and it was love that kept Him on the cross. God loved us so much that He GAVE us Jesus and sent Him to the earth as a living sacrifice for all of us. The Lord gave us the ultimate gift, and at this time of the year, when so many people are giving gifts, we need to remember the greatest gift ever given.
God did not give His gift to only a select few, but he gave it to everyone. I know that most of us have a long list of people we are giving gifts to this Christmas, but most of the recipients are our family and friends. We might not have the means or capability to give to everyone like the Lord, but could we do a little extra for someone in need?
Matthew 25:35-46
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44 “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
This year has been extra hard on a lot of people. Many have lost their jobs, and the stress of Christmas is an added burden that weighs on a lot of people. Some may be struggling to pay the bills, and the thoughts of buying a Christmas present is the farthest thing from their minds. It is easy for us adults to understand why no Christmas gifts will be exchanged, but children don’t’ understand. They have no concept that paying the electric bill comes before buying a bicycle or a doll.
This past Sunday, I listened to an online sermon from Pastor Michael Todd from Transformation Church. I listen to Pastor Todd often throughout the week, and I love his straight talk about the Bible and how he breaks his message down where even I can understand. This past Sunday, I watched as this church gave away over 3 MILLION dollars to churches, organizations, and people in need. His message was, they (the church) have been blessed, and they were using the funds to bless others. Then, he challenged the congregation and those listening online, “Go, and do the same.”
I’ve given this a lot of thought this past week. I don’t have 3 million dollars to give out, but I do feel like I have been blessed. The Lord has blessed my family in many ways, and I want to be a blessing for someone else. So, I am asking for your help. I would love for you to leave a comment if you know of someone who is in need of a little extra money this Christmas. Please, don’t leave any names, but leave a short description of the problem. My plan is to give ten people $100.00 each, but that is a flexible number. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving a comment, then you can privately email me at fiftyisnotold@gmail.com.
And, now, I challenge you to go and do the same. You need to figure out what this means to you. Maybe it means donating extra coats or shoes that you have to shelters. Maybe it means dropping off groceries to a neighbor. Or, maybe it is making lap throws for the nursing homes or retirement facilities. I know that COVID is making it harder to volunteer and give back to our communities, but I am sure that you can find a way if you are creative.
The world would be a much better place if we took the blessings we have and blessed someone else.
To Go Goes The Glory!
Have A Blessed Day!
Amen, Tania, amen! Your words touched me so much and I am now on a mission to find someone between now and Christrmas Eve who is in need and I intend to fulfill that need. I have so much and don’t need it all. Each day I pray to the Lord for the needs of my family to be fulfilled and to bless them with enough. After all, if we have enough that’s all we need and we can certainly share all above that with others. God bless you and your family in 2021 and have a very Merry Christmas as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus.
I’ve never known anyone personally to be so thoughtful and generous as you. It inspires others to do the same, including myself. I regularly donate new and used items to a church thrift store that uses the money they make to help local youths who are homeless. Thank you for all you do and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Hi Tania,
You are such a blessing, and have been gifted with such a kind loving heart. Because of your generosity you have made so many lives better. As the saying goes, “it’s better to give than receive”, so true.
You are an Angel.
Merry Christmas to you and your family.
What a kind, selfless thing to do. Reading the comments here is a blessing in itself. I also wanted to share a story. Several years ago, my nephew, in lieu of buying gifts for family, randomly choose 10 names/addresses from the phonebook and sent them $20. He enclosed a note that explained his intent was to bless a few strangers and if the recipient didn’t need the cash, to pass it to someone who did. I was so proud of this gesture from a 20 year old college student. My hopes are that it not only blessed 10 strangers but also inspired those who were able to share the blessing.
I am a single mom. There is a food pantry located in a Catholic Church a few blocks from our home. This food pantry blessed my family over a dozen times as my kids were growing up. I would not have enough for utility bill or rent. Anytime I called they would provide us with bags of groceries. I could use the money saved to pay my bills, and keep us in our home. I thank God for this food pantry and His provision through it. My kids are older now, and though things are still tight, I am able to make the bills each month. When I grocery shop each week, I pick up a few items for the food pantry, then drop off once a month. Never feel like even a few cans of something don’t make a difference. It might be just what someone needs to make it through the week. God bless you! Merry Christmas.
Beth, I am sending you an email this morning.
The hair salon I’ve gone to for about 20 yrs changed hands recently. The owner decided to pull out and sell. She sold to one of the estheticians who has done my waxing for several years now. Over the years of an every-three-week mustache removal (gotta love menopause haha) we’ve talked a lot. She couldn’t get COVID financing because she bought the business in Mar. She cleared out her life savings to buy her dream. Then, got shut down Mar 25. Got to reopen for a few months and then last week, shut down again. Desperate, she created a go fund me account to try to stay afloat. As a Christian she’s aware of the pitfalls of debt so she didn’t get a loan. But her landlord is a parsimonious Scrooge and he’s not relenting on the rent. As an aside I’ll say this — we are inordinately blessed with good income — and once a year I write a single check to pay our property taxes which are about one paycheck. I realize very few people can do this — either they don’t have enough sense to put away a 1/12 of it monthly or else live way beyond their means — but this gave me pause. This greedy landlord has to pay his taxes on the building quarterly and I’m sure the rents cover that just fine! When my friend approached him for a break, he stated he couldn’t afford to reduce the rent and suggested she beg from family and friends. Begging is an ugly word, made a bit prettier by calling it go fund me LOL. BUT loving my friend (neighbor) I was moved by the Lord to not only send her the money I would have spent on waxing and facials for two months, I also send my stylist via Apple Pay the amount I would have paid for my cut and color plus tip. My appt would have been tomorrow. I don’t want to appear to be boasting but I wanted to share this. We all have a hair dresser or manicure tech or esthetician who is suffering now. Not all states have reinstated these draconian measures, but if you are in one of the unfortunate places, please consider prayfully supporting the women who help you look your best by giving them the money you would have spent.
Love this! Great idea.
Liane, I am sending you an email this morning.
Wow. And this is why I love your blog….it’s full of heart and soul.
Thanks so much, Nancy, I am glad that you enjoy the blog.
What an inspiration this morning. You are so right. I’ve been blessed and want to bless someone else in need. This was what I needed to hear. God bless and have a beautiful day.
Johnna, you are a blessing to MANY!
thank you for the reminder !
You’re welcome, Linda. I hope that you enjoyed the post.
Such a beautiful message today. Tania you have a heart of Gold. Peace of Christ❤️
I don’t have a heart of gold, but I am trying.
Hi Tania
I love your heart!
A special friend of ours is a young single mother. She lost her job due to COVID. She has been doing small odd jobs to pay bills. Recently she started driving for a food delivery service and a few days ago her car engine blew. She is borrowing a car from a friend in the evenings to make some deliveries. We have invited her to our Christmas dinner and have gifts covered for her and her daughter. Any additional monetary gift would go along way for her as she is saving every extra penny to fix or buy a car.
Thank you for being a blessing to others and have a Merry Christmas!
Lisa, I am sending you an email this morning.
Human trafficking is modern day slavery and is going on right under our noses. My heart aches for young women tricked into working for individuals who say they love them and will look after them if they will just do this or that. I’ve worked in this sector and it’s heart wrenching. Please consider a local effort to free young women from trafficking. Thanks Tanya and may God bless you and yours!
That is a wonderful idea, Sally. I know that was the State Woman’s Club project.
Hi Tania – my cousin has been battling ALS for five years and is now on oxygen full time. His wife lost two jobs because of the pandemic.They have two children in high school, with only a small amount of disability insurance to sustain them. As you might imagine, any amount of money would be meaningful to them.
Love your blog and especially your Sunday messages that always seem to speak to my heart. God bless you at Christmas and always!
I am sending you an email this morning, Nancy.
You have such a beautiful heart, my friend! Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Merry Christmas to you also, Donna.
Tania
💜 My beautiful little country white steepled church has felt the stress of this pandemic. We are a very small congregation and get by week to week as most of the congregation is on a fixed income. They have closed it down twice for the safety of the congregation, and currently is still closed. We have lost a member of our church also to Covid. The tithes are not coming in as normal with it being shut down, and the monthly bills are still on need of payment. I love this little country church with all my heart, and that is where I put our extra blessings this year. I believe it saved our 30+ year marriage at one point and it is also where I was baptized as an adult and my life has never been the same.
Our churches need our blessings, big or small, whether their open or not, whether you are attending or not.
May you all have a safe and blessed Christmas no matter how we celebrate this year.🎄
Kim, I am sending you an email this morning.
Loved your post today! It brings perspective.
Thanks, Linda.
Amen…a gentle reminder of how blessed we are and how we can bless others.
Exactly, Linda. The Lord blesses those who will bless others.