A Gift, A Present, A Package by Krissanna Noakes

Happy Monday! Only 12 more days til Christmas! This week’s devo is “A Gift, A Present, A Package” written by Krissanna Noakes! Please take time to read this devo that she has written for us! It will put the best perspective on wrapping Christmas presents this year! I hope that you have an amazing week!

A Gift, A Present, A Package – Krissanna Noakes

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is wrapping the gifts. I like to pick a theme each year. One year I used rolls of white craft paper, markers, and embellishments to turn the presents into snowmen. Another year the packages were all wrapped in Disney themed papers. Other years have been color combos like blue and silver or purple and gold.

This year as I was thinking about what theme I want to use and searching Pinterest for ideas there was something that jumped out at me. There are basically three words we use interchangeably to describe what we are giving someone: gift, present, and package.

While I know these words are synonyms, I also wondered as to the definition of each and if there was much variation in definitions. That is where this devotional formed.

As Christian ladies, we know “Jesus is the reason for the season”, if you will. However, I wanted to delve deeper into the gift, the present, the package of Jesus.

The definition of gift is “something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation”. Romans 6:23 tells us “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. Just as we don’t expect the recipient of our gift to pay us for the price we already paid, neither does God expect payment from us.

Can you imagine giving your child or grandchild a gift, holding out your hand, then saying., “Okay, honey. That’ll be $19.99!”. That seems ridiculous because they most likely couldn’t pay, but also because we give it to them out of love. Just as God gives us eternal life through His Son. He’s not holding out his hand for payment. Jesus already paid it on the cross. Ephesians 2:8 & 9″… it is the gift of God: not of works…”. Think John 3:16!

Next, is the definition of present: “a thing presented as a gift”. God’s present was wrapped in the form of a baby (Luke 2:7 & 12). His only begotten Son was immaculately conceived to live a sinless life. A life that would offer a present for everyone.

For the most part, we can’t get each person on our Christmas list the exact same present. My grandson loves monster trucks. That’s all he wants right now!

However, my daughters would be less than thrilled if I bought them monster trucks. God in his infinite wisdom gave mankind one present that is a fit for all. He didn’t have to send multiple presents that night in Bethlehem in order for everyone to have something to receive. Luke 2:10-11

Finally, we have the definition of package: “something conceived of as a compact unit having particular charcteristics”. The package of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, is the ultimate package. It is perfection.

I’m sure you ladies are like me always looking for that perfect gift for each person on your list. Yet, as my children have grown into adults and as my husband and I add years to our marriage, I find it harder and harder to buy gifts for them. They definitely don’t receive that perfect gift from me!

However, the perfect package of our Saviour is holy(Lu. 1:35), righteous(Is. 53:11), just(Zec. 8:9), guileless(1 Pet. 2:22), sinless(2 Cor. 5:21), spotless(1 Pet. 1:19), innocent(Matt. 27:4),. The list could go on and on in describing this perfect package for there is nothing lacking. This is the package I want for my loved ones!

So, this year as I’m wrapping gifts, presents, and packages I’m keeping the theme focused on Jesus. I’m keeping my heart and mind focused on Jesus for I’ve already received the perfect gift. I need nothing more.

https://www.sappsolutely.com/devotions/a-gift-a-present-a-package-krissanna-noakes

December 13, 2021December 17, 2021

Jesus – Horn of Salvation

Halleluyah Shofar Authentic, Natural, Long Curved Fancy – Shofar PNG

Luke 1:68-69 – Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;

The phrase horn of salvation is only used three times in scripture (2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 18:2; and Luke 1:69). Both times in the Old Testament are David giving thanks to God for delivering him from his enemy.

2 Samuel 22:2-4 And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.

God is our defense and offense. Because Jesus uses His power to secure and protect His people, Jesus is the horn of salvation for us.

December 13, 2021December 8, 2021

Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 30-31 December 2019

Dec 30

1.30 still wide awake. It’s like my brain got mixed up on time or something. Need to fall asleep soon.

Need to try to start my pt exercises back up gotten slack since painful tooth epidemic.

10.43 Girl’s Dad called to check on his daughter. Asked permission for her to join my kids to go to mall.

2.00 finally figured how to get info onto tithing envelopes. Print on stickers and apply to envelopes. Kind of tacky but we can use the blank.

3.27 getting very sleepy

Arms feel heavy & tingly. Eyes heavy. Low back throbbing. Lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some tingling. Need a nap. Feel asleephot a while and no one bothered.

6.05 received phone call that my friend has been told she can go home

Waiting for discharge. They will come by to pick up their daughter on the way home.

Rt hip throbbing with pain shooting down. Lft and ankle tightening tourniquit feeling with some tingling.

9.00 cut Joe’s hair, but back throbbing something horrible. Need to rest a while.

9.52 getting very sleep. Hands losing grip causing me to drop things. Body jerking randomly. That’s a new symptom. Hmm?

Dec 31

8.00 woke from a horrible nightmare!! I don’t even want to recall it. My spirit just wants to cry. Lord, please cleanse every wicked imagination out of my subconscious and set me free from the nightmares. Psalm 139:23-24

I have bad headache.

8.40 did morning pt exercises then folded one load of clothes. I’m out of breath, tired, and my arm muscles jave fatigued. Ugh!

8.50 why is so hard to get a response from other pastor’s wives when you reach out for advice? I don’t get it. I guess I’ll reach out to others until someone has time to respond.

Head pounding. Toothaches. Short of breath. Low back tingling & achy. Rt hip aches. Lower legs & feet tingly. Body feels kind of clammy like I’m feverish

12.30 Had Jakob take me to drop of laptop. Guy will give call in couple days for prices on what needs to be done to fix it. Praying it won’t cost too much.

1.20 face is starting to feel flushed. Head hurts.

Been printing labels for tithing envelopes. Cannot for life of me figure out how to get envelopes to feed for printing…it just jams. Someone suggested something about downloading certain program but that escapes me as well. However, I’ve figured something outside box to make them usable. Not very pretty but they serve the purpose.

2.30 thought just crossed mind that rx may be causing flushing in face. Sure enough – gabapentin can cause lightheadedness, feeling faint or dizzy, and flushing.

2.50 attempted to wash a few dishes. Lower back intense throbbing, hands ache & throbbing, toes cold, feet tingling, out of breath. Sitting down for a while to rest.

5.00 center of chest really hurting, sinus issues, rt ear hurts,

Joe came home and helped (actually he did all the work I just observed) me use my new ninja air fryer. Little disappointed at first bc it had already been used & returned to store. I told him we can clean it out and use it. If it works, great. If not, we’ll return it. Turns out the wings and fries tasted great. Better yet it uses minimal oil.

Thankful for my Christmas gift. It will make my life much easier.

11.00 watched New York ball drop with Joe then went watched New Orleans drop with kids. (Couldn’t keep eyes on screen too long because the movement and bright lights are bothersome and make my eyes hurt).

I’m exhausted and hurting all over. Brain fogged from over usage today. Prayed for all those with ptsd tonight due to the fireworks. I’ve jumped a few times and we aren’t even doing them this year.