tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20172314.post8247647779964670325..comments2008-12-24T09:50:28.843-05:00Lawrence W. Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114580620145534592noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20172314.post-84530869623512550372008-12-24T09:50:00.000-05:002008-12-24T09:50:00.000-05:00I do have a little story that represents a free gift:<BR/><BR/>The Christmas of 2006 we were homeless. We didn't have keys. Not to a car,<BR/>not to a home. We'd flown halfway around the world, leaving behind a<BR/>ministry we toiled over. Much, particularly in our hearts, lay in ruins.<BR/><BR/>Some friends had a camp, and on that camp stood a barn. In the corner of the<BR/>barn was a tiny apartment, flanked by this caboose and hundreds of acres of<BR/>Texas pasture. We'd never been there before, so we followed directions at<BR/>night, making plenty of wrong turns.<BR/><BR/>When we found the place, we drove a borrowed car over the cattle guard<BR/>toward what would be our home for a month. String lights illuminated a small<BR/>porch, a window and a door in the corner of an aluminum-sided barn. We<BR/>hefted large pieces of luggage to the apartment.<BR/><BR/>And when we opened the door, Love welcomed us.<BR/><BR/>The place, usually completely unfurnished in the winter, was decked out with<BR/>just the right amount of beds, couches and tables. The pantry was full. We<BR/>had dishes and garbage cans, and cups and forks and food. But even more, we<BR/>had a Christmas tree. Friends had hijacked the place, decorating it for<BR/>Christmas. Cookies preened on the table.<BR/><BR/>I will never, ever forget that Christmas. We had so little. We felt the<BR/>painful burden of failure. But we were loved, so terribly and wonderfully<BR/>loved.Mary DeMuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06102710597183711588noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20172314.post-46731459965019519082008-12-24T09:36:00.000-05:002008-12-24T09:36:00.000-05:00That's so true. God gives without obligation--but by recieving the gift we are changed.Lawrence W. Wilsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13114580620145534592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20172314.post-55160578794841956942008-12-23T23:38:00.000-05:002008-12-23T23:38:00.000-05:00"Here's the challenge for Christmas Eve. How do I communicate the fact that God's gift is compeletly free to people (I'm including myself) who are used to dealing with obligations?"<BR/><BR/><BR/>gift (gft)<BR/>n.<BR/>1. Something that is bestowed voluntarily and without compensation.<BR/><BR/>A true gift given requires nothing but once giving makes you feel like giving something back.Rick Dowdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05626097608123540007noreply@blogger.com