As Christians our tradition of gift giving at Christmas is all too often roused by the "in your face" marketing campaigns of retailers rather than inspired by the gracious generosity of our heavenly Father who has lavished on us His irrevocable gifts. The greatest gift of all being eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 11:29). "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

"If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11). "In all things", which includes the giving of gifts, we are to follow the example of our heavenly Father and our first-born Brother, so that God may be glorified in all that we do.

As you consider giving gifts to those you love this season, keep in mind the gift giving of the Father and the Son. They gave of themselves and they gave sacrificially (John 3:16). May this be a reminder that a true gift is given from the heart and is an expression of love. It is not an act done under obligation, duty or debt; a true gift is given freely with no strings attached. "Freely you have received, freely give" (Matthew 10:8).

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:14). An oft-overlooked gift is that of spending time with others. This Christmas season consider creative ways to spend quality time with your loved ones. If you don't have family traditions, consider discussing with your family some ideas you can carry on from year to year. Traditions are a lot of fun and they unify a family as well as give children a stronger sense of family identity.

When planning your holiday get togethers, do all you can to eliminate the things that cause unnecessary stress, which so often put a damper on holiday festivities. All the "have to's" and "should do's" can turn holiday fun into holiday frazzle in the twinkle of an eye. Keep in mind that you are free to celebrate Christmas as the Lord leads you and your family. To maintain an attitude of "good cheer" throughout the season, think about the Christmas activities ahead of time and prioritize and plan for the activities you will participate in as a family as well as individually. Talk with your family about what is really important to each of them and always bring the conversation back to the "Reason for the season" - Jesus Christ.

One of the greatest gifts God has given us is relationship with Him through His Son (John 15:15). Since September 11 the importance of relationships has been a poignant recognition for many. This Christmas make sure you spend time solidifying the special relationships God has given you by doing the simple things: enjoying a cup of tea with a friend, reminiscing with relatives, making hot chocolate for the kids (don't forget the marshmallows!), or curling up together and reading a Christmas story.

Remember, the gifts of God always meet our needs; they are always a perfect fit. Make prayer an integral part of your Christmas giving. Pray about how to truly bless those you want to give to. Ask the Lord to show you what gift would truly be a blessing to the one's you love. So often we give gifts that would really tickle our fancy, but do very little to tickle the fancy of the receiver. Use your time and resources wisely and pray about and for each and every person you want to give to.

Our Savior Servant came to this earth to serve His people (Mark 10:45). Don't forget the gift of service this year. There are many people who would greatly appreciate a much-needed service provided for them rather than a gift that will sit on the shelf and collect dust or hang in the closet and never be worn. Ask the Lord to direct your giving and to bless you with His joy as you give with a desire to bless others in Jesus' name.

Finally, the Lord's gift of salvation extends to people of all kinds and from all lots of life. Ask the Lord if there is someone whom you can bless this season who would not typically be on your giving list. Consider taking a meal to a neighbor who is shut in, visiting a nursing home resident who has no family or doing a service project for the mentally ill or the mentally retarded. Jesus does not forget the forgotten and neither should we.

As the Magi remembered the Christ child over 2000 years ago and traveled to Jerusalem to worship Him with gifts, resolve in your heart to worship Christ this Christmas season through every gift you give. Pray and ask the Lord how you might best express the love of Christ through the tradition of giving this Christmas season, whether it is to your own friends, neighbors, family members or others. Seek the Lord "and do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 4:11).