This Christmas was summed up by God in these words: “God so loved the world that he gave”.

Christ’s Birth was God giving the hope of salvation to all who would hear and respond in faith to His Son.

In this season of Christmas that one element still rings throughout the world: giving.

Christmas is still closely tied to buying and giving gifts. So it is fitting for us to think about what we can possibly give to the One who loved us so much that He came and gave Himself for us.

How to Send Gifts to Our Father in Heaven

What gifts can we offer to God that He really wants? What are the treasures that we can purchase by our lives and send to Him that He will unwrap and smile with delight upon those gifts?

Everything we do, everything we say, everything we pray, and everything we give – rises as offerings to the Lord.

How do we offer gifts that rise to His Throne, and get poured out before Him? The best answer would be giving like the Christians living as the New Testament was written, were taught to give!

So as we sing, give, and worship — what is happening right now, at this very moment in Heaven?

Often we think of Heaven in the past (when Christ left for earth and the angels came) or in the future (when Jesus comes as King of Kings) but forget that at this very moment the epicenter of the Universe, the Throne Room of God is very active.

Towering over all our daily lives and the gifts we can send to God as believers: is the Throne of our God the King.

So what is going on right now?

God’s Throne is the Center of Attention in Heaven

Heaven is filled with immense activity, constant travel, endlessly changing scenes, and enough sights and sounds to captivate even the most active observer. There is no boredom possible in Heaven; but neither is there any doubt about Who is the center of all attention.

God tells us that our gifts sent to Him as worship prayers and choices, and deeds offered to Him, are so important: He keeps them stored right at His feet.

Those prayers are the first of these seven gifts that God treasures, that we can send ahead to God’s Throne. Tonight, as we go through God’s Christmas Gift List, ask yourself,

“Are these the gifts I am wanting to send to God tonight and as often as possible throughout the year?”

 

  1. Prayer: all of our prayers offered in Jesus Name Rise to be collected as treasures by God.

Revelation 5:8 (NKJV) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 8:3-4 Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar, which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand.

See them there, right in front of His Throne?

What do you have in that bowl of our collected prayers?

If God loves our prayers so much that He collects them all (like notes from my wife & kids) why don’t we send Him even more?

We each need to invest in giving to God our daily times of prayers.

If we just invite God into every choice, and decision, every unexpected challenge and defeat, every accomplishment and triumph, every fear and frustration: our life will be revolutionized as we say to the Lord, “I need YOU in every part of my life!”

 

  1. Adoration: our devotional love for God is more important to God than all the Old Testament sacrifices ever offered on altars; and that adoration is what He treasures from our lives.

Mark 12:33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

Have we offered our devotion up to Him irretrievably, completely, and lovingly—by giving Him time each day because we love Him; by giving Him our complete attention as we focus upon Him in His Word and in prayer?

 

  1. Surrender: our life offered in surrender each day for His glory becomes an act of worship that God treasures as a gift from us.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

Have we recently renewed that offering of all we are to Him?

Have we repeated those simple words of the child Samuel, that the Lord so delights to hear from us:

“Speak Lord, I am offering this day to You, as your servant. I am ready and listening for what You want me to do for You today!”

 

  1. Ministry: serving in the ministries of Christ’s Church is an offering of worship that God notes as a special gift from us that He treasures.

Philippians 2:17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

Are we pouring out our time to God?

Time flies by, and we cannot keep it.

But if we invest our time with Him, we will never lose it.

Each time you serve: look up in your heart from the classroom, nursery, choir room, youth or children’s ministry room, or where ever you offer that service, and say to the Lord:

“I am giving this time to you. I can’t keep it, I could selfishly squander it, but instead I give it to YOU as an act of devotion and worship!”

 

  1. Offerings: our gifts given to Christ’s Church are Worship offerings that God treasures.

Philippians 4:18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

What is the aroma ascending from our gifts invested in Christ’s Church today?

Make more of your offerings by praying over each check, hold it in your hand as you mail it or place it in the offering, and breathe out to God:

“I give this to YOU as an offering of love and gratitude!”

 

  1. Worship: our words of praise and songs of worship an become gifts we are offering to God, that He treasures.

Hebrews 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

When is the last time we stopped and launched a wave of praise filled worship toward His Throne? Is it only when other lead or has it become part of our daily plan?

Why not make regular plans to burst forth in your car, or on a walk, or when you are all alone: into a cry of love to the Lord.

We can plan to regularly pause throughout each day and say something like the words of that chorus we sing:

“I love YOU Lord, and I lift my voice as a gift of WORSHIP to You.”

 

  1. Good Works: finally, our secret acts of kindness and other good deeds in Christ’s Name are gifts we can give that get treasured by God.

Hebrews 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased

What acts of kindness have we premeditated and carried out this week?

Plan to do intentional sacrificial acts of kindness for others.

Do things unasked, unseen, and without expecting any thanks.

As you do that act of sacrificial investment in your work, home, or around your family or friends (like doing the trash, picking up after others, doing laundry, sweeping the house, mowing or shoveling, or whatever) lift your eyes above and say as a gift sent to God above:

“I am doing this in YOUR Name, Oh Lord, because I love YOU and I want to serve like You served!”

 

Let’s Send Gifts to Our Father in Heaven

These are the gifts can we offer to God that He really wants.

These are the treasures that we can purchase by our lives and send to Him that He will unwrap and smile with delight upon those gifts.

These are the gifts that rise to His Throne, and get poured out before Him.

These are the choices so important to God in our lives that He collects all that we offer Him.

Everything we do, everything we say, everything we pray, and everything we give – rises as offerings to the Lord.

God tells us that our lives of worship, offered to Him, are so important: He keeps them forever.

Which of these gifts, treasured by God are you planning to send as an offering of love to Him, so that He can store them in your bowl at the foot of His Throne?