Growing up we didn’t have much money, but my mom always tried to make the day special by making our favorite meal and dessert. She and my dad would always get us some little gifts that were special to us. I remember one year’s gift very well, much more than the others.

Back when I was a teenager, it was common to get posters of famous celebrities and put them all over your walls. I had them covering every area of my room. My mom hated it (I mean I don’t understand why, who wouldn’t want to walk into their kid’s room and see posters of people all over their walls??) At that time, you didn’t just go to the store and buy posters. No, you bought these awesome magazines with such titles as Teen Beat, Bop, and Tiger Beat to name just a few.

Most people didn’t have computers in their homes, and especially not internet access at the palm of their hands. We learned all we needed to know about our celebrity crushes in these magazines, and you got several posters in them as well! My mom thought they were a waste of money and hated the posters that adorned my walls.

So imagine my surprise that year when I opened my present and there were THREE of my favorite magazines with all the BEST posters!!! It was my favorite gift, at that time the best gift ever!

A lot of time has passed since that birthday, and I have received some pretty amazing gifts, but as a 45 (well, now 46) year old woman, that gift still stands out to me.

I will say that it doesn’t even come close to the absolute best gift I have ever received.

The best gift doesn’t fit in a package and can’t be bought in stores. It isn’t all nice looking with a bow on top. The best gift IS something I want you to experience-and the Giver of the Gift does even more than I do. The BEST gift I have received comes from God. His gift to us is untraditional. He gave his Son for us. Why? Because He didn’t want us to die from our sins. And because He SO loves us.

God wants a relationship with us and wants us to be with Him forever. However, sin separates us from God. We are human and continue to sin, no matter how hard we try. God had a solution–give His son for us–so we can live eternally with Him. So, Jesus left His place at the right hand of God, was born of a virgin here on earth, lived and taught many people about God, died on a cross a criminal’s death, and rose again three days later………..all for us.

Not for Him–He could have stayed where He was–but for us.

He gives His son Jesus for us as free gift. There is nothing you have to do but accept it-accept Him. When you accept Jesus your life will never be the same. It won’t make your life perfect. You will still have struggles. But He will be there with you. He will transform you in ways you can’t even imagine.

I will never forget the day I accepted Jesus and was baptized. I was 17 and can still remember coming up out of that water knowing that life would be drastically different. I was right on that front! I’m forever thankful for that. It is the BEST way to do life-with Him.

Now I want to ask you – Have you accepted that gift? The gift of Jesus? The saving grace He extends to you? If not, don’t wait any longer!! There is no better time than now! He offers this gift to everyone-no matter your background or your past!

Call your small group leader, a friend, one of our minsters, or me!! Any of us would love to talk to you about this gift and what it entails! I can promise you this-He is THE BEST GIFT ever, and it will be the BEST thing you ever do!!