Jason Son of Jerome

Here are some ideas to help us have a Christmas On Another Level this year... Donate blankets to a homeless shelter. Make cookies for all your neighbors and wish them a Merry Christmas. Buy gifts cards and gave them to people who needed them. Babysit for a family or single mom for free! Donate clothes, coats or boots to Lion’s for Kids Club. Decide to help a needy child through Compassion International ( www.compassion.com ) or World Vision ( www.worldvision.org ) Buy a couple pizzas and take them to a local hospital for those who were spending Christmas in ICU or ER. Donate toys to Toys for Tots. Donate can goods & food to local food banks. Go out and eat and buy someone’s meal. Tip a waiter/waitress 100% of the check. Put up Christmas lights for a neighbor or elderly. Visit the local nursing home. Donate money to a local animal shelter. Make cookies for the local fireman and police department. Buy someone’s Starbucks who is behind you in line! Write a thank you letter to you...

I believe most Christ followers want to be givers, not just consumers. Most want to be free from the love of money and to be seen as generous with their time, their abilities and their monies. Becoming this type of person takes time and intentionality, plus lots of obedience and some measure of faith. In my experience, I believe there are four phases of giving and generosity. 1. Tippers These are people who give the leftovers of their money. This level requires hardly any faith and is motivated primarily by guilt or duty. They are typically inconsistent, giving only when prompted by a pastor at a church, or by an appeal on TV. If they have money, they will give a portion, but the amount never stretches them out of their comfort zone and always makes “sense”. Almost 90% of people in most local churches are in this group. 2. Tithers These are people who set aside the first 10% of their income to give to the local church. This is a huge step up from the first level, because some faith now...