Beyond Equipment and Supplies

Recently on a very full morning at Tim's Gift, we found ourselves with 3 separate families coming in within minutes of each other. Two were in need of supplies and equipment, while another donated many supplies due to the passing of her mother.

We were able to give the supplies requested, and also were so grateful for the supplies donated. God always has a plan for the equipment and supplies that are donated, as well as those given out to people in the community. Bless God!

So, here we were, 5 women, joining hands in a prayer circle: lifting up God, giving praise, sharing stories and hardships. We encouraged one another and asked God for courage to keep us going. Tears of joy, tears of sorrow were shed. We came to the circle with different backgrounds and life stories. After our prayer, we were strengthened in love from one another and from our Lord Jesus Christ!

Tim's Gift was founded on helping people with needed supplies and equipment. Giving help and hope are also part of our mission. We build relationships with people who walk through Tim's Gift. After material and physical needs can be met, we go beyond with prayer and supplication. with confession of sin within our hearts, and with thanksgiving and praise!

The wondrous and amazing works of God are endless!

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful." Colossians 4:2 NIV

Do you believe the happiest people are those who help others, make a difference, and give? Biblical principles support helping, giving, and making a difference! From, ‘It is better to give than to receive to the example when the widow got God’s attention by giving her two mites, give what you’ve decided in your heart - not reluctantly, for God loves a cheerful giver, a gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the Great, …whoever refreshes others will be refreshed, give - and it will be given unto you, and you will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, gives reason for God’s children to give and help our fellow brothers and sisters with an attitude of gratitude pleasing to our heavenly Father. Some personal comments posted concerning the title for this story include (names withheld): “Give and spend and God will send; Luke 6:30 Hmmmm, can we really do this guys?; The power of giving is deep within your heart. Do your part and leave the rest to GOD the PROVIDER; If you give willingly from your heart, you will receive more than you desire; I love to give what I have because I know the Lord will bless me with more than I gave out. Mama says, ‘You can’t beat God giving no matter how hard you try.” Besides giving tithes to your church and offerings where you feel led, giving support to local, national, and global charities can make a positive difference in our world. Several annual events that emphasize helping others provide opportunities to ‘go and tell’ the good news by doing things that emulate Jesus’ example. Each year any official nonprofits all over the world celebrate a global day of giving on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. A red heart with giving hands symbolize Giving Tuesday. People make donations on line or personally visit participating nonprofits to give support and financial assistance. Many nonprofits in Clinton and Sampson County have joined this global day of giving. Tim’s Gift Inc. opens their doors from 7am until 7pm on Giving Tuesday, welcomes friends and neighbors with snacks and hot cider, and have humbly received notes and donations that bless beyond measure. December 3rd is 2020 Giving Tuesday. Nationally, Make a Difference Day began in the United States in 1992 with hope to stir up support for community service and volunteerism from sea to shining sea. It is celebrated on the fourth Saturday of October with millions of Americans volunteering and doing projects for their community, for individuals in need, and for charitable organizations. Groups of people get together to plan community events that are shared in USA Weekend, where the idea for this day originated. This national day of giving back by doing local projects, supporting non-profit charities, and giving to those in need is truly making a difference as people practice the principles in the verses above and give generously. In 2011, Americans gave $298 billion along with billions of hours volunteered to help schools, churches, soup kitchens, Locally, there are numerous events throughout the year when churches, schools, business and civic organizations, and non- profit ministries encourage people to support by giving of their time, prayers, and resources. Organizing a calendar with these community events showcased would be a wonderful resource for people in our county and city to refer to and plan accordingly throughout the year. This week’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. event was a wonderful example of unity within our community with people giving of their time, energy, and resources to make it happen. People gathered to remember and honor Dr. King’s dream and willingness to give selflessly so that all children would be treated equally.
In February, Tim’s Gift will host the ninth annual Rise Up Christian Celebration. This is a day when people gather to participate in local mission opportunities, enjoy a good meal, music, and message of hope. This year’s theme is Rise Up - Refuel. Hopefully, people are already planning to attend. For details call 592-1126, follow us on FB, and go to our website. It takes many prayer warriors, sponsors, and volunteers giving of their time, energy, and resources to make a community event like this successful. We are grateful for your support. So, are the happiest people those who help others? For me, that answer is a resounding ‘yes’! Giving help and hope to people in need while witnessing to, praying with, and being blessed by each person who enters the door is the most fulfilling job (with no salary and long hours) I have ever done. I told someone the other day, “Two times in the past few months, I’ve pulled in the parking lot at Tim’s Gift and realized it was Sunday morning”! Helping others and working with four (two volunteers) sisters in Christ energizes and excites me beyond imagination. My joy comes when people’s smiles, tears, and notes of appreciation remind me we are happier when we are giving and sharing the good news of Jesus and His love. Oh, that we, in America, and God’s children all over His creation would discover that the surest way to happiness is to be part of something bigger than ourselves. To reach out and touch another person with compassion and respect is a moment of humility that releases one’s spirit to soar. If you are willing to experience the gift of humility but don’t know what to do…check out the events mentioned in this story, get involved in your church outreach activities - like Operation In As Much- , and seek local charities to support through prayer, time, and resources given generously from a humble heart that says…’I care and am willing to share’! Yes, the happiest people in the whole wide world are those who help others, make a difference, and GIVE!

Read His Word; Watch What He Unveils In Your Life!

There are more than 100 translations of the Holy Bible for us to read in our current world today. The initial authorized version is the King James (KJV). It was originally published in 1611 at the request of King James I of England.
The myriad of translations may be overwhelming to determine what writing works for you, however, if you haven't figured out one yet, go online and check out Bible websites to read translations available. The versions run from close to 'original manuscript' writing/words to versions such as 'The Message' written by Eugene Patterson, a version using contemporary English.

Reading God's word, whether it is in the Old Testament or the New Testament, will bring a greater meaning to your life! If you have not committed yourself to reading the Bible on a consistent basis, now is the time to make this decision!

With the beginning of a new year, and decade, making the decision to devote personal time to reading His word will greatly help set the direction in your life!. Your past can be forgiven, you can press forward in faith and hope knowing you are seeking his word daily. Your relationship with God will grow. The wisdom and knowledge you will gain through reading will flow into your life. Your perspectives will change on your life situations. Through his word, God can unveil his perfect plan and purpose in your season of life in this new year.

This scripture, introduced at the top of this week's email is very fitting for each of us!

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV

http://bibleresources.americanbible.org/resource/a-brief-description-of-popular-bible-translations

How many times do you say ‘thank you’ during one day? Have you sent any ‘thank you’ notes to people who gave you Christmas presents? Do you assume that others know you are thankful for acts of kindness or gifts they have given? We should say and show ‘Thank You’ as often as possible. Those two little words make a big impact when shared from a thankful heart. Thanking people is no small thing. Those two words plant in our minds the fact that we have been given to; they also create character and a more positive view of the world. When we say ‘thank you’ it makes people realize their efforts (whatever they were) were appreciated. Saying ‘thank you’ also encourages more of the same behavior in the future. We may think it doesn’t matter if we are thanked, but a hearty ‘thank you’ makes us want to do the act of kindness again. Are you thinking of people who have thanked you today? How many people have you thanked since you woke up this morning? Ironically, the people closest to us - who do the most for us - can easily be taken for granted and seldom hear their loved one say or show ‘thank you’ ’! Gratitude connects us spiritually also. Thanking God for all He does and gives tenderizes hearts and gets the attention of our Creator. King David understood the power of thanking and praising the Lord and cried out to Him whether hiding in caves or leading men into battle. Can’t you just hear David, the young shepherd boy, thanking God when Goliath’s battle cry only made him more determined to kill the giant that mocked God? The last Psalm King David wrote implores people to praise the Lord with everything. David’s earnest repentance and thankfulness got God’s attention as He called David ‘a man after God’s own heart’!
How many times a day do we thank God for gifts great and small that make a difference in our lives? Being in constant thanksgiving to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is a way of life pleasing to God. How, when, where, how often we thank, praise, and commune with Christ is personal. God sees in our hearts and recognizes sincere or shallow praise and appreciation for being a good, good, Father. He longs for a personal relationship bathed in prayer and praise with all His children. Thanking our heavenly Father for sending His Son and accepting Jesus into our hearts is precious in His sight and pays off when our work here is done and He says, ‘well done my good and faithful servant’…welcome Home! Recently, a lady entered the door at Tim’s Gift early on a Monday morning with a limp in her walk and song of praise that told us Jesus was her Best Friend. Jennifer, Diane, and I had gathered at Jennifer’s desk for our morning prayer, so we invited our sister in Christ to join us. Holding hands and testifying of His love in our lives, I nodded for Priscilla to pray. She began praying, “Thank You God for what you have done, for what you are doing, and for what you will do. Oh, thank You Jesus. Thank You dear Father, Thank You Lord, Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.” Priscilla’s prayer was filled with passion and power as she repeated over and over again and again simple and sincere words that ushered in His sweet Holy Spirit …”Thank You Lord, Thank You Father, Thank You Jesus, Thank You God, Thank You”
Our morning prayer was long and lovely…Paul would have loved it! I know we did, for the power of hearing Priscilla fervently and faithfully pray those two words “Thank You” over and over was like one of King David’s psalms of thanksgiving, a prayer like I had never heard, only two words poured out lovingly (like the oil the woman at Bethany poured out on Jesus’ head) to Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in humble gratitude. I have thanked God for Priscilla and her prayer often since that Monday morning when hearing ‘Thank You God’ hundreds of time brought heaven down and glory filled our hearts. Recently, I was reading a book about Gratitude and was moved by a quote by Meister Eckhart. His words are fitting to end this story on thanking Father, family, and friends. My prayer is that you have been blessed and felt a stirring in your heart to give thanks and gratitude over and over to people who color your world with love. “IF the only prayers you say in your whole life are ‘thank you,’ they would suffice.” Thank you for reading the stories He sends and sharing His love… for time is nigh!

Do you love the Lord and each other as you did at first, when you fell in love and felt sweet stirrings that sent you to the moon and back at the very thought of Him …and them? Has your love for the Lord and loved ones become stronger or stagnant through the years? If LOVE has waned in your heart for Father and family, this story could be the spark getting fires of passion burning and bringing us back to our First Love.
Lyrics to an old song share what is needed in hearts of children all over God’s creation. “What the world needs now is love sweet love, that’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”
Think on these words while recounting love in your life. “Take a good look around and if you’re looking down, put a little love in your heart. “ This oldie goldie showcases pain when love loses its flavor and becomes stale… ‘You don’t love me, like I love you… if you did you wouldn’t break my heart’! These words from Revelation 2 have the same message for all God’s children who are working hard, enduring patiently, bearing up for the Lord’s name sake, not growing weary, but are abandoning the love you had at first for Him!” NIV version says, “Yet I hold this against you, you have forsaken the love you had at first.” New Living Translation states, “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first.” Contemporary English Version shares, “ …but I do have something against you! And it is this. You don’t have as much love as you used to.” King James Bible says, “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love” Each translation means the same thing. God is sad when we put other things before Him and let our loving relationship of respect, honor, passion, time, and love for Him grow cold. Could this be happening in your heart? Are you growing closer or farther away from the Lord and loved ones? When my first husband, Tim, passed away, (after a long battle with cancer) God convicted my heart to encourage people to love and cherish Him and loved ones while we still have time together. When my second husband, James, passed away suddenly with no time to say ‘I love you’, the urgency to share this message swelled inside my twice broken heart. My peace comes from the close relationship and first love joy Tim and I and James and I had for God, the passionate love Tim and I shared for thirty plus years and James and I shared for two years kept us ‘in love’ and loving it until death parted us, and knowing we will be together in heaven for eternity keeps me singing His songs and sharing His stories. My everlasting love for Him and them keeps my passion alive while encouraging people to passionately love and cherish the Lord and loved ones…before it’s too late! This’ tip toe around with kid gloves’ topic sends up or shuts down walls, tenders or hardens hearts, hinders or helps hurtful situations, instills desire to distance or joy to come closer in loving relationship with the Lord and loved ones! Reading a small book with a big message titled ‘First Love”, given to me by Brenda and Dave Nordin when Tim and I celebrated our twenty fifth wedding anniversary, and realizing Revelation 2:4 could be God’s message for most churches today…stirred this story.
Throughout this first month of a new year, we can be pounded by old habits we’re trying to stop, pressured with overextended schedules we’re longing to simplify, put in tough places by demanding people and situations we pray will change, and plowing through short, cold days with long ‘to do’ lists - burdened hearts - and broken relationships with the One who made us and the ones who love and cherish us…with little energy, effort, or time to rekindle fires of passion and restore close relationships with Father God and family! So, what can we do? We can pray fervently, remember our first love, put passion and purpose on our plates before filling them up with things of the world that consume and take first place in our lives. May daily planners, walls on calendars, and journals be filled with first love testimonies as we live out loud in love and look to the Lord to direct our paths this year! We can change up game plans to make lasting memories from moments that could be lost in piles of work and places of wrong atmosphere. Keeping first love passionate and precious means keeping connected with our first love and trusting Him for everything else to fall into place.
As we prune our plates, put all things in perspective, and plan wisely by starting and ending our days giving attention to the Lord and loved ones, passion will kindle fires of love that can start revivals and restore relationships all over God’s creation. With 2019 still fresh in our minds, what do you remember most that meant the most to you? When we look back on any year, the moments we have really lived are the moments we have done things in the spirit of LOVE! May this story be the spark that sets your love on fire and showcases your first love in all that you are and do! Come closer to Christ, connect, commit, and chase away anything that could cause your love to grow cold. Live out loud enjoying every day, restore your first love, cherish the Lord and loved ones with pure, passionate, precious love sweet love, and reap blessings a plenty in the year of the Lord - 2020!

Your Opportunity!

On a chilly day during the winter season, a plethora of birds had gathered on the telephone pole lines in the back of Tim's Gift. Is this a community? Do they all travel together? Is there just one leader? Are there any in the flock that are rebels? Do any have their own agenda, want their own way? Are there compassionate birds that help another bird in mid-air or where ever they may land? Are there specific foragers for the flock? Are there any new families in the flock? How long will they stay? As they 'rested' on the wires, God only knows when and where their next flight will take them.

Are you in this picture? Are you on the wire resting? Are you the leader? Are you helping others? Are you using your gifts and talents to help the flock? Where and when are you taking your next step in your life journey? Are you even in this picture, or on your own and can't find your way?

This may be a 'far reaching' example of an analogy! However, the questions posed are aimed at the human heart and mind. We have a new month, a new year and decade to make daily decisions! What are your desires? What are the opportunities God has lined up for you this year according to His perfect plan for you? Place your dreams and desires at the altar. They will be woven into your future, if indeed they are from God for your life.

"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Mark 11:24-25 NIV

Do not let the enemy keep you down with doubt, worry, fear, and anxiety. Give each waking day a shout of praise and of thanks to our mighty Father who woke you up. Jesus has given us the victory over Satan. Come, let us adore Him, each and every day!

"Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" Luke 12:22-26 NIV

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What are you hoping to see happen in 2020? Will you regard each day as something you own or as a gift that comes from God? What are the two most important things you can do this year? With New Year celebrations ongoing, recounting 2019 memories, anticipating days of our lives in 2020, and making resolutions to improve who we are and what we do mulls around in most minds of God’s children. It sure does in mine as I begin a new season of my life as a country girl …again! Growing up on a farm in a Christian, close knit community (Rebel City) provided lessons of life in living color! Hard work and happy days pumping gas, stocking shelves, going to church, singing His songs, being a cheerleader, barning tobacco, picking produce, making time for milestone celebrations, and pulling together as a close knit family to get it all done makes my heart smile and swell with joy in remembrance of those eighty seasons of my life! The next 460 seasons have been filled with chapters of loving and cherishing two husbands, two sons, two daughters in law, two step daughters and sons in law, seven grandchildren, three siblings, three churches, four homes, two businesses, career in classroom and daycare teaching His children, surviving cancer, ministry giving help and hope to people in my hometown, learning to live happily here with my two husbands, parents, grandparents, sister, father in law, brother in law, and a whole host of extended family and faithful friends in heaven, and enjoying the love story I have humbly and happily been blessed by God to write (live) out loud in love! With the dawning of a new year, my story will have a different setting, same characters, and new chapters filled with what the Lord can do when we step in faith to His plans for our lives. A few words from one of my favorite Christmas carols…’exceedingly great joy’ best describes the song in my heart as my son’s family and I begin a new season living in a farmhouse built by faith, hard work, happiness, and a heap of prayers by The Norris family. With grateful hearts and moving miracles, five families have experienced God’s sweet countenance complete with address changes and new chapters waiting to be written. With anticipation and appreciation, I celebrate my 66th New Year in awe of God’s goodness. How great is our God who hears and answers His children’s prayers in ways higher and plans bigger than we could being to imagine! On the third day of 2020, may we the people God created and cares for begin our New Year with a resolution to keep Him in the center of all our plans each of the four seasons we will celebrate this year! May we see each day as a GIFT that comes from HIM with extra effort given to begin and end each day with reserved time for prayer and praise (sweet communion) with God - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! He promises to hear, to heal, to help and never fail His children. He longs to have a close relationship with each of His sheep. He is waiting to enter our hearts and commune daily - being a Favorite listed FIRST in each of our hearts (as we list favorites on our phones who we call often and spend hours talking and listening to) and sticking by us through seasons of sunshine and sorrow. Relationships grow greater and gooder (grammatically incorrect but powerful portrayal of what happens when we honor God, live by Jesus’ example, listen, look forward to communing with, and love the Holy Spirit living inside our hearts and giving guidance each day of the year! Yes, God still speaks to HIs children and works miracles in our lives. “Human one, listen closely, and take to heart every word I say to you.” Ezekiel 3:10 The perfect closing for this New Year’s story shares how we love to plan ahead for upcoming seasons and pencil in important dates in 2020 planners. One of my favorite Christmas gifts is a Guidepost Daily Planner. Thumbing through last year’s journal and planner before placing them on a shelf in my library, I pause to remember red letter days with my handwriting giving details. The desire to replay precious days or to have done things differently on painful days can overwhelm if we dwell on the past. Instead, we must close chapters of past years while embracing the gift of a New Year. The real questions confronting us is not how we spent days of our lives last year? But how will we spend days of our lives this year! How will we use the most precious of God’s gifts - life and time? We can make long lists of things we hope to accomplish and commit ourselves to New Year resolutions, but we really need to do these two things in 2020: love God with all that we are, and love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves.
Lord, please hear our prayers as we humbly bow before you with grateful hearts for a New Year and opportunities to write chapters filled with faith, hope, and LOVE! Keep us from seeing each day as something we own but rather as a GIFT that comes from YOU!
Happy Writing (living) through each season of 2020! May God bless and be with you (in your hearts) and seen in your stories as we welcome a New Year with exceedingly great joy while remembering LOVE is what really matters!

Peace- fruit of the spirit

Peace, as one of the fruits of the Spirit is so beautiful to experience. The Holy Spirit within us pours into us God's peace. Pure peace can only come through him. Our hearts and minds need to be free from sin, from distractions of the world and our relationships in a good place. There is a calmness that comes with peace.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:3 NIV

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." 2 Peter 1:2 NIV

We can take on a peacemaker role, helping others. "Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:18 NIV

Enjoy when peace enters you! Give thanks for this fruit! "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15 NIV

When we experience peace, the enemy has to get behind us. There is no room for deceit. Our hearts and minds are protected by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 NIV

By God's Grace...

Have you been blessed by acts of kindness during the Christmas season? Joy, love, and peace fill hearts, kindness abounds, and Christ centered living becomes contagious when people kindly treat people the way they want to be treated. Tim’s Gift Community Kindness Challenge has spread like wildfire with people sharing good deeds done for them and by them. Do you have an act of kindness story to share? The good news of Jesus’ birth was shared, along with acts of kindness by Wise Men, shepherds, even the owner of the inn. Jesus told the woman at the well to ‘go and tell the good news’! Be encouraged to do acts of kindness per Jesus’ example and by God’s grace… embrace opportunities to tell the good news God's gits of love, joy, peace and blessings beyond measure will come into your hearts and homes in ways you never imagined. Christmas gatherings with family and friends will provide unlimited opportunities to give generously from the heart many acts of kindness. Let His light shine through you... then, your Christmas will not be blue! How exciting to celebrate the real reason for the season, live by Jesus’ example, and get God’s attention when our acts of kindness are done in loving humility and honor for Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! So, what stories of kindness are stirring in hearts of precious people reading by God’s Grace? We, at Tim's Gift, may never know but our good, good Father does. One special act of kindness story I will share next month in By God’s Grace happened at Lowes in Clinton on a cold December night when a young man named Grant gave a helping hand, heaven came down, and glory filled my heart! By God’s Grace…may you and your families have a very Merry Christmas and prayerfully welcome a New Year with resolutions to become closer to the Lord, loved ones, and live out loud in love doing acts of kindness along your merry way…each and every day! In His Love, Becky

The KINDNESS Challenge

By God’s Grace and effort on our part, KINDNESS can penetrate and spread across the planet He put in place! The Home He created for us where hatred and horrific happenings are commonplace, passionate/purposeful living for Christ is complacent, and desire for God as our first love is waning! For such a time as this…” we, at Tim’s Gift, believe the home where we love to live (Clinton/Sampson) can benefit if we embrace KINDNESS boldly by (praying, fasting, being doers of God’s Word and living by Jesus’ example) making our little corner of the world a place where God’s blessings flow and goodness grows! Will you commit to the KINDNESS CHALLENGE with us for the next six weeks and see what God can do in our community - from today - Nov. 15th until Dec. 27th - two days after celebrating the birthday of Jesus Christ who embodied kindness? Share this message in your homes, churches, workplace, everywhere you go! I encourage you to embrace KINDNESS and watch it spread like kudzo! In the season of giving, let’s celebrate how sharing gifts of KINDNESS can bring the true spirit of Christmas to our city and county in ways beyond belief! We need GOD back in our lives, being filled with the Spirit…not the world! Have we drifted from God with dangerous living habits (being mean, grumpy, selfish, unforgiving, hateful) filling our hearts while stealing our JOY and PEACE? We must remove the things of the flesh to pour out the things of the Spirit! God promises to hear our cries when we humble ourselves and call out to Him! This challenge could be the spark that gets a national fire going fueled by values our founding fathers embraced with passion… “…the republic for which it stands one nation under God…”! Let us come together as brothers and sisters committed to Christian living: getting God’s attention by spreading kindness throughout our community and being showered with gifts of the Spirit that showcase the beauty and blessings of Christian living and loving out loud for all the world to see how great is our GOD! A professor at the University of California, assigned his students to do five random acts of kindness per week for six weeks. At the end of the study, students’ levels of happiness increased by forty two percent! So, the proof is in the pudding so to speak, actually in His Word…(Ephesians 4:31 “…be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving just as God forgave you in Christ”; Colossians 3:12 ‘…put on a heart of compassion and kindness…’ and several other scriptures share the same message…BE YE KIND TO ONE ANOTHER! So, dear friends, are you ready to take the KINDNESS CHALLENGE and do five acts of kindness per week for the next six weeks? Wow! What a difference we can make in the place we call home if every person commits to Christ like living by putting love in our hearts and purposefully spreading KINDNESS from one end of Sampson (largest NC county) to the other! The KINDNESS CHALLENGE begins now! Get started today! Someone just knocked at Tim’s Gift door with me trying to finish BY GOD’S GRACE by deadline! Interruptions can bring out the beast in us when our plates are packed and time is short! Peeking outside my window, I considered pretending I didn’t hear the pounding on the locked door since we are closed on Fridays. Then, I reread the last paragraph about purposefully spreading kindness and opened the door with a smile instead of the frown I told to get behind me! I did my first act of KINDNESS for this holiday challenge by embracing the interruption with kindness and anticipation of blessing and being blessed as Jesus taught. Oh, the joy of that interruption and warm hug from a friend that fueled my heart to extend this challenge for all of us to do at least five acts of kindness for six weeks! Then, kindness can become contagious, blowing divine winds and spreading the Fruit of the Spirit from sea to shining sea…and beyond! In the most wonderful time of the year when our city and county come alive with the spirit of Christmas, let us take kindness to a higher level. It is easy to be kind to someone who likes us, but how about to people who hate, slander, or treat us unkindly? Jesus was kind to people who did these things to Him and asked His Father to forgive them! When we show undeserved kindness to others we are imitating our Savior! Loving our enemies can set us apart from the ways of the world and strengthen closer relationships with the Lord and loved ones. What a wonderful gift to give this Christmas : KINDNESS!
Commit to the KINDNESS CHALLENGE ( doing five acts of kindness each week from now until December 27th) and see what Christ can do to bless others and you! By God’s Grace…we can give generously, love devotedly, and make kindness a way of living in our neck of the woods while teaching the world to sing in kind, perfect harmony…how great is our God!
Let’s Just Do It…Give gifts of Kindness this Christmas!

The Holy Spirit Gives Us the NINE Fruits!

Over the last nine weeks, we have shared insight on the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit. Our prayer is that you have read each of the articles and prayed over your life and asked the Holy Spirit within you to give you these gifts under his guidance.

"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Colossians 3:12-14 NIV

When you are tempted by the enemy to release your emotions without calling out to the Holy Spirit for help, please pause your flesh! The enemy will back off when you call on the name of the Lord! AMEN!
"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us." Romans 5:5 NIV

Patience - A Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Patience..Are you patient with your own self? Are you patient with others? Frustration, lack of communication, and self imposed expectations are several root causes for us to lose patience with ourselves and with others.

Here is good news: God is always patient with us!! It doesn't matter what we have done in our actions or words, his unconditional love prevails. He is patient with us as we work through some of the 'not so good' decisions we have made and go to him with our hearts open seeking forgiveness.

Have you heard the expression, 'the patience of Job'? This phrase is taken from the Old Testament book of Job where God allowed Satan to surround Job and impact his life with great suffering. Through death of his family, home and all his assets destroyed and his own body covered with sores, Job still praised God.

The 'patience of Job' expression has its origin in this verse in the book of James, “Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” James 5:10-11
https://www.gotquestions.org/patience-of-Job.html

Patience is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit. As we grow in our faith with God, our fruit of patience seems to come quicker to our hearts and minds as the Holy Spirit within us releases this fresh fruit and brings forth tolerance, acceptance, and restraint. Bless God!

Self Control - Fruit of the Holy Spirit

Are you ready to talk about self control? It may depend on how you are doing with your emotions in relationships and situations you are currently involved in. Emotions need to be controlled regardless of what emotion is being emitted from your brain. Anger and frustration may be on our list of top emotions we need to have control over. But the emotions that come with over indulging in anything in our lives also need to have self control. i.e. eating, drinking, shopping,

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," James 1:19 NIV

When we are tempted, our self control can take a back seat to what we are being tempted with. Do you binge eat or drink? Do you self medicate? Are you in debt because you continually shop or gamble? Are you a hoarder?

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV

Let us pray to God for the Holy Spirit within us to give us the fruit of self control when we need to guard our tongue, thoughts and actions.

Gentleness - Such a Strong Fruit of the Holy Spirit!

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5 NIV

The Holy Spirit living inside of you knows when to help you with the fruit of gentleness in any given situation. When Jesus walked this earth, his gentleness was evident through all the teachings in the Bible. Gentleness is of God.

Have you experienced this fruit of the Spirit lately? Have you witnessed it through someone else's actions or words? A hand on your shoulder as you share with your friend a tough situation you are in, speaks gentleness. A parent hugging their child after a tough loss of a game, or relationship trouble is gentleness. Gentleness can also flow through your non-verbal actions. The tenderness of your eyes as you listen, really listen to the person you are having a conversation with. Your arm around a shoulder, your strong hands and arms to pick someone up.

As we mature our faith and relationship with God, as we grow closer to the Holy Spirit living within us, we can call out for his guidance to know when gentleness is needed to help someone know you care.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." 1 Peter 3:15 NIV

Faithfulness - A Beloved Fruit Given to us by the Holy Spirit

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1 NIV

Are you that woman or man of faith that everyone has witnessed? Despite what any day might bring into your life, you walk in faith, seeking God for him to speak to you, direct you, save you?

At Tim's Gift we witness hope and hopelessness. The people who are walking in faith, but are still in great need of miracles, help for every day life issues walk in with great hope! We witness faith walkers daily! Their faith, hope and assurance that God is in complete control increases our own faith!

There are people who come in with hopelessness and need help. We stand with them and share hope, faith and prayer. If we can assist with any products or equipment, we give in love. Our prayer is that their hopelessness turns to hope and their faithfulness increases.

Goodness - A Nourishing Fruit of the Spirit

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light . (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,righteousness and truth)" Ephesians 5:8-9 NIV

We know from reading God's word in the Bible - old and new testament readings, that there was good and bad in the world. Both still exist today. As the Holy Spirit enters into our lives when we proclaim Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, the good begins to push out the bad!

The meaning of GOODNESS is much like GODLINESS! Godliness is “being LIKE God” and Goodness is “being GOOD like God”

https://www.biblebc.com/Studies/Fruit_of_Spirit/goodness.htm

"Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever." Psalm 23:6 NIV

Goodness is a nourishment to our own soul! And, if you share goodness with others, it nourishes their soul too! Goodness begins to multiply across peoples' minds and hearts. It can propel into a movement! Goodness is poured into us as a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We receive God's goodness daily. When he wakes us up each day, when he gives to us his favor and blessings, and his almighty protection are daily outpouring of goodness into our lives! Bless God!

Kindness - A Sweet Fruit of the Holy Spirit!

She had such kind eyes. I could see beyond and witness how genuine her kindness to us was. Did she know I was a single mom who just had a rotten day? My daughter wanted and needed my attention, but I just couldn't give her my best until I got my emotions under control. She held out her arms, my daughter grabbed for her. She soothed her to a calmness. Her kind eyes and warm smile calmed and soothed me. I just met Jesus through this kind lady!

He wouldn't take 'no' for answer. He looked straight at me with his weathered skin, smiling and crinkly, kind eyes. Who was I kidding? I needed his help so badly. He put the empty trash can upright and began picking up all the trash that was strewn all over the ground. My tears were flowing. I wasn't focused when I tripped over the step. I didn't hurt myself physically. Just embarrassed that a stranger is picking up all my garbage. I bent down to help, his hand covered mine. I looked up at his kind eyes, his rough calloused hand on mine. I just met Jesus and held his hand!

Kindness is such a sweet gift that we can receive and live out daily. It doesn't cost money. Your smile, your genuineness to think and act beyond yourself to help another person. To be an encourager, to have a listening ear. People will react to your kindness! Your hands and feet will remind them that kindness is out there. They will have met Jesus through you!

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’" Matthew 25:40

JOY - A Fruit of the Holy Spirit

This week we look at this uplifting and very much needed fruit of the Spirit!

You know what joy feels like! Remember? Your heart is full of zest! You feel lighter, the weight of issues, stress, life has been lifted off of you! The Holy Spirit living inside of you has blessed you with this unspeakable joy!

The enemy would love to steal your joy each day. He wants to keep you weighted down with his artillery of doubt, fear, despair, deceit and lie after lie. But Jesus has already defeated Satan! And with God our Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, our joy can be restored each day!

Here are several definitions of what real joy is all about:

1. Great delight; gladness of heart

2. The happy state that results from knowing and serving God

3. That deep, abiding, inner rejoicing in the Lord

4. To rejoice, to be glad

5. Happy, joyful, cheerful, rejoicing, festive

source: https://www.bible-knowledge.com/joy/

What does JOY mean in your life?

Here are some Bible verses to read and reflect upon:

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy," 1 Peter 1:8 NIV

"Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people." Philemon 1:7 NIV

"Indeed, you are our glory and joy." 1 Thessalonians 2:20 NIV

"......do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10 NIV

When you feel the stirring of the Holy Spirit cleansing your heart and mind of all the churning of daily life troubles, issues and emotions...STOP!  Exhale and deeply breathe in JOY!  He is blessing you with this glorious and inexpressible fruit! 

ruit of the Spirit - PEACE

Peace, as one of the fruits of the Spirit is so beautiful to experience. The Holy Spirit within us pours into us God's peace. Pure peace can only come through him. Our hearts and minds need to be free from sin, from distractions of the world and our relationships in a good place. There is a calmness that comes with peace.

"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:3 NIV

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." 2 Peter 1:2 NIV

We can take on a peacemaker role, helping others.
"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." James 3:18 NIV

Enjoy when peace enters you! Give thanks for this fruit! "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Colossians 3:15 NIV

When we experience peace, the enemy has to get behind us. There is no room for deceit. Our hearts and minds are protected by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen!

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 NIV

The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: LOVE

We are looking at the fruit of LOVE this week as one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. There seven Greek words that are used to define love. Here are the four most prominent:
1. Agape: Unconditional love; the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestation.
2. Phileo: Love between friends
3. Eros: The sense of being in love; romantic love
4. Storge: Love of family
Source:(gods-word-first.org. Minister Daniel Sweet)

Love, as the fruit of the Spirit in our lives is the Agape kind! In John 13:34, Jesus commands us to love one another as he loves us. When Jesus died on the cross for each of us, he ultimately gave us the true Agape love.

When we genuinely act on this fruit given to us from the Holy Spirit, our hearts and minds are tender. There is only room in our hearts and minds to share love. Love pushes out any other thoughts and emotions. It is a generous, unconditional love for someone specific, or a group of people. We make a deliberate decision to love without anything in return. You hand over your last bit of money to someone in need. You carry groceries to the car for someone who is having difficulty with the task. You help someone walk across a busy street. You wrap the swollen legs of a woman who suffers from diabetes and cannot do herself. You forgive a debt owed to you. You mix and pour concrete to help a village family in central America have cement floor instead of sleeping on dirt. You pay for someone to enjoy a meal. You buy a fan for an elderly person who stays at home. You listen to your neighbor who has no one else to talk with concerning life issues.

At Tim's Gift, we witness Agape love weekly! The Holy Spirit meets us here daily with His fruit of love as people come in with pure, unconditional love to help someone in need and ask for nothing in return. When you witness this type of love, you yearn to receive this type fruit of the Holy Spirit to share with someone else!