Do you have your Christmas shopping done? What gifts are you hoping to unwrap on Christmas morning? Too often focusing on exchanging gifts distracts us from celebrating the birth of Christ. But giving and receiving gifts is actually an important part of our faith. God has given each of us spiritual gifts and has called us to pass on these gifts to others. This week LinC reminds us of the Spirit of the season by looking at spiritual-gift giving. Key Scriptures: Isaiah 11:1-3; Luke 2:8-20; Romans 12:3-8. In the upcoming movie I Am Legend, Will Smith plays scientist Robert Neville, who ends up being the last person on earth, aside from some hostile mutants. Amid loneliness and isolation, Neville must learn how to reverse the effects of the virus that has infected his mutant adversaries. The holiday season is a time when many people, like Robert Neville, confront loneliness and isolation and grief. But the season also reminds us that Christ is Emmanuel, meaning “God with us,” and that we are never alone. Next week we’ll look at how to experience God’s presence during Advent, Christmas, and throughout the year.
