December 11, 2014
God - The Giver of Good Gifts
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17, NIV).
Friend to Friend
Our grandchildren are a source of great joy in my life and some of my most capable teachers. Not long ago, our five-year-old grandson, Justus, reminded me that God is the ultimate Gift-Giver.
Justus loves dirt. If he is not truly dirty – he is not truly happy.
One of his favorite toys to play with in his beloved dirt is what he calls a “digger.” Justus has quite a collection of plastic construction vehicles and knows the name of each one. But he prefers to call them diggers … so diggers it is.
Our daughter and son-in-law wisely gave Justus a section of their backyard where he can happily dig and play with his diggers. He spends hours transferring dirt from one part of his work site to another, creating mounds of dirt while building what he calls “massive” cities, and then tearing them down to begin all over again.
One day, our daughter was enjoying a beautiful, sunny afternoon with Justus and his younger brother, Hudson. Danna was reading and Hudson was contentedly snoozing while Justus happily played with – you guessed it - his diggers.
Justus suddenly stopped, sprung to his feet, and thrust both arms in the air as high as they could reach. With his smiling little face turned toward heaven, Justus shouted at the top of his lungs, “God, thank You for my dirt!”
I am fairly sure time stood still for a moment.
I am almost certain heaven paused as God smiled and replied, “You are so welcome, Justus.”
Satisfied, our grandson went back to his digger and dirt project.
And God spoke to my heart.
I tend to forget that God is the ultimate gift-giver. How often do I dismiss His gifts as something to which I am somehow entitled? How often do I take His gifts for granted?
I know better.
I just allow my busy schedule to crowd out the wonder of God at work in my life every single day.
God used our grandson to remind me that God fills every minute of every day with gifts from His hand. Why? Because God wants me to celebrate life – to live a life saturated with His joy.
In Biblical times – much like today – times of great joy were often accompanied by the giving of gifts.
Matthew 2:10-11 “When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him.Then they opened their treasures and presented him with giftsof gold, frankincense and myrrh.”
God gave the greatest gift of all – His love wrapped up in His Son, Jesus. God’s love changes everything and everyone it touches. It protects and breathes life and purpose into our souls. God’s love is a gift beyond measure. It surrounds us and covers us. God’s love is unconditional, a love with no strings attached, a gift that ushers joy into the mundane, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary.
Jesus came, spelling Himself out in a language you and I can understand – a message of love that exists to give.
There is no condemnation with Him. He adores you just as you are. He wants to spend time with you, laugh with you, dry your tears, and fill your heart with new dreams.
Today, no matter where you are or where you have been, He stands – patiently waiting for you.
Come to Him.
Accept Him.
No matter how ugly the sin may be or how great the failure in your life, He loves you.
Run to His love.
Receive His gift of life, and celebrate God, the Giver of every good and perfect gift!
Let’s Pray
Father, I am so sorry when I fail to remember that every good gift comes from Your hand. Please help me to have a fresh awareness and a thankful heart for the very life you freely give me each day. Thank You for the gift of eternal life You so freely offer. Help me see Your hand in the smallest details of my world, and teach me to celebrate life each and every day.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
Set aside one day as a day of celebration. Grab your journal and keep it with you all day. Count every blessing and every gift – big and small - that comes your way. Here are a few examples to get you started:
· A comfortable bed in which to sleep
· Food for the day
· Clothes to wear – even if they are worn and not the latest style
· A friend who called just to check on you
· The doctor’s report that the cyst was benign
· An unexpected check that covers your rent
You get the idea. At the end of the day, review your list and thank God for each item on it.
More from the Girlfriends
God’s love is beautifully illustrated in the lives of Hosea and Gomer. Check out Mary’s CD, Love That Never Fails, to discover the kind of love that does not collapse under pressure or fall apart when life is hard. And be sure to connect with Mary on Facebook or through email.
Seeking God?
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Girlfriends in God
P.O. Box 1311
Huntersville, NC 28070
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