Who doesn’t love a gift? I do! I also love to shop for, wrap, and give them! In my family, I am known for pretty present wrapping. It brings me much joy to use beautiful paper, folded and taped just so, and bright, cheerfully colored ribbon to make big fluffy bows. I would never dream of using a “peel and stick, fake ribbon bow” as part of my wrapping collection (GASP!). I mean, didn’t your Momma ever teach you that presentation is everything?? Well, mine didn’t either. The Food Network is where I think I heard that one, but surely it applies to wrapping gifts, right?
He Blesses with Gifts
All of this talk about the wrapping, but isn’t it really about the gift inside, or the one you are giving it to? I think so! This week we marvel at all the blessings (gifts) we receive when we say “yes” to Jesus. There are truly an infinite number of gifts He brings to our lives. I could most likely write about a different one every day of the year and would run out of days before I ran out of gifts to treasure. So, today, I will share some of my most treasured ones that come to mind.
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Eternity
In 1 John 5:13, the Apostle John states that the reason he tells us all of the things in his letter is so we would be assured of our eternal security. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. WOAH! Take a moment to just let that soak in… Not only do we get to spend eternity with Him, but also, we are assured of it now as we still live in this life. What a gracious and beautiful gift. As if this wasn’t enough, He continues to shower us with blessings. Let’s take a look at another one.
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The Holy Spirit
Ephesians 1:13b-14 states When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the
promised Holy Spirit, who was a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession… When we say “yes” to Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside of us. The Three-in-One God gives us the Third Person of the Trinity to actually come and live IN us! It amazes me that I sometimes allow myself to walk around in defeat when the power of God lives in me! This should be its own post one day. It is just too miraculous to justify only one paragraph.
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His Constant Presence
According to Deuteronomy 31: 6, we have nothing to fear because he will always be with us. Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you: he will never leave you nor forsake you. Never. This is a beautiful promise that brings comfort to a weary soul.
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God’s Righteousness as our Own
Oh, my goodness. This is almost too much to fathom. Check out this verse from Isaiah 61: I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…” (vs. 10a). When God looks at us, He sees His own righteousness reflecting back to Him, not our sin and faults! Wow! Take another moment and praise Him, right now. Again, one paragraph could never be enough to explore the wonder and beauty of this.
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Every Other Good Thing in Life
- Our children – Psalm 127:3
- The beauty and wonder of nature – Job 37:15-16
- He provides for our needs – Matthew 6:25-34
- He gives us the desires of our hearts – Psalm 37:4
A Simple Example of How He Gifts
Every Christmas, I pick one paper and one ribbon color in order to wrap all of our gifts the same. I love making beautiful bows and putting little holly pics or even ornaments to spice it up. One year I dreamed of wrapping all my Christmas in zebra print wrapping paper with big bows made from red organza ribbon. I could see it in my mind. I just couldn’t find it. Anywhere. I went to every place in town that I thought MIGHT have wrapping paper. No zebra print paper anywhere. None. Zilch. Nada.
One cold late November Friday, my students and I were bundling up to go outside for recess. For a moment, I stood at my classroom window and prayed, “Lord, I know this is a silly request. I also know that you care about every detail of our lives, and You want us to bring everything to You. So, IF there is any zebra print wrapping paper in this town, would you lead me to it?” The class lined up, and we headed out to the playground. When we got there, a teacher who is not usually there at this particular time in the day was sitting on the bench. I was thrilled to get to spend some time chatting and catching up with her.
In the midst of our conversation, I mentioned to her that I was on the hunt for this elusive zebra print wrapping paper and asked her if she happened to know of any place to look other than the places I had already tried. She asked me, “Have you ever been to the Wrapping Paper Warehouse?” I had never heard of it. She explained that it was only open during the holidays, from November 1st– December 31st. I thought, well, that will be my first stop tomorrow morning as I begin my Christmas shopping day! I was thrilled! Could my zebra print wrapping paper be there? I couldn’t wait to find out.
I went home and told my husband my hair-brained idea for wrapping and told him about this place we had to go to first thing the next morning. After all, I asked God to help me find it! He smiled and kind of rolled his eyes a bit, but agreed that we should go there first thing.
An Answered Prayer
The next morning, a dreary, cold Saturday, we pull up to this obscure, somewhat hidden, storage building. I am chomping at the bit to get out of the truck and in the door. My husband says, “If that wrapping paper is here…” He didn’t finish his statement because as I swung open the door to the store, guess what was RIGHT THERE!?! In the first bin as you walk in the door, a light from the ceiling shining down on it, was none other than… Zebra Print Wrapping Paper!! My heart leapt in my chest and my breath caught. I stood there in amazement with a goofy grin on my face, shaking my head. I FELT SO LOVED. God did that for me! He answered even that silly little prayer; the simple desire of my heart.
Stop for a minute and think about a time when the Lord provided a need or even a desire. Close your eyes and thank Him for that and all of the other gifts He has given you. I would love to hear your story!
Prayer
God, You are so good. Thank for the gifts you give, great and small. Help us to always remember where all good comes from and remember to praise you for them.
Oh Lord,
May we all open our eyes to see the little gifts you give us everyday, that we so often take for granted.
Amen
Johna, your writing is so touching . Love hearing from you. Thanks for starting this blog. Love you my friend.