Gifts

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.

James 1:17 (NIV)

How I have enjoyed all the wonderful blessings and gifts of Christmas!

Our children and spouses, 

Conversation and laughter, 

Beautiful scenery, 

Fresh air and sunlight,

Peace and harmony,

Food and feasting,

Simple gifts,

A meal beautifully prepared,

A warm fire,

Lights shining on the tree, 

Love.

                                    

All of these are the gifts you have given. How rich we are, how blessed. 

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

2 Cor 9:15 (ISV)

Don't trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, 

who gives us richly all things to enjoy.

1 Tim 6:17 (KJV)

Praise

The shepherds went back to their flocks, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen.  Luke 2:20 (NLT)

The lives of the familiar cast of characters in the Nativity story were suddenly interrupted by an astounding message - the message of a special baby coming into the world. 

Mary and Joseph perhaps thinking of their up coming wedding were visited by an angel, their plans suddenly drastically altered.  Zechariah going about his priestly duties, as he had done many times before, suddenly interrupted by a startling message.  Elizabeth in her old age finding herself unexpectedly expecting a baby.  The shepherds simply watching their flocks, as they did each and every night, interrupted by the angel chorus. And sky watchers from the East, in their nightly star gazing, noticed a star they had never seen before. Each one, when they heard and understood the message, were overcome with joy and responded with an overwhelming desire to praise and worship God.

What was so startling about this baby to be born?  It was no ordinary babe, but one born as a deliverer to save his people from their sins.  What other response could there be but praise for such a marvelous plan.  Sin, that damaging and destructive cancer that held the world long captive was about to meet its match in this tiny baby.  We, too, are held captive until we come to see in that baby the one who can save and deliver us.  When we think of all that was accomplished by the entrance of God into the world in the guise of this tiny baby we too will be filled with praise and thankfulness.  The realization that he has forgiven all of our sins, set us free and brought us near to God is cause for worship this Christmas and every day. 

Let God interrupt our unthinking Christmas routines and bring us suddenly to our knees to worship.  Let us join the chorus of praise, thanking God for this incredible gift. 

They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary,

and they bowed down and worshiped him.

Matt 2:11 (NLT)

Abundance

“I am the LORD, I am the LORD, the merciful and gracious God. 

I am slow to anger and rich in unfailing love and faithfulness. 

I show this unfailing love to many thousands

by forgiving every kind of sin and rebellion.”  

Exodus 34:6,7 (NLT) 

As we sit down to the abundance of our Thanksgiving table, we are reminded of the riches and abundance of God’s love. 

  

If God were to write his own resume the bullet points would look like this:

• Merciful and compassionate 
• Gracious
• Long-suffering, patient and slow to anger 
• Abundant in loving-kindness and goodness
• Faithful and trustworthy 

This is God’s description of himself.

Lord, we thank you for who you have declared yourself to be.  We thank you for your abundant pardon, your unfailing love and companionship, your never ending generosity and inexhaustible grace.  You are our God, our loving and attentive father. 

As we partake of the turkey and dressing, the mashed potatoes and gravy and the pumpkin pie let us also feast on your abundant love and spread it to all around our table.  And let us remember the poor.

May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. 

May you have the power to understand 

how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 

Eph 3:17,18  (NLT)