Great Gifts!!!!!!!!!!!!

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.  He chose to give us birth through the Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all He created."  James 1:17 (NIV)

I think that my shopping is almost done!  I'm sure that my husband hopes so!  I've "saved" him a lot of money!  Every year I say that I'm going to "cut back."  And I do try.  It's just that I want to give so much to my children!  I want to bless them with every outfit that looks so cute on them...each DVD that is the "best movie ever"...and for my youngest daughter, anything that has to do with puppies!!!  This morning as I looked at the little mountain of bags (all yet to be wrapped), I felt the glee of knowing the joy each gift will bring.

As I pondered my own satisfaction, God brought a verse to mind.  Matthew 7:11 says, "If you, then...know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him."  It brings Him joy to give us "gifts."  He feels satisfaction in granting our hearts' desires.  Oh, may we recognize each gift...large and small...from the gift of life to the gift of the parking space at the mall...from the roof over our heads to the pillow under our heads.  Just like the old hymn says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your blessings, see what God has done."   And then thank Him.  He is great...and greatly to be praised!

Interestingly, Luke 11:13 begins like the Matthew passage...but sheds light on an even greater gift than we can imagine!  Look at this!  "If you, then...know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him." (Italics mine)  Wow!  Now that packs a punch!!!!  That's what I want...and what came about through a tiny baby born in a humble stable...the greatest Christmas gift of all time.  Oh, how He loves us.  Oh, how He showed that love.

Heavenly Father, thank you for your love.  Thank you for sending Your Son...the ultimate gift...the ultimate sacrifice...for us.  Thank you for the provision of the Holy Spirit to live in us...to be our Emmanuel...God with us.  Thank you for Your Word...for the promises, the power.  Help us to understand the fullness of the birth...the new life that You have given us through Your Word of Truth.