Sunday Writing... 12-15-19... "PERFECT PRESENTS"

Good morning!

Christmas is only 1 1/2 weeks away.  Have you purchased all your gifts?  In "PERFECT PRESENTS" we read about how we search for those gifts and the response of those who receive them.  Read on to see what all we can consider gifts and whom to thank.

Blessings,
Jan

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Today's Devotional: 

"PERFECT PRESENTS"

by

Jan Andersen

Christmas is coming soon and there is a lot of focus on presents - giving people our gift list of what we would love to have, making something with special meaning for some, or buying just the right things for other people.  Often we want to find that perfect gift for each person on our shopping list.  Sometimes that can be quite difficult and may take a lot of forethought or research into what they would really love the most.  But there are times when that perfect present becomes something that is worshipped.  The biggest or most expensive gift on their list is received, and they thank the person who gave it to them but then relish it above all else.   Or if we buy something for ourselves,  it may become the object of our own focus, and we think, “Look what I have attained!”  But who is the one who gave us the ability to earn a living, or the ability to make or buy things?  We may become so wrapped up (no pun intended!) in finding the perfect presents that we forget to give glory to God in all of it.

This doesn’t only happen at Christmas.  Every day we experience God’s creation throughout the world.  It is a most incredible gift to us.  But how often do we take it for granted?  We may enjoy our time out in nature, the fields and forests, rivers and oceans, the vast expanse of sky and all they contain and provide for us.  But often people are grateful for some nebulous “mother nature” instead of God.  This doesn’t only apply to objects but also to experiences.  if we accomplish something huge in our lives, like a great new job or promotion, perhaps God is the last we would ever think of thanking.  When we are joyful for getting together with friends or family who make us laugh, we don’t always remember to give God credit for placing us in those relationships or for the fun time we had.  We forget who gave us these wonderful gifts and why.  

Some things we don’t even recognize as gifts, but all of them can serve a purpose.  Whether it is an object, or a situation, or an event in our lives, God can use them all and work through them for our good.  It may be hard to thank God for the difficult times in our lives, but even the most challenging things serve a purpose, whether it be to help us learn to lean on Him more, or to give us a greater appreciation for the “good” things, or to teach us some lesson and even allow us to be of help later to others in the same situation.  We can praise God for every situation, every moment of our lives, if we can just keep our focus on Him.  What a wonderful witness to the world!

But there is one absolutely perfect present that only God is able to give and has given to us - Himself in the form of a babe in a manger, providing us salvation by grace through faith in Him.  That faith is a free gift given us through the Holy Spirit in baptism.  Jesus is the greatest and most perfect present  of all.   

James 1:17 NIV. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

We just need to remember: the real joy of Christmas is not in the presents, but in His presence!

Dear Father God, creator of all things, we thank you for your wonderful gifts to us.  We give our greatest gratitude and thanks for your Son, Jesus, your perfect present and greatest gift of all.  Strengthen our faith through your Holy Spirit, and help us to share the news of your free gift of forgiveness and salvation with others.  In Jesus' name,  Amen.                                                                

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Song:

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT

Sandy Howell

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Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15

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Wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again.  Acts 3:20

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Prayers are lifted up daily for you by the Devotional Writers and the Monthly Writing Staff of Women's Focus Ministries

Blog writers:

Sandy Billingham, Karen Bennett,

Brother Thomas Ukwute, Jody Ward,

Bre Miller, Lynda Kinnard, Amie Spruiell,

Debbie Rodriguez, Carol Steficek,

Jan Andersen and Corinne Mustafa