Friday Thoughts

Every year leading up to Christmas, Mark and I have the same conversation - we are going to cut back on Christmas buying, that is not what Christmas is about and not what we want our children to focus on.

Now, if you know me well, you know that I am typically an extremely frugal person - shopping sales or with coupons only, learning how to get things free or almost free at CVS/Walgreens/Walmart, shopping thrift stores, etc. However, as every season wears on, more presents are bought and added to the ever growing stack of things we want to give - to our children and to others. Somewhere in every season, we lose track of our good intentions to not get caught up in good old American Consumerism at its worst.

Here is my problem - I completely LOVE to buy things for my children! Not to earn their love or to "spoil them" but because I love to shop and find things that I think they will love and then see the reward of my efforts in their expressions.

Well, this year, due to many things, we have no choice but to cut back to what we want it to be like anyway and I am thankful in spite of myself!

Last night at prayer, I was focusing again on some of those "many things" in the above sentence. I felt The Lord speak to my heart this verse: "If you, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your Father in heaven give good gifts to them that ask Him?" WOW - where did that come from? I was in awe that He truly knows how it feels to be rewarded when He blesses us as I do when I buy things for my children. Can you imagine how He must feel when we delight in His provisions, His blessings, His care?

I also felt the Lord reminding me that He is already in charge of every situation in my life and that He truly is my heavenly Father who delights in giving good gifts if I only ask Him. When I got home, I looked up where that scripture is found. FYI, it is Matthew 7:11. The verses before it begin with "Ask and it will be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you."

It's amazing how God deals with us - I had just been reading that part of those verses in the book "Beyond Jabez" that I have been trying to read the past couple of days. God reveals Himself to us in small ways that build on our knowledge of Him and then He brings things together to keep reinforcing them so we remember to rely on Him and trust in Him. I want to remember to thank Him always - to have a daily "Thanksgiving Binge" to my God who always takes care of me and never leaves me. I will continue to learn to wait and trust in all things and thank Him along the way.

To bring this post full circle, as we celebrate the advent of our Lord, I am in awe of the gifts He has already given:

*His only son, born in the poorest of circumstances, not as He deserved.
*His life for my sins, before I knew Him or ever even wanted to live for Him, He was watching me and loving me and waiting for the day that I would turn to Him for my every need.
*His Word that is alive to lead me, teach me and guide me every day.
*His Spirit that lives in me to help me down this road called life.
*His blessings of family, friends, church, home, food, raiment, that are more than I deserve.

I want to delight in Him for all these things and more as we prepare to celebrate - not a day, not a season and not a "holiday", but an event, a "holy day" a life changing miracle given to me - given to YOU - 2000 years ago and still being given today.

May the true meaning of Advent, Christmas and Gifts be alive in you this year!