I was sitting one morning, drinking coffee and holding my cat. He began to lick me as he was breaking into his purring love song. I looked at him and realized that he doesn’t have a care in the world! He’s in my lap, safe and secure, and just content. I must admit, his contentment was contagious. I began thanking God for this precious chunky fur ball sitting in my lap. My niece loves her stuffed animals. She takes a whole crew everywhere she goes. They’re cute, but they’re truly just substitutes for the real thing. My cat (as annoying as he can be sometimes) is truly a gift from God and a reminder of innocent love.
As I looked at Harold – yes that’s my cat’s name – I saw all the details that went into creating this wonderfully complex creature. I thought about everything it took to make him move, breathe, etc. My Father in heaven went to all of this trouble just to present me with this gift. Wow! He knows me well. He knew exactly which cat I would want and why that’s the one I would choose. I spend time in the Father’s presence. We know each other. He knows my likes and dislikes.
The Bible tells us in the book of James that “every good and perfect gift is from above” (NIV). The reason these gifts are perfect is because they’re from the Heavenly Father and He designed us to actually crave what He has to offer. He gives us things like hope, encouragement, peace, and most of all, His unconditional love! These truly are gifts that no person can give 100% of the time. Even the people we love most in this world fall short of being able to fulfill our deepest desires that only the Lord can fill. These gifts are blessings that no amount of money can buy, but they’re absolutely free to the child of God.
You know how Christmas rolls around every year and you find yourself scrambling to get everyone on your list checked off? There are always the people that are hard to buy for. However, there are the easy ones too! These are the people you spend the most time with. You know instinctively what they will like because you know them like a book. In Luke 11:13 God says, “if you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those that ask Him!” He’s telling us that we get our “giving spirit” from Him! It’s a character trait of God. He’s a giver. The gifts He bestows on us are not perishable though. They are everlasting.
God gives us promises we can count on forever. His Word is full of amazing proclamations that are completely detailed for every situation you will ever face on this side of heaven. No person could ever do that for you. People just aren’t able. We’re all dealing with our own fragility and humanity. When life gets really tough, we need the assurance that Jesus has everything under control. We need to be reminded that no weapon formed against us will prosper. We need to remember that He who began a good work in us will see it to completion. All of these promises belong to God’s children, but it’s up to us to spend quality time with the Lord, letting Him speak to us through His Word. He wants His Word, or His promises, so deep in our hearts that when trouble comes, He’s who we seek first and lean on. Having this kind of peace in the storms of life is truly a good gift!
God also wants to be the first one we celebrate a victory with. Our gratitude for His provision should be automatic. Ultimately, our very breath comes from Him. There’s truly nothing we have that He hasn’t provided. He’s got a whole treasure trove of gifts just waiting for us to open. It’s sad if all of this goodness goes unnoticed because we try to fill the voids in our lives with what this world has to offer. Although God’s love for us is not performance based, we should want to spend time and get to know the very One who created us in His image. He, alone, is truly the greatest gift we could ever accept. He loves us with an everlasting love and has nothing but good gifts in store for us. Our greatest gift to Him in return is just relationship. That’s all He wants – just the opportunity to love on us and be the Giver of good gifts to His children.
We also have more waiting on us after this life is over. The Bible tells us that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those that love Him. How could we not want to get to know this loving gift giver? His whole existence is spent trying to be in relationship with us. Our lives should be spent showing gratitude to Him. Perishable “things” aren’t going to sustain us in this life. Seek the imperishable and enjoy the good gifts!
Today’s writer is Brandi Crowe. A hairdresser for over 25 years, she is currently the owner of Brandi Crowe salon in Buford, GA. She loves hiking, a good cup of coffee and spending time with family and friends. Brandi lives in a custom farmhouse with her husband, Robby and cat, Harold.
