The GIFT

I attended the Annual Christmas Table Banquet

with L.I.F.T.

that is Ladies In Fellowship Together.

 

The speaker of the night spoke about

GIFTS.

 

It was a great presentation as she

opened various beautifully and eloquently

wrapped presents.

 

I can't remember all of the GIFTS

but I do remember the GIVER!

 

 

God, the great GIVER, gave the greatest GIFT

when He sent His Son, Jesus-

Royalty, a king, wrapped in rags.

 

What does this mean???

 

Volumes!

 

Emanuel-God with us changes EVERYTHING!

 

Because God became man

(Yes, this concept blows my mind)

we have been brought close to God.

 

 

I am reading "The Shack" a second time.

The first time I went, "Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Crazy idea of God living in a woman's flesh

and Jesus in blue jeans and the Holy Spirit flittering here and there.

 

During a period of questions and groping,

I have been able to pull out some aspects of the nature of God

that are changing my life.

 

 

In Mack's frustration and anger he projects false ideas of who God is.

 

God said to Mack,

"Even though you can't finally grasp me, guess what?

I still want to be known."

 

"You're talking about Jesus, right?  Is this going to be

let's-try-to-understand-the Trinity sort of thing?"

 

God explains a few things, but finally relates,

 

"We created you to share in that. But then Adam chose to

go it on his own, as we knew he would,

and everything got messed up.

But instead of scapping the whole creation,

we rolled up our sleeves and entered into the middle of the mess-

that's what we have done in Jesus."

 

One of my favorite Bible expositions is found in Philippians 2:

 

"Have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus,

Who, though he was in the form of God,

did not consider equality with God

something to be grasped,

but made Himself nothing,

taking the form of a servant,

being born in the likeness of man.

And being found in human form,

He humbled Himself

and became obedient to death-

even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him and given

Him a name that is above all names,

that at the name of Jesus

every knee shall bow in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that

Jesus Christ is Lord

to the glory of God the Father."

 

As Gloria Gaither writes,

"Therefore, it was not by chance that caused the angel one night long ago to say to a virgin Mary,

His Name Shall Be Called, Jesus.

Jesus...There really is Something About That Name.

 

Jesus, the Greatest Gift of All.

 

 

Doesn't mean I don't believe in Santa Claus.

See my little fellow here, he believes.

Isn't he precious?

 

Just another one of God's gifts to me:)

 

Bonnie