God ~ the great gift-giver.  Philippians 4.6-7

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’  I cannot read the verses without thinking, ‘What a gift!’  What these verses offer us is nothing short of a beautiful gift, intended to give us peace in our minds, and peace in our hearts, if we practice them. 

The other day I was driving along the Pacific Coast Highway, looking at the crashing waves and thinking about the treasure of Philippians 4.6-7, (the above verses).  But then I thought, ‘There are so many good gifts God gives to us’ . . . mindful that I was looking at the grandeur of his created beauty at the time--with the sun, wind, clouds and water seeming to whip up a masterpiece just for my viewing pleasure.  Ah, the gift of God’s creation.

At the last Sunday Night Live, I showed the high school students “How Great is our God,” an incredible DVD about the magnificence and sheer size of the created universe, making the viewer aware of just how truly awesome is our God.  The stars, the galaxies are massive and he spoke them into existence!  Wow.  And then there’s God’s grandest creation—us.   To see, to be reminded of the miracle of life, and how ‘he knit us together in our mother’s womb’, even from the first moment of conception is so grounding.  Oh yes, God’s gifts of creation are wonderful indeed. 

But wait, there’s more!  Daily, I am thankful for the gift of his Word, and that we live at a point in time that we have the printed Scripture.  It is the sweet Holy Spirit that revisits a Scripture to my mind, just when I need it--a beautiful gift as well.  Love for one another is a gift straight from the heart of a loving God.  I am keenly aware that it is the love of fellow Christians that oft sustains me; life is not meant to be lived solo.  Jesus lived in community with his disciples—his main men and best friends—as he loved them and taught them.  Community is definitely one of the gifts God has given me, and I cherish it. 

But wait, there’s more!  Being able to serve God is a gift, and a most humbling one, for me.  I think of my flaws, I think of sins committed, and I think, ‘even still, in his mercy, he uses me,’ and I marvel at that.  Almost daily, I smile to myself when I think about how strange it is that I have favor with so many of these high school students—what in the world?!  But you know what?  Sometimes it is my flaws God uses.  Mistakes that I have learned from, sins I have committed that keep me from judging others, trials I have endured that I would wish on no one . . . all of these, God redeems and God uses.  I think of Moses who told God he wasn’t really qualified to lead—God said, ‘What’s in your hand, Moses?’  For whatever is in our hand, Friend, that is what God uses—oh, and what is in our heart.  Yes, serving God is a gift.

But wait, there’s more!  The things that God produces within the heart and life of the child who walks closely with him . . . those things are GIFTS.  Those gifts include the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control.  Have you ever just had a feeling of joy come over you—almost to the point of feeling giddy?  ‘Can’t explain it?  Have you been in the midst of the trial or in an ordinarily stressful situation, but you had peace of mind?  Friends, that is what we call ‘peace that passes understanding’--peace that defies logic, and it is a gift! 

There is also the fruit that the Christian produces by ‘abiding in the Vine’—Jesus Christ, by choosing to follow closely in the steps of the Rabbi.  Some Bible translations refer to this fruit also as good works.  It is not necessarily that you and I should count these, (probably not), but it seems we ought be aware of whether or not we are growing and maturing, ceasing to make the same old mistakes, or being over-comers . . . do you follow me?

Indeed, from the heart of a loving Heavenly Father, endless gifts abound . . . ‘Behold, what manner of love the Father has given unto them!’

Grace and Peace to you,

Christine