The Perfect Birthday Gift

It amazes me how God goes out of the way to bless us.  He went out of his way to bless me today already.  There was something that I had need for my devotion times and reflection, and I almost forgot that thing all together because of other things that seemed to matter more.  I had been substituting all kinds of things for this item and didn't even make a plan to correct the situation.  Fortunately for me God saw my need even when I chose to skip it.  He set what I needed literally right in front of me, and used someone who loved me to facilitate my blessing.  They didn't know what I needed, and I didn't know that it was there for me.  I just looked up, and there it was.  I didn't even recognize it at first, but as I put my hand to it I realized that I had just picked up exactly what I needed.  I am so excited about my new journal.  I know you all are probably laughing at me right now, but sometimes things just seem too small to bother God with.  God took care of me, and he blessed me in a way that I wasn't ready for. I just looked up and put my hand on it.  I didn't even know what it was until I turned it around and opened it up.

After I got home, I couldn't sleep because I was so anxious to get writing, and after I finished my entry songs began to play in my heart. I worshiped God and told him how wonderful he is to me.  I told him how unworthy I felt to be so favored of him and how amazing his love is toward me.  In that moment when I was praying and singing inwardly, I heard God ask me for something. It was the same thing that he asked of  his disciples in the garden before he was taken to be judged and crucified.  He asked me to stay  with him for a little while longer.  I could feel him hugging me, and in that moment I knew that this was the gift that God wanted from me. 

I can relate to this as I look at the other relationships in my life.  I have times when I don't want my family out of my reach.  For my son he wants a little longer at bedtime every night.  He tries to pull me into bed with him, and for a preschooler he is strong!!!  Sometimes I get this look in my eye, and my mother knows I need her to sit with me for a while.  I remember times when I loved people and never wanted their visits to end.  I used to have conversations on the phone that lasted for three or four hours because neither of us wanted to end the connection.  I wanted to stay right where I was with the people that I loved just a little while longer. God is like that with us.

All that the Lord has done from the beginning of time to the birth, death, and resurrection of messiah Jesus Christ was to make it possible for us to choose to spend eternity with him. God wants us forever connected to him, and he wants some special time with just us and him.  It's better than a date. There is no pressure to say anything because he already knows everything that we will ever say, do, or think.  This time is just to BE with God.  Just sitting with him is profoundly amazing if you are willing to listen for his voice.  The messages are normally simple.  I get small phrases or sometimes just feelings or pictures or songs.  God talks to me how I need it, and he pulls me in closer to his heart when I stay with him a little while longer.  He is requesting it, but being in the presence of God in this way is a blessing to me!  I do better when I worry less about my plans and more about God's love.  God is always with us, but how often do we take the time to realize that?  All God wants is for us to be with him? This is the only gift that we can give the savior which satisfies his heart's desire.  We are God's perfect birthday gift, and he deserves perfect.

Happy Birthday Jesus!