I have always loved getting presents, big and small, they always make me feel special, especially when the giver knows what I love. I must get this from my Mom, she loved getting presents too. Of course, it is just as exciting to give presents especially when you find just the thing they will love.

I believe the Lord has been showing me that people are presents and SO much better than anything material I could recieve. And He knows just what I love, even when I don’t know it yet.

This week we (husband Jim and I) recieved exceedingly abundently more for Pastor’s Appreciation. We were overwhelmed at God’s goodness through them in cards, kind words and gifts. Taking all this in to our hearts, the gifts so appreciated, just pointed us to the bigger gift. Them! The precious people God has put in our lives and how we already have the best gifts from God Himself in each and every one of them. Only God.

Only God and His love for us, for me. Me in and of myself am selfish and self serving but in Him, I have a bigger, better purpose. It is truly a miracle of God how He transforms us. Saves us from ourselves! We confess Jesus as Lord, repent of our sins, He forgives us in His mighty grace, gives us His righteousness which reconciles us to God the Father. THEN as we look to Jesus, he does it! He changes us, makes us new, a better version of ourselves emerges as we look to Him in all things.

He has a better way, we get the further blessing of walking in Him, being made in His image, learning from Him and His Word, keeping His statutes and over time, bit by bit, we are transformed by the living God. More than we could hope or imagine when we don’t even recognize ourselves as who we once were. THAT is a good, good gift from our good God.

How wonderful, how marvelous is my Savior’s love for me.