Monday, March 28, 2011

ABC Scripture Challenge {Word #7}, Gift

This weekend at the BSF Leader’s Retreat I received so many amazing gifts, and today I received even more! I have been showered with gifts from God, and I wonder—do you look for the gifts big or small that God sends you every day? And no, I am not talking about the type of gifts wrapped in fancy paper with a beautiful bow but gifts from God that touch our hearts deeply and that are truly from Him just for you and just for me. So, today’s word is:

Challenge Word #7: Gift

This weekend while I was in Dallas, our new patio furniture was delivered. I saw it as I arrived home last night, and I noticed that our umbrella was not the one we ordered. I asked my husband, and he felt what was delivered looked good. But, being the picky person I am, I wanted what we paid for. So, I called the store, told them the problem, and they were more than happy to exchange it for the correct umbrella. So, with the help of one of my precious daughters, we got the 9 ft. umbrella loaded into the car and took it to the store. The sales people were waiting for us, helped us load the new umbrella in the car, and I then went back into the store to look at a few more things. As we were leaving, I noticed they had a bunch of different wind chimes. My husband and I have been looking for wind chimes for over 10 years or more. We never find that special one we like so we have never purchased them. Well, my daughter noticed that one set of chimes had a ceramic cross hanging from the bottom. I KNEW I had to look at those particular chimes! I have never seen chimes with a cross. Then upon looking at it further, there were music notes inscribed around the top in the wood. Then I saw that there was also the title of a hymn, and it was “God Be With You.” I almost cried right there on the showroom floor! That is the SAME hymn we sing at the end of EVERY BSF Leader’s Retreat every 3 years. All 3,460 of us held hands and sang that very hymn yesterday. I am NEVER able to sing it because I cry SO hard knowing I may never see some of those leader’s again until we meet again at Jesus’ feet. It is SO moving to not only sing those beautiful words but to hear that many believers worshipping our precious Lord. And now, after all of these years searching for the perfect wind chimes, God finally gives me the set I have been waiting for and that have significant meaning to me the day after I sang it with all of the BSF leaders in Texas. No wonder the delivery people brought us the wrong umbrella. God wanted me back at that store to give me my gift!!! What a blessing beyond words.
So, do you look for the gifts, big or small, that God brings your way? Do you share it with others? I shared with the sales woman today, and though she looked at me like I was nuts, I pray God used it for His glory! I want to proclaim His name from the rooftops. How do you feel when He gives you gifts like that? How do you feel about the most amazing gift of His precious Son sent to die for your sins on the cross? Have you accepted that gift so that you can live with Him eternally or have you chosen to refuse His gift and live in eternal condemnation? Every one of us has been given the gift, and we must choose to accept it or refuse it. What have you chosen?

Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Ephesians 2:8-9For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Again, I don’t have my page done because I have been gone. I will share the past two pages with you later this week I am hoping. As you share your pages, please be sure to use Keyword ABCSCRC11 when posting your creations in any online galleries. Also, please leave a link to your creation here using Inlinkz! To see all of our previous lessons, please visit this post here. Have a blessed week, and remember the best gift you can give someone is the truth of Christ because it is literally a matter of eternal life or eternal condemnation.

2 Corinthians 9:15Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”


Photobucket

7 comments:

peacefulgardens said...

What a beautiful story. Those little things that He does for us seem to mean the most at times. Thank you for sharing God's goodness.

Grace said...

What a special gift that was Patter! I love it when He works like that and we just can't miss it! Enjoy the chimes and thanks for sharing!

Unknown said...

Oh I love this story. God is so awesome and His ways are so not our ways! I love how He "gifts" us-by answering those long held desires in the most unique ways. This very night He "gifted" us with a free dining room table and chairs big enough to seat our whole family and it has a server so now all my pretty things will have a home and I will be able to use them instead of them all being jumbled up inside a tiny cabinet!
blessings,
Kathy

Anne-Marie said...

Thank you Patter for sharing this story. God works in wonderful ways to give us such treasured blessings. I do like your wind chime... I too have for many years wanted to have a wind chime but am yet to find the one I really want ... maybe God will bless me one day with one like yours.

Anonymous said...

Praising God with you this chilly but sunny day! Last week the Lord let me participate in finding & returning a lost, cherished heart necklace w/ diamonds to a widow who had lost it in our church building. It was a gift from her late husband; after much searching & prayer, we found the chain downstairs under a table and the pendant in the parking lot unharmed. Rejoicing with you and counting my myriad blessings, Jennifer in Ohio

Teresa said...

what a special gift and it is a Celtic Cross as well - oh I may be a little envious now - I love windchimes and these are perfect. what a gift!

Nancy said...

Oh YAY!! I love hearing about God's wonderful surprise BLESSINGS!! God is so good!! Thanks so much for sharing!...Nancy :o)
(just a note - gift isn't on the list yet)

Related Posts with Thumbnails