GOOD GIFTS

GOOD GIFTS
Have you ever looked forward to giving a loved one a gift? It begins with a thought, and then you go shopping. You may not know what the gift will be but you know it when you spot it. There it is, tucked among all the other items, the perfect gift. You know this person inside and out. There is no doubt in your mind that this is just the gift for them.

You buy it and hurry home with your treasure. You take your time wrapping it, all the while thinking of the one your heart loves, the one the gift is meant for.

You call them up and invite them to meet you. The time arrives, and with gift in hand you head out, your heart filled with anticipation. You arrive at the place you chose to meet. Your eyes scan the room, and then a smile touches your lips as you find them sitting at a corner table, sipping their favorite coffee. You head to the table filled with joy. There is something quite delicious in knowing a secret; of bearing a gift that is about to delight someone near and dear to your heart.

The moment arrives. You can hardly stand it as you take the gift from its hiding place, and set it before them. For a brief moment there is silence as their eyes take in the beautifully wrapped package sitting in front of them. They lift their gaze to yours, question marks in their eyes, but the love dancing in your eyes quickly assures them that the gift is for them.

They reach out and begin to unwrap it. They catch their breath as what was unknown to them becomes known. There is no need to ask if they like it as tears of joy spill down their cheeks and they fly into your waiting embrace. In that moment, your heart rejoices in the giving of a good gift.

Do you know that God rejoices in giving those who love Him good gifts? It’s true! My friend, wipe the Monday morning sleep from your eyes, pour your favorite coffee or tea, and kick off your shoes right there at your desk and nestle into the Lord’s presence. Oh, and don’t forget to have His Book nearby as we will be taking a walk with Him in His Word.

A soft breeze stirred the brush nearby as I took a seat on a large boulder and looked out at the mountains as they stretched high before me. It was a clear January morning, and a wintery crispness was in the air. I had looked forward to this hike in the foothills for days, and now here I was at last.

Life had been so busy and it seemed ages since I had been off on my own. I looked around, not a soul in sight. I was alone. I looked out at the valley below on one side and then over at the towering peaks on the other. It was glorious. There is something about solitude that revives my spirit, and nourishes my soul. I was reminded of Jesus’ invitation to His weary disciples, “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31 NASB)

I opened my backpack and took out my Bible, journal and pen. There in the stillness, my soul made its way down a familiar dusty path, to the well and sat down with Him who is my heart’s longing.

“Hello,” He said.

“Hello,” I replied.

“I see you got My invitation,” He said, peering over my shoulder at the place I was reading in Mark 6:31.

I moved in closer to Him as I whispered, “Thank You for asking me to come away with You.” I breathed deeply as my eyes took in the rugged beauty that surrounded me. “Lord, I’m so glad you chose this place for us to meet in today. This is lovely.” I drew near to Him then, and just as He promised, He drew near to me.

Then He took my heart with Him into His Word and we stopped and lingered awhile. Why don’t you join us?

41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul. Jeremiah 32:41 (NIV)

How great is Your goodness, which You have stored up for those who fear You.
(Psalm 31:19 NASB)

I sat quietly thinking about His goodness. “Lord, it says here that you store up Your goodness for those who fear you.” I looked up at the great mountains and then at the sky colored a deep blue and thought about His goodness and wondered what kind of storage unit could possibly contain it. That’s when I heard it.

Clip clop. Clip clip clop. Clop. Clop. Clop.

It sounded as if someone was trekking about the mountainside in high heels. My gaze followed the sound. Then movement caught my eye and I caught my breath. A Big Horn sheep stood on the mountainside. His great horns curled around. He lifted his gaze and looked in my direction, his head raised majestically. Then more movement as a female sheep leapt gracefully over a boulder and headed ever higher. More movement as the mountainside came alive. One, two, three, four, five, six, SEVEN. “Lord,” I cried. “I have lived in the desert 33 years and I have never seen Big Horn sheep in the wild. Thank You! Thank You!”

We sat in companionable silence watching power and grace in motion. My heart turned toward Him who gave all for me, and it occurred to me that He had planned this moment, this gift for me. He knew those things that refreshed me, gave me joy, inspired and refreshed this heart within me – His daughter. He had knit me together after all.

It occurred to me that He had gone through a lot of trouble for me. He sent me the invitation in Mark 6:31. He had arranged the meeting place, here at the feet of His glorious snow-covered mountains, and He had brought a gift, which He tucked into the mountainside for me to unwrap at just the right moment; a gift from His heavenly storehouse. David’s words flooded my thoughts, “How great is Your goodness…” My heart looked up into His eyes and there I saw rejoicing

My sweet friend, He delights in you. Not because of anything you do or strive to be. In fact, in Psalm 46:10 He says, “Cease your striving and know that I am God.” Before you loved Him, He loved you. He thought of you before the foundation of the world. He has issued an invitation for you to get away and spend some time alone with Him (Mark 6:31). Will you accept His invitation? Will you go?

Take some time now to walk with the Lord through His Word.

Psalm 31:19
Jeremiah 32:41
Matthew 7:11
1 Corinthians 2:9
James 1:17

Dear one, what’s going on in your life right now? Even amidst great sorrow, trial or pain, or the regular Monday morning workday, God’s goodness is there (Romans 8:28), and His gifts of tenderness come. Are you watching for them? They may be as simple as a loved one’s embrace; or Big Horn sheep on a mountainside. Whatever, and however the gift comes, you can be sure He chose it. In fact, He has been storing it for just the right moment; it is just right for you, and it is good. As you hold the gift, be still, do you hear it? It is the sound of your heavenly Father rejoicing.

Glory!



An Original Conversations at the Well
© By Diana Morgan February 28, 2011