Joy is contagious

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~James 1:17 (NIV)

Sometimes we take God’s gifts for granted.  We allow our busy schedules to crowd out the truly “good and perfect” gifts pouring down from heaven. God fills every minute of every day with gifts to us straight from His hand.  Even our life is a gift from God, and He wants us to celebrate it.  He wants us to enjoy every minute.  Have you ever noticed times of great joy are often accompanied by the giving of gifts?  In Matthew 2:10-11 we read "When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh." (NIV)   We assume that there were three Magi, probably because there were three gifts listed in scripture.  But the truth is, scripture does not reveal exactly how many Magi or “wise men” there were that came to see Jesus and presented Him with gifts. It could have been three or it could have been twenty.  All we know for sure is that they recognized His worth, sought Him, and humbled themselves to worship Him.  They were truly wise men!  We can be wise men and women also. We can look around every day and see God’s gift to us and others if we so choose.  Or we can look around and see everything wrong in the world...if we so choose.  We must remember that looking to the Lord and the good things He is doing around us will keep our focus on expecting good things.  It will make us wise because we are putting our faith in action and people who have the wisdom of God have a faith that produces.

Let’s count our blessings and cherish our gifts and gifting’s today.  We have been prospered in every way so let the joy overflow.  God has promised to send the most capable hands to work on our behalf to bring about our hearts desires and to give us restoration in every area of our lives.  Now let’s use those promises as a springboard and do the very same for those He places in our midst.  He has replaced our fears with faith in His promises, He has replaced our weakness with His strength which enables us to do all things and He has replaced confusion and chaos with clarity to light our path as we move forward in His grace.  We don’t have to worry about anything because of Immanuel, which actually means God with us!  He has promised to provide guidance by His Holy Spirit and well-timed help for every need we will have today.  When we know in our hearts that the Lord loves us and has a wonderful plan for our life it fills us with joy.  It makes us want to celebrate this life we have been given and when we do, we shine because joy is contagious.  Smiles beget smiles.  When people see us celebrating our life and giving the glory to God, they will want to do the same.  We should live our lives in such a way that when they encounter us, they encounter our Lord because He is in us and for us and makes us to be all He has called us to be.  Do your good deeds cause people to glorify your Father in heaven?   If not, there is no time like the present to start being a gift.  Let your light shine bright today and every day! 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

What are your truly “good and perfect” gifts pouring down from Heaven today?

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