BLESSED! We are SO blessed! Often it is not until we lose something that
we realize how much we miss it! A few
weeks ago, swelling in my one ear had caused me to not be able to hear
properly. For several days I lived in a
muffled world where sounds were diminished and I had to strain with all my
might to be able to hear even a portion of what I normally hear very clearly
every day. It wasn’t fun, let me tell
you! Thoughts of what life must be like
for those who are deaf touched me deeply and my heart resonated with a clearer
understanding of their world. I prayed
and prayed, and others prayed over me.
Intermittently my left ear would open up a bit to allow a little more
sound to enter, but then it would close up again. I began to wonder “why” the healing was taking
so long … and “what” the purpose of this trial was, but I continued to claim my
healing. In the midst of my “much
quieter than usual world” – things were taking shape as God was busily speaking
to others in our family about giving His Son gifts for His birthday. Giving up their own gifts to give to
Him. While my husband and I have been so
blessed by giving Jesus gifts for His birthday for many years now, we had never
done exactly that. God was about to put
a new twist on “how” we gave! We had
never before asked others to take the gifts they had planned for us and turn
them into gifts for Jesus’ birthday. But
doing so was going to be key to what God was asking me to do personally. When one of our sons asked for ideas from us
for Christmas gifts, my mind started scanning the needs-list/wish-list from
prior conversations. As a few items
popped into my head, there was that momentary thought, “Oh that would be SO
nice! Yes, that would be GREAT!” And then … I felt this sudden, uncomfortable
tug-of-war in my spirit. I chided myself
for having even thought of taking something for myself when I knew within the
depths of my heart that God was asking something different of me. “Will you give Me what is yours?” Before opening my lips, I knew what my answer
would be. “Of course, Lord!” I heard myself telling our son that whatever
they were planning to give me – I wanted to have them add it to Jesus’ birthday
gifts! Excitement rose within me that we
were going to be able to bless Jesus more than we could have just on our own! Do you know what happened next? Amazingly in the very moment that I said
“yes” to what God was asking me to do … my closed ear opened. There was no popping sound, no
sensation. But I immediately could clearly
hear sounds around me that for several days had been diffused and
distorted. I was fully aware that a
Christmas miracle had just been given to me … and my heart was so moved that I
could not speak. All I could do was
whisper to Him through tears … of joy!
For giving me the opportunity to bless Him, to share with others … and
as a surprise bonus, to receive my healing.
I had no thought of “giving to get”.
God’s spirit within moved me to obey out of sheer love and a desire to
bless. Amazingly, though, it seems when
God gets us where He wants us, then He turns around and blesses us right
back! All I could do was praise Him and
thank Him for my restored hearing … over and over and over! I knew He would not tire of hearing me say “Thank
You” again and again! On that first
Christmas so long ago, God gave us what was His. He could have kept His Son all for
Himself. But He chose to send Him from
streets of gold to straw in a manger – to get close to us. He did not spare His Son from the splintered
cross – but chose that hellish death to bring the Gift of Life to us. His Resurrection power blazed through the wrapping
of the linens around His Son’s body and left them laying there on the stone
while He breathed Life into the Best Gift we will ever receive! His Gift says, “Happy Birthday to us!” This precious Christmas Season, my heart is
longing for all of us to say, “Happy Birthday, Jesus ~ we know it’s all about
You! We celebrate the indescribable Gift
that You are! We are truly SO blessed!”
REMEMBER . .
. God had already named His Son before He was born!
This is what He had the angel tell Joseph:
“She (Mary) will give birth to a son, and you
are to give him the name Jesus,
because He will save His people from their
sins.”
~ Matthew 1:21
Joyfully Serving Christ . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
