God's Birthday Gifts to Me

jason-leung-Lk3niOsNhdE-unsplash.jpg

Today I am wrapping up my 70’s as I turn 79. Hard to believe. I don’t act it, and get told I don’t look it. But surely it will be my hardest birthday, celebrating for the first time in 47 years without Steve.

I like to celebrate all month, though this year has been somewhat subdued. I already had a sweet time with Josh and his family, and some good times today with friends and coworkers.

But gratefully, our God loves to celebrate us and He gives the best gifts of all:

THE WONDER OF HIS LOVE

God loves me!

No daisy petal wondering here. 

His love for me continues to astonish, overwhelm, amaze, comfort, encourage, lift, strengthen…me. Wow!. I hope you live in awe of His love for you!

Yes, we surely know He loves us, but do we really comprehend it?

Just listen to these thoughts God has toward us:

…“I am the apple of His eye.” (Zechariah 2:8) The NIV notes tell me that means that I am someone who is to be greatly protected.

“I am a treasure to Him.” Ephesians 1:18 reminds me that I am part of the riches of His glorious inheritance.

‘He delights in me.” In Zephaniah 3:17, I am told that God is with me, He takes great delight in me, He quiets me with His love and He rejoices over me with singing.

“I am His joy.” In Hebrews 12:1, I learn that Jesus endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. That joy was a restored relationship with me.

“He died for me.” Because of His great desire for me and delight in me, He was willing to redeem me with the price of His own life. What an incredible love! (Galatians 4:4-5)

“He keeps doing good to me.” In Jeremiah 32:38-41, God promises, “I will make an everlasting covenant with them. I will never stop doing good to them. I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.”

But wait! There is more. Out of that love flows to me and to you myriad other gifts from our Savior. Let me mention just two: mercy and grace. 

MERCY IS THE OVERFLOW OF GOD’S LOVE

Over and over Jesus, out of great compassion, had mercy on the suffering, the needy, the mistreated, and the sinful. Like you and me.

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends. His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” (Lamentations 3:22-23)

 "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit" (Titus 3:4-5)

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:3-5)

GRACE IS THE GENEROSITY OF GOD

Through our Savior’s sacrifice, we receive grace that gives us new life, abundant life, all the fruit of the Spirit who lives in us—all that we need:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)

God’s grace could be described as God paying it forward for us.

A GRATEFUL RESPONSE

And what is the response of my heart?

I am so grateful. I feel so loved. I rest securely. I truly want to love Him in return with my whole being. And I can’t help but let that love—and mercy and grace--overflow and touch others.

Being reminded of the depth of His love, mercy, and grace is a great birthday present!

What about you? What has God given you on your birthday?

C2023 Judy Douglass