A Gracious Giver.

Thanks, Jesus, for the gift of jungle trekking on an island in Malaysia.

“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end…I know that whatever God does, It shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, And nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been; And God requires an account of what is past.”

Ecclesiastes 3:11, 14-15.

 

 Thanks, Jesus, for the gift of friendship with these two humans: McCrea Grace and Grace Lynn. Thank you for toast and HP and floss and laughs.

“As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God. For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.”

Ecclesiastes 5:19-20.

Thanks, Jesus, for the gift of rest in the midst of the trials of Africa.

 

Life is such a gift. Down to the very breath in our own lungs, the very breath of God. It’s filled with tender kisses and gentle whispers of the Father. Intended solely for our eyes to catch a glimpse of the glory to come.

 

I mean, God Himself was the sole source of light for “three days,” and knew it would be too much for us, so He breathed the sun and moon and stars into existence so that we may still experience LIGHT. So that we may still stand in awe and wonder at the representative beauty of the grace and glory and love still to come.

 

Thanks, Jesus, for the gift of Zambia Falls; for your creation that allows us a glimpse into your glory and wonder.

It’s all a gift meant to be a temporary placeholder for something bigger. And while the Father is so gracious to give us such gifts that overwhelm our hearts with such high affection, we have a tendency to place our eyes and affection on the gifts themselves and not the glory and love of the Giver behind them.

 

We aren’t meant to hold onto such gifts with permanency; because they’re not. And they were never meant to be. By holding on, by not releasing these gifts back to the Father when it’s time to, we taint our view of the gifts and of the Father Himself. We prevent Him from providing us with more gifts and more glimpses of His heart. By thinking of each gift as a gift, as a temporary bestowal that never actually belonged to us, we get the opportunity to enjoy both the gift and the Giver. To more fully receive grace and love to such a degree and in such an abundance that it melts into the glory already placed in and around us. And yet still, there are some gifts that He allows us to treasure for a lifetime. Gifts that allow us to abide in the presence of His smile. Gifts that emit glory beyond comparison.

Thanks, Jesus, for this gift. The greatest gift. The gift of life that is Zoe Harrison. And the gift of allowing me to be apart of hers.

 

“If you prepare your heart, And stretch out your hands toward Him; If iniquity were in your hand, and you put it far away, And would not let wickedness dwell in your tents; Then surely you could lift up your face without spot; Yes, you could be steadfast, and not fear; Because you would forget your misery; And remember it as waters that has passed away. And your life would be brighter than noonday. Though you were dark, you would be like the morning. And you would be secure, because there is hope; Yes, you would dig around you, and take your rest in safety. You would also lie down and no one would make you afraid; Yes, many would court your favor.”

Job 11:13-19.

 

Thanks, Jesus, for the gifts of Greece and adventure and freedom from fear.

And still, in the transition from one gift to the next, the Lord is inviting us into more. In this painful season of further release and surrender, He tenderly prepares our hearts for the glory to come by gently shifting our gaze into the eyes of the Giver Himself.

 

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

2 Corinthians 3:18.

 Thanks, Jesus, for the gifts of Emily and Emma. For the gift of leading and loving the Tovs.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.”

Psalm 84:5-7.

 

 

Thanks, Jesus, for the gift of Team Behold; the gift of leading and loving ISquad alongside Zoe and Sav Sav. The gift of being led and loved by these two humans. 

In allowing for a transitional “TO” season, the Father is beckoning us into abundant life. He is calling us deeper and into more. The normal pattern of life is to go from strength to weakness. And without a TO we are left holding on to a singular strength and a singular glory. But in welcoming us into the TOs, we are granted unlimited access to strength and glory.

 

Thanks, Jesus for the gift of this life, this race, these humans and the TO season I’m currently in. 

Thanks, Jesus, for the gifts of Ignited Squad and community and a never ending supply of prayer and exhortation and love.