Having It All

 "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things and at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

    Whenever my daughters have asked me for gift ideas, my go-to response has been, "World peace and dryer sheets." Though this is my way of expressing that I have all I need, I really did receive dryer sheets on at least one occasion. God will have to fulfill my other request.

    Did you receive all you wanted for Christmas? Were the gifts you gave received with joy? Sometimes it's hard to recall who gave what to whom and you can forget about trying to remember what you got last year, right?

    Though I understand the idea behind gift giving, that we are emulating God's generous gift to us which was wrapped in swaddling cloths, the materialism of the season has a tendency to rob us of our worship if we aren't careful. 

    Imagine with me you have no tree to trim, no money to spend, not even a friend or relative with whom to celebrate Christmas. No feast upon the table, steaming with delectable scents. You have no chimney by which to hang a stocking. Would Christmas cease to exist? Would your heart be void of joy?

    Put yourself in Mary's shoes. On that very first Christmas, she was far from home, young and inexperienced. In a little stable, she gave birth to the perfect and most priceless Gift that brought peace and salvation to any heart that would receive Him. The glory of the Lord provided the Christmas lights while angels sang the carols on high. Scruffy shepherds were her visiting kin. 

    Did young Mary have all she needed? "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19) 

    Now that Christmas is over, most decorations are stored away and the mailman brings boring tax documents and insurance claims instead of glittering greeting cards. The snow has melted and the festive lights no longer shine, but the true treasure of salvation warms my heart every single day. 

    Only in Christ do we have it all.

"Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing." Psalm 34: 9, 10