The Beauty of a Gift Lavished in Love

Yesterday our "Power Hour" girls Bible Study group was talking around Philippians 4. There are so many amazing and encouraging promises in this little chapter for all of us to draw from. Promises about how to walk free of anxiety and in peace and contentment, no matter what we feel or whatever our circumstances might look like. Promises that teach us how to receive the gifts that God has stored up for us. There are so many uplifting promises. I encourage you to give it a read today. I was sharing with the girls around verse 19 which says "And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus." Doesn't it just blow you away when you read God's certainty. He says that He WILL (not might or maybe) not only supply ... but He will LIBERALLY supply (which means fill to the full) EVERY need that you have according to the riches found in Jesus Christ. My heart was so filled with courage and hope when I see the certainty of God's promises for all who will look to Him and call on Him believing. 

Then we started talking around what kind of needs Jesus is able to fulfill. This verse says EVERY need. That means not only our material needs, but our body, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, ... basically any need that we may encounter in our day. He is waiting for us to look to Him and His infinite resource of love to meet any need that we may have. 

As we were talking I realised that when God gives us a gift ... it is a good and perfect gift, not given to us at our own expense. No ... when God gives ... He gives to us that which will enrich us and it is given at His expense. We started sharing around the many gifts that God has given each of us over the years and I shared with the ladies how God has really blessed us through this pregnancy with little Zac. Over the last six and a half years I have given away all our baby equipment, clothes and things. We are totally starting over from scratch. I had my heart set on  finding a lovely compactum with baby bath inside. In the last 3 weeks I was contacted by a sweet friend who offered me her wooden compactum (with bath inside) and matching cot for R600! I was blown away! It is so beautiful (pictures to follow when the nursery is ready). Within days my very precious mommy darling whom I have been missing SO MUCH (she lives in the U.S.) heard about it and blessed us with the money to get it. This means so much to me because it is a constant reminder of her presence with us and Zac when we miss her as much as we do. 

Then earlier this week, we were blessed with a rocking chair, something that I never had with the girls but always desired. This chair is so special to me because it originally belonged to a very dear friend of mine who nursed all three of her children in it many years ago. She is a mother that I have always admired and looked up to in the way she has raised her 3 children. She too lives in the U.S. and I so miss her friendship - so this chair is such a sweet reminder of her being closer. We are going to have it recovered with the material draped over the chair to fit into our little room. Isn't it beautiful! 

As I shared these testimonies of God's amazing blessings with the girls I was so overwhelmed with God's love that not only has He given us the gift of Zac ... the son we have prayed for for nearly 2 years, but He is lavishing all the practical gifts we need to welcome him into our home. As if this has not been enough, later that morning a dear friend of mine came to me and gave me 8 packets full of little baby boy clothes from newborn to the age of one that my sweet little Godson has outgrown. I was simply blown away. Just take a look at these blessings ...

Today may you be reminded that Jesus has the means to supply any one of your needs. Maybe you need His wisdom or perspective in a matter. Ask Him. You will be amazed at the ways He will speak to you, whether through a friend or book. He wants to meet your need. Maybe you need an injection of strength and joy again. Right now as I sit here and type I have been given a wonderful afternoon off to rest while my children are being taken care of. This was one of my needs that God has met through a precious mother in grace. Ask God and then share with someone the amazing testimonies of how He has met your needs. 

All my love xxx

Janine