We lost our cat of 14 years the day before Easter. But God has brought us a furry visitor with coal black fur and green eyes! It is actually one of neighbor’s outdoor cats. This one has kind of adopted us and we love having “Padme” with us. She in turn seems to be grateful for our attention as well. The other day I left an old pair of running shoes out on the back patio and forgot to bring them in. They could be seen through the sliding glass doors and the rest of the family watched as Padme cheerfully brought a live lizard that she had caught and deftly deposited it in one of my shoes. She looked through the glass with a triumphant pose, sure that I would be honored by her kind gift! She hadn’t killed the lizard, and he decided that my shoe was not going to be the safest place for him. He ran off and I was thankful I had not quickly stepped into my shoes! Sometimes the giver of gifts just doesn’t realize that their gift, while appreciated, just isn’t going to work out. But I appreciated the cat’s thought and effort, even though I was glad to be lizard free. God is a great gift giver, and he brings us gifts that we just cannot refuse! The Apostle Paul wrote that his gifts included his choosing us, calling us to himself, giving us right standing with him and even giving us his glory. But the greatest gift was and will forever be the sacrificial gift of his son. There are those who refuse that gift…who don’t want it or think they need it. Whatever the reason, they reject it. And God is generous in his gift giving…but he never forces us to take what he so generously offers to each one of us. Every gift is bathed in his love for us, and he has given us so much. Paul ended his bit about God’s gift giving by saying that since he has given us his heart in giving up his son for us, he will continue to give us everything else that we will need for a full and rich and joyful and eternal life. And each one of them is a reminder of his great and everlasting love for us. Here’s our Bible verse for today…
Romans 8:30-32 NLT And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (31) What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (32) Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ
Romans 8:30-32 NLT And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory. (31) What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us? (32) Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else?
Remember I’m praying for you!
With love, PJ