happy birthday, Jesus

(Note: This is a post from my former blog - with Weebly - that I posted on here the day after, just to get started.  I'll update soon - lots of amazing things to share!!!)

So I was sitting outside earlier, reveling in the gorgeous weather that seemed like God’s wrapped-with-a-bow gift for Christmas, and had the sudden urge to sing.  That’s what often happens to me when I experience God’s creation, just the simple beauty of the warmth of the sun on my head and the slight breeze in the air, rustling the leaves and tugging at my hair.

And so I sang.  I think when God fills our hearts with His endless joy and love and grace, there’s just no way that we can keep from joyfully praising Him in our response to His Holy Spirit.

How blessed we are.  Jesus came to us to save us.  You.  Me.  To erase our sin.  Completely, no strings attached, asking nothing in return.  But how can we not give Him our lives?  God has given us His very own Son as a sacrifice for our disgusting sinfulness – if He has done even this, how immeasurable is His love?  What other greater thing can He do to show His love for us?  If there is, He will surely do it, pouring His love out on us like no other being can do, like no other love in the universe.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?”  --Romans 8:32

How can we, in our right minds, resist His love?  Why would we?  He’s not pointing a finger at us, berating us for our wrongdoings – far from it!  We’re the ones who drown ourselves in guilt, believing the devil’s lie that God could never love or forgive us.  God has given us His all, His very Spirit!!  I stand in awe before His powerful love.  It surges over me, in me, through me, with power unimaginable.

Sometimes the little things in life help us to remember God’s love for us.  The small beauties, the wind whispering through the trees, the laughter with friends at church, the sun shining.

thank You, Jesus.  thank You for loving me.  thank You for forgiving my sin.  oh, how i don’t deserve it!  but Your love for me is greater than my unworthiness.  thank You, my Savior, for loving me so much that You literally gave Yourself away, nailed to wood in sin and shame.  thank You for rising again and saving me!  i give you my life…please take it and use it in wondrous ways, to Your glory and in Your Name.  thank you, Jesus.

happy birthday, Jesus.  thank You for Your gift to me.  my life is my gift to You in return.

i love You.  thank You for loving me.