God is a great gift giver

Girlfriends and Guy friends, I want to get a little personal with you this evening. I want to know, have you ever been delighted? I mean, TRULY delighted? That you just can't help yourself with a squeal, or a little dance, or perhaps even tears of joy? Those emotions just leap from deep down inside of us, something we don't even give a thought to. We just simply react.

I've been delighted this week and I want to be more intentional of God's gifts that He bestows on me, each and every day. I want to be found by Jesus seeking Him now, tomorrow, and always.

The gift that God has given me is memories. I'm not really sure that I had stopped to think about how long lasting that truly is. Bill and I on purpose make memories for the milestones in our lives, it is never about the package that is wrapped. Honestly, many times there isn't a single package, it's all about the journey. A promise we made to one another when we married almost 15 years ago after the aches of divorce.

The past 7 days I've been thinking and reflecting more on the meaning of memories than ever before. Memories is about the investment of self for one another. I haven't been on Facebook all that long, still learning little tricks of how it all works. But last Thursday late afternoon I had a message in my e-mail box from a cousin that I've not heard from in many, MANY years. For me, he was my best friend growing up, and each year when my parents would take a vacation, it was spent in their home. I think often for them, it was the same, they came to Kansas.

We have reconnected and in a short span of time we have chatted about the memories we have of and with one another. 25-35 years ago, memories. It has brought so much joy to my heart and I want to thank MY GOD for this gift. The gift of bringing us back together, the gift of memories, and the gift of Life that flows in us as He is OUR Lord and Savior. You see, Curtis gave his heart to Christ years ago, and has lived on purpose. Me...well it hasn't been all that long, 9 years. I'm thankful for every one of those 9 years, THANKFUL! Today I am living on purpose, INTENTIONAL!

There is a little sadness in my heart as my Man shared that he didn't have those kind of memories. Laughter, joy, togetherness, listening and telling the thoughts that were being rekindled.

Do you think that perhaps God becomes a little bit like my Man? That when we don't fellowship with Him, that He misses that time with us? He misses our laughter, our joy, our togetherness, our listening to Him, and telling Him our thoughts, our very heart?

Job 29:4 "Oh, for the days when I was in my prime, when God's intimate friendship blessed my house"

James 4:4 " You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God."

1 Corinthians 1:9 "God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

I want to encourage you that if your relationship with Jesus has been lacking that perhaps you are the one that has moved from Him. Would you take that step, back....back into His presence? Build those memories, relish them, for they are a gift from Him.

Father God,
Thank You. Thank You for loving us and giving us the greatest gift of all, Your Son. Thank You for delighting our hearts, for stirring our souls, for making Yourself available for fellowship. Lord, we do not desire to be an enemy but to be an intimate friend with You. My thoughts are upon You and I humbly say, thank You for delighting my heart this week with the re-connection of family. Amen.