Give Him YOU...

 

Greetings, Dear Friends!

Susie Larson here...

And to those visiting, I say welcome! I post every Wednesday and my sole purpose is to nourish your soul along the way. Each month I give away a $10.00 Starbucks gift card to someone who posts on my blog. So share a story or an insight, bless lots of people, and just maybe you'll win a jolt of java for you and friend!

Last month, in light of the Thanksgiving holiday, we explored some uncommon aspects of giving thanks. 

This month, in light of our Savior's birth,we'll spend the next few weeks exploring differentideas around giving and receiving 'gifts.' 

Now on to my topic...

Today was a frigid cold yet sunny day. While shuffling along on the treadmill at the Y today, I looked out the window at the beautiful blue sky, and I wondered about something. What kinds of gifts does Jesus want from me this season? What kinds of gifts does Jesus want from you?

Picture an assortment of wrapped gifts from you under His tree. What's inside of each package?

Okay, I'll go first...

For starters, every significant thing I accomplished this past year, I give back to Him. Stuffed inside this package is also every hint of pride or shred of ambition that wants a place in my life. Nope, I give all these things back to Him. He'll love this gift.

Next, I give Jesus my right to be offended. When people overlook me, misjudge me, dismiss me, or are simply rude, I give up my 'right' to react to them. Smooshed in this box is the tendency to believe the worst, connect the dots and draw wrong conclusions, and keep a tally of wrongs done to me. Yes, I know Jesus will cherish this gift.

Tucked in a little box and wrapped with a beautiful bow, I give Jesus perspective. When I'm tempted to look down, I'll decide instead to look up. I know He'll appreciate this one.

This next gift needs a large box and lots of wrapping paper. All of my hopes and dreams are in this box. Dreams for my kids, for my husband and me, for our country, for the Body of Christ, for the lost, the poor, and the broken; dreams for the slave and the human trafficking victim. I have lots of dreams. And God's promises are true. I give this very precious gift to God, knowing my dreams are safe with Him. 

A beautiful gift bag holds my time. I give Jesus my time to decide how it should be spent. My commitments are on the table for Him to rearrange or change altogether. This is a scary one for me even though I know He's good. Yes, He's good. This is a perfect gift for Him.

Finally, in a medium sized, shallow box, I place my fears; the fears that trip me up and make me stumble on occasion. In Christmases past, this gift required a much larger box. But healing has come and is coming. God has worked and God is working. My fears are smaller now; less powerful; less significant. Still, they're there. Jesus really wants my fears. He told me as much. So, I wholeheartedly give my fears to Him. I know He'll be thrilled to receive such a gift.

I love our Savior. What He really wants for Christmas is me. And He wants you too.

What gifts do you have for Jesus this year? I'd love to hear from you...

Until next week~

Comments

[Melissa @ Breath of Life]

I need to give Him my impatience, need to be right, and the need to be in control. Which is probably exactly why He's brought to me to this season of my life!

[Lynn Ferguson]

Susie, Merry Christmas! I wrote the poem a few years ago when I was pondering what I could give to the Lord. Love your gifts under the Lord's tree! You have blessed me greatly this past year!! Love you, Lynn

My God and My KingBy Lynn F

I come to praise You, my God and my King,I so unworthy, and yet…You beckon my heart, “Come.”,But, what can I bring?

For You are God, above all things,And I am me, so frail and weak,Tattered and broken, striving, fightingTo shake off life’s sting.But You, My God, beckon my heart, “Come.”…My God and My King, what can I bring?

You’re awesome in power, mercy, grace and love--Ever-present in trial, sovereign, in control of all things.Constantly working, convicting, and refining my soul,A loving Father, You discipline and are eternally forgiving.My God and my King,Who am I that You would call me?

Your throne is the heavens, the stars and the sky,Your robes fill the temple in splendor,The mountains shake at Your voice.The earth is Your footstool andYou rule with all might.

So deserving of all worship, praise, glory, and exalting,The one and only true God, And King of all kings-You are resplendent in glory, holy, just and faithfully caring.You beckon me, “Come.”, yet what can I bring?

In my toil and trouble and weakest estate,You bowed down to meet me.By Your grace my sins were erased.All cleansed and forgiven, I humbly bow,My God and My King who hath saved me,Oh how, oh how…

To enter Your presence,To stand in Your holy placeTo express my thanksgiving,To live forever in Your grace.



Too great for me to fathom,Too awesome to believe,That you My God and my KingWho beckons me, “Come.”,That You would choose me!

You save and redeem from the pit of destruction,You cleanse and restore, and make me brand new.Then give place of honor and call me Your own,The apple of your eye and object of Your affection.Constantly watching and guarding like treasure--Doting and prodding, giving without measure.

The God of the universe and creator of all things,Ruler of all and King of all kingsOh who am I and what can I bring,To praise You and honor You above all things?

And so, to You, my God and my King,Who deserves my life, my all, my everything,This to You is what I will bring…My heart be Your home,My soul be Your throne.

Now it is I who beckons You, “Come!”,My God and my King,Come enter in and live in me.For this is worthy and what I can bring.Make my life Your sanctuary, everlasting.

Amen.

[Deb]

I will give Him my fears in a shallow box. In the past I've kept a huge, deep, weighed down with rocks fear box all to myself. Not this year.Thanks, Susie!

[Lucia Paul]

Wonderful post Susie!

[Daryl Jackson]

Hey Friend,

I am going to give Him all of my tears...any and all tears of sadness with faith that he will bring me tears of Joy....Is that an ok gift?Love you friend,Daryl

[anna J]

Wonderful food for thought, Susie! And after some thought . . . I think the lesson of this year in my life involves my need to control my time. So my gift is simply that--my time! I have erred so often, throughout my life, by valuing productivity and "doing" over being, inadvertently damaging relationships in the meantime, especially with people whose love language is more "quality time" than my own. So I choose to give Jesus my time even when it feels unproductive, not "useful" enough, to me . . .

[Susie Larson]

Melissa,

I'm WAY too late on some of my reply posts but I wanted to thank you for your post and your honesty.

Bless you, my friend!

[Susie Larson]

Oh, my goodness, Lynn, I'm speechless!

First of all, forgive me for being SO behind on my reply posts. Second of all, your poem is absolutely beautiful and wonderfully descriptive. Your Kingdom heart shines right through. :)

Bless you, dear!

[Susie Larson]

Deb,

I'm terribly late on my reply posts but I just have to say, I LOVE your post! I love the tenacity in your words. I once held my fears in a big-weighed-down box, but NOT this year! Way to go! Be free, indeed!

[Susie Larson]

Thanks, Lucia!

Blessings to you~

[Susie Larson]

Daryl,

I love your gift to Him! You are a faithful, wonderful follower of Christ. He will redeem every tear!

Love you!

[Susie Larson]

Anna,

That's a great one! I'm a doer too so I completely understand how uncomfortable it can be to just BE. May God bless you this year with plenty of opportunities to soak up His presence and just BE.Peace to you!