What a Gift
SCRIPTURE: “But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12:31
I don’t have a recollection of when I was ever 100% completely satisfied with all my childhood Christmas gifts. How completely and utterly ungrateful! Guilty as charged! What a narcissistic ninny. Why, yes, that was me! The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:6, “godliness with contentment is great gain,” and I knew nothing about that scripture at that time. All I knew was that Christmas gifts of socks, sheets, and pantyhose were the equivalent of receiving coal!
Yet, I do remember the best gift I ever received, although it was not at Christmas. A former co-worker gave me a nugget that blew me away! Such an awesome gift. I walked into her office, totally unsuspecting, and once she gave me the gift, the eyes of my understanding were blown wide open. Like a shaft, the gift penetrated my soul and spirit, joint and marrow and in an instant, optic nerves opened, synapses were firing. The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit saved me, gave me supernatural discernment, scales fell off my eyes and understanding entered. I remember taking a deep breath, like a first gasp of air after being saved from an incomprehensible depth. That same deep breath was also the realization of my own sin and the depths where Satan had me. The gift that never made sense before made sense that day and it was the Best Gift I have ever received!
What was that Nugget, that awesome Gift? Salvation through God’s Word, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have loved us with an everlasting love and with loving kindness You have called us. Forgiveness and love were already in Your mind before You even sent your only begotten Son. Thank You for the Gift of the Babe in the manger that would one day sympathize with all our weaknesses, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), and take the penalty for our sins. Thank You for sending Jesus for me. Jesus, You weren’t a Gift under a tree, but You are my Gift before time that I would receive in time for all eternity!
By Sis. Paula Smith
Yet, I do remember the best gift I ever received, although it was not at Christmas. A former co-worker gave me a nugget that blew me away! Such an awesome gift. I walked into her office, totally unsuspecting, and once she gave me the gift, the eyes of my understanding were blown wide open. Like a shaft, the gift penetrated my soul and spirit, joint and marrow and in an instant, optic nerves opened, synapses were firing. The miraculous power of the Holy Spirit saved me, gave me supernatural discernment, scales fell off my eyes and understanding entered. I remember taking a deep breath, like a first gasp of air after being saved from an incomprehensible depth. That same deep breath was also the realization of my own sin and the depths where Satan had me. The gift that never made sense before made sense that day and it was the Best Gift I have ever received!
What was that Nugget, that awesome Gift? Salvation through God’s Word, “But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:15
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You have loved us with an everlasting love and with loving kindness You have called us. Forgiveness and love were already in Your mind before You even sent your only begotten Son. Thank You for the Gift of the Babe in the manger that would one day sympathize with all our weaknesses, yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), and take the penalty for our sins. Thank You for sending Jesus for me. Jesus, You weren’t a Gift under a tree, but You are my Gift before time that I would receive in time for all eternity!
By Sis. Paula Smith
Archive
2025
January
Prayer For A New Year 2025Prayer for A Heart Like Christ’sA PRAYER FOR HELP WITH OUR FAITHA Prayer of RepentanceA Prayer to Press OnPrayer For a Fragile Next GenerationPrayer For an Open HeartA Prayer For EndurancePrayer of Praise From the RedeemedPrayer For True EnlightenmentA Prayer: God is Waiting in the New YearSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer That Celebrates God’s WorkPrayer To See Things God’s WayPrayer of Thanks for God’s Keeping PowerPrayer When Faith is Tested: Accepting God’s WillPrayer of Dedication to Our LordA Prayer of Appreciation and WorshipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer For Humble LivingPrayer for Greater Faith to Live for GodPrayer Against Our FeelingsPrayer to the ONE Who Knows All ThingsPrayer For Sight in the Midst of LossPrayer to be Better Lovers of All Kinds of PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellPrayer of Rekindled PraisePrayer According to Your WillPrayer for the Generations to ComePrayer For the Benefits of PrayerPrayer For a Fresh Awareness of the HOLY SPIRIT
February
The Celebration of Jerusalem’s Deliverance: The Festival of LightsSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS WITH Pastor Wayne CockrellThe Gift of ForgivenessGreat Love Requires DisciplineFrom The 2024 Vault: We Must VoteHow Does God Love?Running Our RaceA Prayer of Thanksgiving to GodSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHeart to Heart with GodWill You Be Mine?Birthday Gifts for Pastor Wayne Cockrell.The Discipline of GodStop In the Name of LoveSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellApple of God’s EyeOne Thing NeededStriving Side by SideWhat’s Love Got to Do With It?An Unshakable LoveHis Love and Our WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellAnchored in a Storm by the WordRenewing Your MindI’m Delighted in the LordWe are FamilyFAITH, ALIVE
March
Where is Your Faith?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellGod’s Prayer for MePraise to God in His Holiness and MajestyThank You, But Lord, I Got ThisSound the AlarmBEAUTIFULLY, POWERFULLY, GRATEFULLY RENEWEDThe Imperative to Obey and WorkSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellWeapons for SinBeware the Ides of MarchAn Expectation that Won’t DisappointWhere Does Jesus Say in Your Bible, 'I am God. Worship Me’?Given GiftAre You My Enemy?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellListening for God’s Voice and DirectionsA Good Faith SystemThe Road Not TakenBelieving God’s PromisesLOVE LOVEPraise God for WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYERS with Pastor Wayne CockrellIn Captivity, But Still In His PlansYour Will Be DoneTHE WAY TO THE FATHERLife LessonsI Never Knew YouWhere do You Stand?SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellCaregiver, Doulos, Friend
April
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