Between making and packaging a couple hundred truffles, setting up for a luncheon, speaking at that luncheon and throwing a birthday party for my son – I haven’t had time to think lately, much less blog or bake. Wow. What a week.

I wanted to share with you all what I spoke on over the weekend at my church’s annual ladies Christmas luncheon. Here’s part 1…

God’s Gifts Are GOOD!
(and He wants to give them)

Matt 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him.

We all love giving gifts to our kids. It’s just plain fun. God wants to bless us with gifts too – and His budget is limitless. But there are some things that keep us from experiencing the fullness of God’s gifts in our lives.

Keeping Up With The Joneses

“Keeping Up With The Joneses” was a comic strip in that debuted in 1916 and ran for 28 years. The main characters had neighbors…the Joneses. For 28 years, you never saw them, but knew all about them thru things said by the main characters. The comic strip honed in on something in our culture called conspicuous consumption – a culture of judging ourselves based not on what we actually need, but on the status of other people. Of course (insert sarcasm here), when you become a Christian, you stop caring about the “stuff” others have. (yeah right) Actually, we have perfected the art of wanting not only the things, but also our friend’s talents, strengths and giftings. We ignore or trivialize the gifts the Lord has given to us, and look longingly at the strengths of others. How many of you have ever thought “I wish I was organized like her.” “Why can’t I think ahead like that.” “Look how much faith she has” and on and on. We get caught up in comparisons with others rather than the truth of who we are as individuals.
So, just for a minute – I want to remind you of who you are.

You are a daughter of the King of Kings! Psalm 45:13 The royal daughter is all glorious within the palace; Her clothing is woven with gold.

Yes, that’s right. You. Are. A. Princess. A princess!! Glorious!

Psalm 139:14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works,
And that my soul knows very well.

Yes, you. You are made in amazing and wonderful ways. God created you with unique talents that nobody else has. Gifts that He gave you with a purpose and a plan.

Eph 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Prepared in advance. That means God put thought into it. He didn’t just give you random gifts. These weren’t on the clearance rack at the mall. They weren’t just pulled out of a hat and thrown out at people. He knew exactly what He was doing. You are a work of art. Specifically created with a unique set of skills and talents to fulfill the Lord’s purpose for your life. How fantastic is that? So, stop comparing yourself to everyone else – and learn to rest in the magnificent truth of who you are!

Coming up tomorrow…“I Want A Pony!”…