The Extravagant Gifter

We did it! This morning we participated in cyber Monday mania and bought a new and sure to be exciting Christmas present for our kids!!! In case they somehow manage to hop on the internet and head directly to their mom's blog (every kid's first course of action to be sure) I will not tell you what it is. But it will be a big gift for them, something they can enjoy together and surely play happily with no fighting for years to come (a mom can dream, can she not?).

Let me tell you something about us to put this in perspective. We are not huge gift givers really. My hubby and I mostly stopped doing gifts for each other years ago (which may sound horrific to some but is quite freeing to us). We generally opt for a date night instead, as quality time together is more of our thing. So when it comes to Christmas presents for kids, we tend to lean toward the less is more mentality (although there are no shortages of nerf guns or LOL balls by any means in our home)

But this year, we will shock our kids when they open their presents! And I feel giddy about it! They will be surprised that "less is more" mom and dad (code word for "somewhat lame") got them something they would never expect this Christmas. And do you know what, in that giddy excitement of getting a great gift for my kids, one that I know they will love, I was able to see something so sweet and generous about the heart of God.

I was reminded this morning that God is an extravagant "Gifter." He is not hesitant or reserved in His ability or willingness to give. James 1:17 says. "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning." Our God is crazy generous, the giver of every good and perfect gift. Not only does He gives us good gifts, but He delights in doing so, and in doing so abundantly! John 1:16 says, "From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another." (NLT) As I felt genuine happiness at the thought of getting a good gift for my kiddos, I was reminded that God delights in blessing us above and beyond our wildest expectations.

Have you noticed that the Bible tells us over and over to ask? There are many verses like this, but look at this passage from 1 John 5:14-15: And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

Do I honestly believe that God is willing and waiting for me to bring my "Christmas list" to Him? Will I believe Him when He tells me to ask, not reservedly, not with restraint, not with my “less is more“ mentality, but boldly and confidently in the name of Jesus? Now the catch of course is that we are not asking for Lamborghinis. When I ask anything according to His will and in His Name, I will have it. Peace, love, joy. Hope, healing, life. Help, refuge, defense. Grace, mercy, forgiveness. Courage, wisdom, patience, provision, direction. Ask and it’s yours.

What is on your list? How would you love for God to surprise you, to shock you by giving you more than you would ever imagine? Bring it to Him and ask. Because He loves to bless His children. Because He delights in pouring out His good gifts in our lives. Because HE is The Extravagant Gifter.