WHAT A GIFT

Many are those who are occupied at this season each year with shopping for gifts for those they love or those who they want to do something special for. Time and money, in most cases well spent. However, there are other gifts that do not require money.

                You've heard it said, "It is better to give than to receive." There is a lot of truth in that. However, if one has not received first what does he really have to give? We've all been given life. the whole world is free of the former way if they would but take it. Few are they that have pondered that point and fewer still who inquire as to where this gift of gifts has come from.

                Those of us who call ourselves "true believers" have not only inquired, but have come to know the gift of life and that the true gift is a person. His name is Y'shua (Jesus in English) which means God is deliverance/salvation and through this gift access to the source (the Giver) of all life can be found and received and taught how to live the life He gives.

                The most wonderful thing is we can have this life just for the asking. Once we have it, we come to find that it is so much more than we ever thought or imagined because this life is not only everlasting but truly infinite. The more we seek of this eternal life the more we find. The more we ask of this eternal life the more receive.

                The more we "feed" on this life the more we grow and the stronger we get to live in accord with what we've been given. You will become addicted to this life, which to coin a phrase, "is the Good Life".

                Is there some special way to ask for this life? Yes, there is. Answer the calling, the drawing to your source, your maker who is always available and ever ready to bring you into His goodness to see, to hear and to know Him and the special things He has for you.

                He has promised that if we ask of Him for anything we need, not from Him but of Him, He will make it come to pass. The only thing we must do is believe that what we desire of Him, (again not from Him) He has already put within your heart to ask and has prepared it, custom designed for you.

                Please note, if whatever you desire is not of Him, He does not have it to give. Oh, He does require you give Him something to enter the "giving place", which He refers to as His Kingdom, where He rules and reigns. You must give to His Son who is at the door of the "giving place" all your resentment of others; i.e. you must forgive and let go and ask Him to forgive you. When you honestly ask for forgiveness it is readily available and immediately given as if there had been nothing to forgive.

                When you enter the "giving place" you will be led by someone especially assigned to you to guide you, teach you and direct you to all that the Father of All has specifically for you. Here it is that many have pause and think of all the things they want of this world like material possessions, fame and fortune. Throw those thoughts away and;

                Think about this. The One who created heaven and earth and everything therein has drawn you to Himself because He has of His very being something specifically designed for you just because He loves you with an everlasting and unconditional love. And furthermore, if you will take of this love that He gives, with no strings attached, He will put you with others of the same heart and mind to be about establishing and expanding His Kingdom of the Rule of Love in the earth.

                Oh, and to top all that off He will make you to be just like Him. Why? So you and He and all others like the "new you" would be as One in the earth as in Heaven.

                The Bible calls this as being conformed to the Image and Likeness of Christ Jesus.

                There is no pain when He removes, only gain and gain upon gain. The mind set upon things of this world is not the mind of Christ and will lie to you to keep you bound to the ground. God says over and over again, "I will." He follows that up with, "Who then is it that can reverse it". No one, of course! People are always saying that by your non acceptance you reverse it. Not true. What God has said is always there, is always ready and waiting for you to join Him. When we join with Christ in what He has said is Truth we become one with Them, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

                His word is always present because He said it is forever settled in heaven (the spirit) and He is the one who performs it, not us. The renewed mind is little by little renewed to that which already is. As we say the Amen and the I am to the things given us we will come to know the truth and the truth will make us free in Him. Free to love unconditionally even as He loves unconditionally. Lord hasten the day when I too can fully say, "I am unconditional love", because my living is out of the unconditional love I live within.

                I used to think that I was just being honest when I agreed with the Liar that I wasn't what God said I was. I now know that to be untrue. I am everything that my Father has said and it is He working in me to bring it to establish it for His divine purpose. I quit "kicking against the pricks" and acknowledged that I be as He says I be, notwithstanding what I do. I am His child regardless of what I do. But even as it is in the world, it will not go well with me if I do contrary to what He, my Father has instructed me. Once I realized that my doing would never diminish His unconditional love for me I hungered even more after Him and His presence inside me to be the life to live.

                How is it that we keep asking for His presence and He is the God who is ever present always at once? As He has said, "Come now, and let us reason together." Now always is present. You cannot live life in the past or the future. Life can only be expressed (lived) in the now. The life He gives is the abundant life out of the eternal now. Now I be. Now I am.

                I've been given a choice to make in the now. Believe what He says of me and act like it or don't. It is my choice. Bad choices result in bad stuff happening. You can think you are doing the right thing but if it does not line up with God's instructions you are headed for a train wreck. Heed His instructions and you will always be on the right track and pointed in the right direction.

                On the mount of transfiguration God told Peter, James and John, "This is My beloved Son. Listen to Him!" He is saying the same today and every day. Get still of heart and soul. Quiet your soul and listen for the voice of the Shepherd of your soul. He will speak when you give Him your full attention. After all, He is the Father's gift to you.