Unwrapped

I vividly recall some of my favorite Christmas gifts as a child. One standout year was when I received white roller skates with hot pink laces and wheels. How can I ever forget the year I got my Knight Rider car? My parents always gave incredible gifts for birthdays and Christmas. Yet, above all the material gifts, what I yearned for most was their love and acceptance. By now, most everyone's Christmas gatherings have concluded, and the chaos of preparation and planning has settled. Family members who visited have now departed. All the gifts have been unwrapped, except perhaps one. I encourage you to receive with childlike faith the impossible, the unseen, His goodness and very best for you.

Unwrap the Gift

This gift surpasses anything we dare to think, dream, or imagine. It exceeds every expectation and brings with it a profound sense of purpose, joy, and hope. Have you ever been in a new place or with someone, and it instantly feels like home? That is what this gift offers. It's a place of belonging, a space to know and be known. Everything else becomes trivial, and the present moment takes precedence. The goodness of God is experienced in a truly tangible way.

For many, the holidays present challenges. Rather than bringing joy, they can evoke memories of pain and loss. It can be difficult to sit in a room full of family and feel like they're strangers.

We often know people only superficially, while our blood family is expected to be closer. In Hebrew, the word for family is Mishpacha. God's family embraces everyone. We are inherently designed for connection and relationships. At times, our chosen family becomes closer than our blood family. The common denominator is to love and be loved.

God's gift to us is love—an unconditional love that transcends human understanding and embraces every individual, irrespective of their past or present situations. To genuinely experience heaven on earth, we must choose to accept this extraordinary gift. It is essential for us to love others authentically.

I don't think a lot of people really get just how deep this love goes. It's easy to say God loves us but actually letting that love in can be a lot for some folks, especially if they haven't been loved right before. A lot of us have been let down or hurt in the past, and those experiences can make it tough to see the amazing things God has planned for us and to accept the best He wants to give us.

We are often accustomed to conditional love—emotions that change based on our behavior and achievements. How frequently do we dwell on past pain and disappointments from those who are meant to love us? It's all too common to focus on the past, but this mindset can obscure the bright future ahead—one brimming with hope, joy, and infinite possibilities.

Unwrap Hope

The Christmas season embodies both giving and receiving. For many, giving gifts comes more naturally than receiving them. This is truly the season of miracles and a time to celebrate the greatest gift of all. Are you ready to expect more than you deserve and give in a way that transcends the ordinary? I urge you to elevate your love for others. Countless individuals are in need of an encouraging word and a divine touch. You possess the power to bring heaven to earth, to share His goodness and unconditional love. We have the privilege to mirror the very character of our heavenly father.

How can we show that love to others, especially to those who have wronged us? Family gatherings may involve people who have caused us pain or let us down. We can aim to demonstrate peace, humility, and forgiveness in our interactions. We have the power to choose how we respond to them.

Establishing healthy boundaries is crucial for our emotional and spiritual health. We do not have to carry the weight of others' actions. Instead, we can build an atmosphere of grace and love—for ourselves and those around us. God’s grace has been extended to us, and our mission is to share that grace with others. Are we prepared to love others as they are in their journey and comprehension of love without imposing expectations?

Choosing forgiveness may seem daunting, particularly after facing repeated disappointments. However, I've discovered that by consciously deciding to forgive, we invite love, healing, and renewal into our lives.

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

True hope is ingrained in our very DNA. We were created to reflect the glory of God, our creator, our Father who loves us and has good things planned for us. He intends to give good gifts to His children. True hope is about surrendering control and embracing His love.

Unwrap Love

Sharing love—even with those we think are undeserving—has the power to change not only our hearts but also atmospheres around us. Keep in mind, if divine love depended on our deeds, none of us would qualify as worthy.

We often struggle to embrace unconditional love, yet I am reminded of the steadfast love my grandmother demonstrated. Her words, “Nothing you do can make me love you less,” resonate deeply. Even in my rebellious years, she confidently steered me toward recognizing my true identity as a child of God. She would assert, "Heather, that's not you. You are better than that!" This instilled in me the invaluable truth that my worth is not defined by my mistakes—a belief that has taken some time to take root.

Consider this: those around us might try to define our worth based on their perceptions. They often miss the beautiful creation God made in each of us. I encourage you to engage in open conversation with God about His love and intentions for you.

1 Corinthians 13

1Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never fails.

Receive it!

Go ahead and ask Him for the impossible, trusting in His love and kindness again. It's time to receive. To truly tap into God's gift, we need to open our hearts, let go of pride, and take a leap of faith into the unknown. By accepting God's love, we also become channels for that love and faith to others. And wow, does the world need it!

Envision a world where everyone confidently embraces their identity as beloved children of God, consistently reflecting His love in all aspects of life. Such a transformation would be profound. By receiving God’s love, we empower ourselves to freely extend love to those around us.

The most valuable gift you can ever receive is the love and kindness of God. But are you prepared to embrace it, or will you leave it untouched like a Christmas fruitcake? Think about my skates. What if I let the fear of occasional bruises stop me from learning to skate? I would have missed out on the enjoyment! God often presents us with a gift, and we treat it like an enigmatic package from a distant relative. Perhaps we're afraid that skating involves more falling than gliding. God's love isn't dependent on our worthiness. It's a free offering waiting for us to accept it with a "Yes, please!" Once we do, we can build a close relationship with our Creator—one that fills our hearts and minds with joy (and maybe fewer bruises). Fear deprives us of the joy and goodness of God.

Authentic Love

Many of us fear vulnerability, worried about being truly seen. However, vulnerability is essential for building genuine relationships. When we open ourselves up to God and others, we foster connections that lead to healing and growth. And friends, this is where true revival takes place. Love is about GIVING.

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

We are not defined by our past. Rather, we are defined by the unyielding love that God extends to us. Finding heaven on earth begins with each of us making the conscious choice to receive and share love. Moments of connection, forgiveness, and love are transformative.

Childlike Faith

Miracles surround us, but we often overlook them because we're too absorbed in ourselves. We've lost the innocent faith of a child. A friend recently showed me a photo of his daughter wearing his glasses, which I saw as a sweet gesture of admiration for her dad. I suggested to my friend, what if we were more like her and eager to put on more of our heavenly father? What if we were in awe of Him and aspired to reflect Him, just as she desired to mirror him?

This Christmas season feels particularly meaningful and distinct from previous ones. There is a growing sense of excitement and hope within me. Maybe it's because I've had a missionary from China living with me for the past 5 months. I'll have to cover all that in another blog. I hold onto the belief that miracles still occur and are meant for us today. Let this season remind us of the wonderful gift we have in Jesus. His love is a treasure, offering an invitation to experience healing and transformation.

I encourage you to believe in miracles, hold firmly onto hope, and embody love. May we be seen as a reflection of our father and His great love for us.

Let us choose to embrace the ultimate gift of love, let it go to work in us and through us into all of the world. United, we can cultivate atmospheres wherever we are that reflect the glory of heaven on earth!

Receiving love is an act of faith. It’s the first step toward a hopeful future. Trust in God's goodness and stay open to the extraordinary ways He can transform your life and the lives of those around you.

Will you in childlike faith receive God's VERY BEST without walls for your life today?