X-travagant God

The ABC’s of knowing God better: the letter “X”
                                                                                                   
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. –Lamentations 3:21–23 RSV
      
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. – James 1:17 NIV
      

“How much are you spending on me for Christmas this year?” my husband asked me last week.
      
I didn’t want to tell him I’d already ordered everything on his list. His list, by the way, is comprised of dog-eared pages in several Cabela’s catalogs with which we get inundated this time of the year.
      
So while DH was out vainly looking for a first day buck, I was online not so vainly spending bucks. I was supposed to spend only a third of what I did—that’s what he says he’s spending on me. But trying to pick and choose is too agonizing. It’s a lot easier just to get everything.
      
This seems to be our Christmas history—well, mine, anyway, because I’m the one who’s done the Christmas shopping all these years.

Jaime & Todd, Christmas, 1980

When the kids were little, I tried to get everything on their lists, too. The money was short, but seeing the look on their faces when they opened their presents on Christmas morning was a gift of its own. I wanted to be as extravagant as our budget allowed.
      
We have a heavenly Father who wants to be extravagant with His children, too. Only He can afford to lavish every good gift upon us—and He does. Oh, we don’t get everything on our wish list, but He gives us exactly what we need when we need it and in His way.
      
Some of His gifts we don’t even think about. Or maybe we don’t even realize we’ve been given them.       

Take, for example, His LOVE. It reaches to the heavens (Ps. 36:5), surrounds us (Ps. 32:10), never ceases (Lamentations 3:22), and is the reason He sent His Son to provide the way to heaven for us (John 3:16).
      
His FAITHFULNESS shields us (Ps. 91:4), “extends to the clouds” (Ps. 36:5) and continues through all generations (Ps. 119:90). 
      
His unlimited MERCIES—we receive them daily, fresh as the morning dew (Lamentations 3:22–23).
      
He supplies all our NEEDS, and He doesn’t skimp, either. He provides them “according to His glorious riches” (Philippians 4:19). Wow! All we have to do is ask (Matthew 7:7).
      
His GRACE, which is His daily care, strength, guidance, and favor. His grace is all we really need, for what we lack, He provides (2 Corinthians 12:9).
      
His WISDOM—Once again, all we have to do is ask: “If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God, who gives generously to all, without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (James 1:5).
      
Did you get that? He gives generously to all.

So go ahead. Make up that wish list—then watch your heavenly Father do what He loves to do—be extravagant with His child.
      
      
Forgive me, Father, when I whine and complain that I don’t have enough or I don’t have what I want. Open my eyes to the gifts You shower me with every day. Amen.

Special-Tea: Read Matthew 7:7–11

 
NOTE: For more examples of God’s extravagance, read about the miracles of the loaves and the fishes and see how many baskets of leftovers were gathered up (Matthew 14:13–21 and 15:32–38). Or the miraculous catches of fish in Luke 5:4–7 and John 21:4–6.