Sunday, December 22, 2013

By: Rachelle Hitt Bilbo

The Best for Last

Job 8:7 And though your beginning was small, your latter days will be very great.

While organizing my son's Christmas presents into boxes in preparation for wrapping, I began to reflect on the MANY wonderful Christmases my parents labored over... from working to buy presents...to selecting the perfect gifts...to the way they would give them to us.

First, let me explain that before we could even open a gift, we prayed, thanked God for sending His son, thanked Jesus for dying for us, and each shared what we were personally thankful for in our lives. Although my parents gave thoughtful gifts in an abundance, we always sought God FIRST on Christmas Day!

THEN, we opened presents, but my favorite part was always the SEEMINGLY end when mom said something like, "Oh well, I guess that's it" followed by dad's reply, "I don't know, I think we might have ONE more." "Hmmm...let's see," said mom in a voice of "bewilderment." (No one won an Oscar for those Christmas morning performances lol.)

At this moment...either one of two things happened depending on the year... the cutest puppy ever ran into the room or they found one more gift...the best gift...the one we had hoped we'd see that day! They ALWAYS saved the BEST FOR LAST... AND ... they always had so much joy in giving those very BEST gifts.

I believe that God also loves saving the best for last. While it's okay to enjoy the fruits of our labors and to enjoy gifts we receive and give, James 1:17 reminds us that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above..."

In Haggai 2:9, The Lord encourages the Children of Israel that their trials have not been in vain --- "The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'"

If your "beginning" was rocky or just okay, know that it's not over. Even if you are in a hospital bed reading this... Know that YOU have purpose and the BEST is yet to come!

I challenge you today to embrace the days before you...knowing that God - as a perfect and loving father - desires to pour out His blessings into the lives of His faithful children. With God...it's NEVER over... It only gets BETTER!

Dear Lord, I thank You that You never cease to amaze me. You are a loving and faithful God. Thank You for all of the good and perfect gifts that You have given me. I thank You that the BEST days are ahead for my entire household!

I thank You, my Jesus, for dying for me. I believe that You are Lord and that God raised You from the grave so that I can have eternal life.