.

In case you have never done this let me tell you how we work it. Somewhere around Labor Day they take everyone’s name and put it in a hat. You draw out the names for the amount of people in your family. Then you keep your names a secret and go out and buy a gift for that person under the previously assigned limit. Let’s say that the limit is twenty five dollars.

This is a fine system and it works out well for us. For me to have a really nice Christmas the names we draw are very important. Let me give you my thoughts. There are two types of people here, the names you do want to draw and the people you want to draw your name.

First of all you do not want to draw the name of anyone who already has everything. You know the people they have enough money during the year to get whatever they want and have absolutely everything. What in the world can you get someone who has everything for fewer than twenty five dollars!? You just feel very inadequate bringing your small gift to the table.

Then there are the people who you want to draw your name. These are the people who have plenty of money this time of year and totally ignore the twenty five dollar limit. You know your going to get something nice and have a great time on Christmas Eve because the gift is going to be really nice. These people, of course are my favorite relatives.

As I thought about this one thing is very obvious about both names I mentioned. The people whose name you do not want to have and the people who you do want to draw your name are the same people.

I find this situation to be very similar to God. When it comes to God what can we give Him that He, the creator of the universe does not already have. There is no way we can match His great gift of eternal life or even the simplest of blessings that He daily gives.

Then on the other hand we love the fact that God is in the business of blessing our lives. He has all the resources of the entire universe at his disposal and He never seems to hesitate to use them as He richly blesses each of our lives. I am so glad that God does not set a previously arraigned limit to how He wishes to bless us, or if He does have a limit He seems to go over the limit constantly.

What I know for absolute certain is; I am glad that God drew my name.

Scripture: Ezekiel 34:26, “ I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing.”

James 1:17, “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father may we during this season give praise to you and to give thanks for your beautiful gift of your son. Lead us to be people who acknowledge your blessings not only at Christmas but all year long. In Christ Name we pray, amen.