Receiving vs Earning

"My Kingdom is not about earning and deserving; 

it's about believing and receiving." 

(Jesus Calling)

We should know better than to think that we can earn anything from our great God, Creator of all the beauty around us. But it is so easy to slip into the faulty thinking that we need to earn favor with Him.

But we are made to receive, not to earn. Receiving all that we long for, from our Maker.

"For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son,

 so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." 

(John 3:16)

"Since He did not spare even His own Son  but gave Him up for us all, 

won't He also give us everything else?" 

(Romans 8:32)

With each year that passes, I am gaining more insight into this immeasurable, perfect Love, always giving to His children. It really is beyond our comprehension - we can only catch a glimpses of it (I Cor. 13:12) from our viewpoint. But someday we will see in perfect clarity.

But even the glimpses that we see and experience now are worth everything, for this is what we are made for. I am praying for an open, receptive heart, always open to receive. Not striving to earn, but watching with open eyes and heart - walking and keeping company with Him, and receiving all that He longs to give.

"When you receive My abundant blessings with a grateful heart, I rejoice. 

My pleasure in giving and your pleasure in receiving 

flow together in joyous harmony."

 (Jesus Calling)

Thanking Him for glimpses of His unlimited Love this past week:

The beautiful colors of fall.

Early morning rays from the sun, coming through the window as I type this.

The warmth from our wood stove in our family room downstairs.

Relaxing evenings with my husband, in our "empty nest", around the warmth of this wood stove.

Laptops, and wifi - ways to connect with those we love.

Words - the sharing of the heart.

Photos - ways to capture His many gifts.

Scrapbooking - the preserving of the gifts we receive.

The love of family. (And how it breaks my heart to read of those who don't experience this, such as this young boy; yet, God provides for him, even as he lives alone in the jungles of Ecuador.)
Memories of a loving, godly mother as I went through more of her belongings this past week.
Anticipation of holidays coming up, spending time with those we love.
The joy of food - the preparing of, and the sharing together around the table.
His living, active Word - communicating of the deep Love that feeds us, everyday, continually.

(photo above taken in Cinque Terre, Italy)

(One Thousand Gifts #746-758)

Linking up with Multitudes on Mondays, On Your Heart Tuesdays