Today is Friday, December 14th, 2007; Karen's Korner #1210

This is a prayer composed and emailed to me last Christmas by Chris Lousias, shared with you for this year's Christmas season:
 

A Prayer of the Father’s Gift to Us

 

God of Eternity, Your Holiness, we are not worthy to look upon You.  Your Gift to us is extravagant beyond measure.  We are sinners full of our own pride and our independence from You.  How can You love such a troubled, tangled people from ages ago until now? 

 

Your hope in us is never ending…and still, to this day, in Your compassion for us, You promise us love and life.  You have kept your promise to be merciful forever (Luke 1:55) by giving us a shoot from the tree of Jesse; from whose roots a Branch bore fruit (Isaiah 11:1).  You promised He would be the source of our peace (Micah 5:5). 

 

You delivered that promise so many years ago one Holy night bundled in a sack cloth.  You offered that gift, wrapped as it was, and Father I pray that not one of us pass up the plain wrapping for the pretty bows of an unfulfilled lie.

 

Giver of Life, You opened the Gift to us right before our eyes.  The Gift gave of Himself freely.  The Present that hung on the tree, displayed and exposed for all to see was and still is a cleansing Gift for all who reach for it.  All we have to do is say thank You I receive this Gift.  I believe this Gift is for me and this Gift is non-refundable!

 

This is a precious Gift of tender mercy, a light from heaven that has shone upon us; a Gift that gives light to those who sit in darkness; a light that guides us to the path of peace.  (Luke 1:78-79).

 

Heavenly Giver, You have bestowed upon us a Gift so opulent that its worth exponentially explodes as we share it with others.  By accepting this Gift, we are qualified to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light (Colossians 1:12).  An inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade (1 Peter 1:4).  We give You thanks, Father, and we are humbled because we know we are not deserving of such splendor.

 

How can we please You, Yahweh?  Accept our worship, accept our words of love to You, and accept our dancing before You!!  I pray, oh how I pray that we may please You with how we show Your love to others through us.  I pray the Helper You have sent, fills this place and our hearts with ways to live for Your Glory.  We want to do for You because our hearts are bursting with such emotion.  We long to sit at Your feet and hear the stories of Your mysteries.  Oh what joy, what pleasure to smile with unbroken bodies and minds and hearts before You when the day of Victory comes.

 

Lord God Almighty, we bask in Your love, we praise You for Your faithfulness.  We praise You for our Prince of Peace and the gift of His saving blood.  No Gift like the Gift of Him who gave himself as a ransom for all men (1 Timothy 2:6), a ransom that bought us from our sins for those who believe, will ever compare in this world.  Father, our words of thanksgiving I pray will never cease, but for now, we lift this prayer up to You in the peace and joy of Jesus’ ever-loving name, Amen.

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