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My mom, me and Bobby’s mom

Yesterday some dear ladies at our church hosted a lovely party in honor of our baby. I’ve been to many baby showers, played the “don’t-cross-your-legs game” and eaten a piece of a giant stork cake. But yesterday was different. I was the guest of honor! We didn’t play any silly games and there wasn’t a stork cake and I had a wonderful time. It is a bit stunning when a room is packed full of ladies who are all there for you and have brought gifts just to celebrate something on your behalf.

That is how I felt yesterday–overwhelmed–as I opened not just a few nice gifts, but lots of them! These ladies went all-out to give to us and I was very touched by it. We received some bigger items, some specially homemade, some fun gifts and lots and lots of clothes. This baby is going to be much more styling than Bobby and I put together!

I was reminded about Paul’s encouragement to the Philippians when he assured them “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) I have been learning and seeing how God works even to the extent of our physical needs. Sometimes I’ve been wrong thinking that God gives us only an abundance of spiritual resources that are above and beyond all we need, but am finding that He also gives all we need physically. Bobby and I didn’t even think we’d have a place big enough to keep any gifts if people were kind enough to give them, and yet, the Lord has provided our new home, and we were able to put our new gifts that the Lord provided yesterday into the whole empty room that the Lord has also provided.

This morning I looked up some other verses that directed my thoughts on receiving and/or giving. Three main things stand out from all the passages I found:

Ask. Sometimes we need things and I just wonder and worry, “How are we going to get this, oh dear, what will we do?!” But Scripture puts our needs in such a simple light

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find;
knock and it will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives,
and he who seeks finds, and to who knocks it will be opened.
Or what man is there among you who,
if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in heaven
give good things to those who ask Him!”
Matthew 7:7-11

God is above and beyond the gifts and love of an earthly father. But even earthly fathers know how to give gifts to their children. God will surely give good things to those who ask Him for what they need. Instead of turning to man-made plans, worry or fear I should turn straight to my heavenly Father and simply ask Him for what I need. If He sees it fit in His will to give something good, He will! Maybe sometimes the reason we don’t have is simply because we don’t ask God for it. This doesn’t mean that we will get everything we ask for, but it tunes our hearts to see that all we have is given to us from Him alone. Start asking.

Give. God has given so much to us all beginning with life in His Son. We have His Word to guide our lives, families, friends, a home, food, clothing and so many possessions that we don’t even need. He has given much and in turn we should give much to others. It helps to see first, that nothing I have is my own. It all belongs to God as it was given to me from Him (James 1:17). In turn I shouldn’t hold so tightly to my possessions or even my time and energy, but should turn to the Lord and the people in my life and offer all I can in loving and serving them. If I remember this it is not so difficult to believe Jesus words, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)

Be Content. Sometimes we get stuck on asking and receiving and we are not just content with what we have. We might fall into the deception that we need more to be happy, so we ask a lot, but keep what we have to ourselves and hope for more. Contentment is not ignoring a need or putting aside all desire for good things. Contentment is a joyful peace that is not dependent on any circumstances. It is rooted and maintained by living each day giving up all our needs and concerns to the Lord, who in turn gives us all the strength we need to be content in all circumstances (Philippians 4:13). James 4:3 exhorts us not to ask God for things out of discontent and other wrong motives. “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” Sometimes we can confuse “need” with “greed” because we can become consumed with the desire to have comfort and ease that the heart behind our request is one of personal gratification or selfish desire. All that we seek or ask must be for the purpose of bringing glory and honor to God.

This weekend I wasn’t just blessed by a shower…it felt much more like a downpour from heaven. Bobby’s mom was able to come up for the weekend. She sewed a beautiful quilt for the baby, so that was a very special gift. And my mom and my sister Monica surprised me and came up for the afternoon. Seeing them is the only gift I wanted from them! But of course they came bearing sweet presents for the baby and even a couple for me! How good the Lord is! He seems to continue to reach down from on high and put joy in my life. The only response I can think that makes any sense is to praise Him.