Gifts That Constrain

"Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you." -- Matthew 6:4

Have you ever been given a gift and it felt like it had conditions attached to it? Or have you ever given a gift and found yourself checking (subconsciously of course) to see if the person is using it? These are all conditional gifts. We attach conditions to them. Our actions seem to say, "If you love me, and my gift, you will display it proudly and never give it away!" 

I have known a few unconditional gift givers in my life. My husband's parents were among them. I remember one instance in which they gathered their children and grandchildren in one room and presented each and every person with the gift of money. They looked around the room and said, "This is a gift. We don't care what you do with it. In fact, don't even tell us." And they kept their word. Never once was there an inquiry as to the use of the funds. I want to be that kind of giver. 

Our Heavenly Father is the best giver of all. And in Matthew 6:4, He instructs us to give gifts in secret. Maybe He knows our frame and our bent toward giving conditional gifts.

Today's Prayer: "God, Make me a giver just like you; a giver of unconditional gifts; a giver of secret gifts. Amen."

God's Eraser

"A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death." -- Romans 8:2, The Message

Praise God that we are more than the choices that we've made; more than the sum of our past mistakes; and more than the problems we create! God has a great big eraser!

You Are More, by Tenth Avenue North

There's a girl in the corner
With tear stains on her eyes
From the places she's wandered
And the shame she can't hide

She says, "How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was.
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love"

But don't you know who you are,
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

Well she tries to believe it
That she's been given new life
But she can't shake the feeling
That it's not true tonight

She knows all the answers
And she's rehearsed all the lines
And so she'll try to do better
But then she's too weak to try

But don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

'Cause this is not about what you've done,
But what's been done for you.
This is not about where you've been,
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel,
But what He felt to forgive you,
And what He felt to make you loved.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade.

You've been remade
You've been remade.
You've been remade.
You've been remade.