Every Good Gift
Ever notice how the light changes this time of year? The mornings come slow and golden, the evenings fade early. Out here, you start to realize how steady the sun really is. It rises, it sets, and even when clouds hide it for a while, it’s still doing its job.
Most cold mornings, I watch it happen from the recliner by the window in my living room- Bible open, coffee in hand. The frost settles thick on the land before daylight, and then the sunshine starts to move across the hills like a slow tide, melting everything in its path. I love watching that line of light travel, the way it gently pushes back the cold, one ridge at a time. It reminds me that God’s goodness moves the same way: steady, sure, maybe not all at once, but always arriving right on time.
James says that’s what God’s like- steady, unchanging, generous.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
That verse hits differently when you’ve lived through a few storms. Because shadows do shift. The weather changes. People change. We mess up, we lose our footing, and we start thinking maybe God’s as unpredictable as the rest of life. But He isn’t. He’s constant. And not just constant, good.
It reminds me of one of my favorite old hymns, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
“There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not.”
The writer pulled that concept straight from James. I love that image- God’s light doesn’t move, His shadow doesn’t change. In a world that shifts under our feet, His goodness holds steady.
That means when something good shows up- peace that doesn’t make sense, a new chance you didn’t think you’d get, forgiveness you didn’t earn- it is not random. It’s a gift.
Sometimes I think we forget that God actually enjoys giving good things. He’s not waiting for us to fail so He can scold us. He’s watching for the right moment to hand us grace again. He’s the Giver, not the trickster, not the critic, not the one whispering temptation in our ear.
And the best gift? A fresh start. A clean slate. A new beginning. Not because we’ve earned it, but because He’s generous like that.
James says we’re the “firstfruits” of His creation. That’s an old farm word, the first and best part of the harvest, the portion offered back to God in thanks. Think about that: out of all the wild beauty in the world, the canyons, the herds, the mountains, He looks at you and says, “That’s my favorite.”
That kind of love calls for humility. Because it’s easy to think our blessings come from our own hard work. And sure, sweat and grit matter. But behind it all is a Father who gives strength for the work, rain for the ground, and people to walk beside us. When we recognize that, gratitude starts to grow.
Gratitude changes things. It shifts our focus. It softens our hearts. It reminds us that even in hard seasons, there’s still something good to notice: a warm cup of coffee, a loyal dog, a sunrise that shows up whether you do or not.
I need that reminder on the busy days, the ones packed full of work and errands and the never-ending rhythm of raising kids. It’s easy to rush from one thing to the next and forget the gifts right in front of me. But every now and then, I catch myself pausing, maybe at the sink, or in the car, or watching the kids laugh about something small, and I feel that same quiet nudge: This too is a gift.
Pastor Isaac gave us some good “homework” this week: the next time you catch yourself grumbling (and let’s be honest, we all do it), stop and name two things you’re thankful for, out loud! It might not fix everything, but it will open your eyes to the good gifts that are already right in front of you.
God doesn’t play favorites based on who’s “good enough.” In fact, the family line of Jesus tells a different story- full of ordinary people, messy stories, and second chances. There’s Rahab, a woman with a past that could have kept her out of God’s story. There’s David, a king who stumbled more than once. Even Tamar and Ruth, whose lives were complicated and difficult, are part of the line that led to Christ. Grace runs deep in that bloodline. It’s a reminder that God’s generosity doesn’t depend on our perfection- it’s bigger than our failures. He sees our hearts, not just our resumes.
So don’t be deceived about who God is. He’s not the one trying to trip you up. He’s the One picking you up, dusting you off, and handing you new mercy for the day.
He’s steady. He’s good. And He’s still giving gifts.
Reflection:
Where have you seen God’s generosity lately? Maybe in something small, like the warmth of sunlight or a quiet moment of peace in the middle of a noisy day.
Pause, take a breath, and say thank you. That’s worship too.
Most cold mornings, I watch it happen from the recliner by the window in my living room- Bible open, coffee in hand. The frost settles thick on the land before daylight, and then the sunshine starts to move across the hills like a slow tide, melting everything in its path. I love watching that line of light travel, the way it gently pushes back the cold, one ridge at a time. It reminds me that God’s goodness moves the same way: steady, sure, maybe not all at once, but always arriving right on time.
James says that’s what God’s like- steady, unchanging, generous.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)
That verse hits differently when you’ve lived through a few storms. Because shadows do shift. The weather changes. People change. We mess up, we lose our footing, and we start thinking maybe God’s as unpredictable as the rest of life. But He isn’t. He’s constant. And not just constant, good.
It reminds me of one of my favorite old hymns, “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”
“There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not.”
The writer pulled that concept straight from James. I love that image- God’s light doesn’t move, His shadow doesn’t change. In a world that shifts under our feet, His goodness holds steady.
That means when something good shows up- peace that doesn’t make sense, a new chance you didn’t think you’d get, forgiveness you didn’t earn- it is not random. It’s a gift.
Sometimes I think we forget that God actually enjoys giving good things. He’s not waiting for us to fail so He can scold us. He’s watching for the right moment to hand us grace again. He’s the Giver, not the trickster, not the critic, not the one whispering temptation in our ear.
And the best gift? A fresh start. A clean slate. A new beginning. Not because we’ve earned it, but because He’s generous like that.
James says we’re the “firstfruits” of His creation. That’s an old farm word, the first and best part of the harvest, the portion offered back to God in thanks. Think about that: out of all the wild beauty in the world, the canyons, the herds, the mountains, He looks at you and says, “That’s my favorite.”
That kind of love calls for humility. Because it’s easy to think our blessings come from our own hard work. And sure, sweat and grit matter. But behind it all is a Father who gives strength for the work, rain for the ground, and people to walk beside us. When we recognize that, gratitude starts to grow.
Gratitude changes things. It shifts our focus. It softens our hearts. It reminds us that even in hard seasons, there’s still something good to notice: a warm cup of coffee, a loyal dog, a sunrise that shows up whether you do or not.
I need that reminder on the busy days, the ones packed full of work and errands and the never-ending rhythm of raising kids. It’s easy to rush from one thing to the next and forget the gifts right in front of me. But every now and then, I catch myself pausing, maybe at the sink, or in the car, or watching the kids laugh about something small, and I feel that same quiet nudge: This too is a gift.
Pastor Isaac gave us some good “homework” this week: the next time you catch yourself grumbling (and let’s be honest, we all do it), stop and name two things you’re thankful for, out loud! It might not fix everything, but it will open your eyes to the good gifts that are already right in front of you.
God doesn’t play favorites based on who’s “good enough.” In fact, the family line of Jesus tells a different story- full of ordinary people, messy stories, and second chances. There’s Rahab, a woman with a past that could have kept her out of God’s story. There’s David, a king who stumbled more than once. Even Tamar and Ruth, whose lives were complicated and difficult, are part of the line that led to Christ. Grace runs deep in that bloodline. It’s a reminder that God’s generosity doesn’t depend on our perfection- it’s bigger than our failures. He sees our hearts, not just our resumes.
So don’t be deceived about who God is. He’s not the one trying to trip you up. He’s the One picking you up, dusting you off, and handing you new mercy for the day.
He’s steady. He’s good. And He’s still giving gifts.
Reflection:
Where have you seen God’s generosity lately? Maybe in something small, like the warmth of sunlight or a quiet moment of peace in the middle of a noisy day.
Pause, take a breath, and say thank you. That’s worship too.
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