Humbled.....

So Christmas this year I learned about the true gift of Christ in Christmas and Forgiveness. I received a gift from someone I did not want to thank. I know you are thinking and this person calls herself a Christian. My did the Lord humble me on my self-righteousness. I did end up thanking but first I had to repent of my anger and unforgiveness and confess to the person before thanking them but in my thank you I spoke of the Lord and His glory and It was Him who had them do give it, and Him who drew me to receive the gift, and Him that allowed me to repent and Him that Forgave. I have been in church for years and spend daily time in the Word. Also after this God did not stop there. I was so amazed b/c this gift that the person gave me was something I thought was lost, I had to sacrifice it ealier in the year. All this year several things happened to build upon this moment. God still in His mercy and grace and knowing I had this seed of bitterness growing in my heart still did this beautiful thing. Not that Christ and the cross was not enough for this old sinner and not that I don't get all emotional when I hear Mary did you Know or Emmanuel but This Christmas at age 35 the Lord my beautiful Savior taught me how to remain repentant, humble, and forgiving toward all mankind and allow Him to be the Judge, The King, The Rebuker and The Redeemer, The Restorer. Right before I was given the gift I had studied in Genesis about how God protected Sarah when she was with King Abilimech and how God protected the King by not allowing him to touch her and He went to Abraham and asked him why he lied and how God forgave Abraham and redeemed Sarah again. Not by any means am I Sarah but what a wonderful scripture to study and How the Holy Spirit prepares our hearts to repent.
As I pondered all this happening and was blessed yet again to spend Christmas with my family and my parents. My mom had recently had an operation and was home For Christmas but then fell ill again. We all were up and down praying just being restless. I was up with her one night and I was sharing with her about my gift and then she said Paige all you have to do is call out to Jesus and He is and will finish molding you and making you into the godly woman you so desire to be b/c your heart is in line with God just trust. I got up and went and read out of devotion as my mom lay there in peace even though she was so ill. The devotion said even Christ who was God and is God did put Himself equal to God but served Him unto death. How arrogant I had been and How much Joy filled my heart knowing that He had forgiven me for putting myself equal to him and how humbled I was and willing to just serve now and be content to serve unto death. Romans tells us to live at peace with everyone with every effort and leave room for God's wrath. My How thankful I am He is a Holy God.