[SPEAKER_00]: As we near the end of our weekland focus on being children of the most high God, we're going to take time today to create space to discover and receive the blessings of our Father.
[SPEAKER_00]: Our God is good and loves to bless us in countless, wonderful ways.
[SPEAKER_00]: May we taste and see God's goodness today as we open our hands and hearts to receive the gifts of His love.
[SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first 15 podcast.
[SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from James 1, verse 17, Scripture says, Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
[SPEAKER_00]: Our Father loves to bless His children, all that we have has been given to us because our Father loves us unconditionally.
[SPEAKER_00]: In Matthew 7, verses 7 through 11, Jesus says, ask and it will be given to you.
[SPEAKER_00]: Seek and you will find.
[SPEAKER_00]: Knock, and it will be open to you, for everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks, finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.
[SPEAKER_00]: Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?
[SPEAKER_00]: Or if he asks for a fish, we'll give him a serpent.
[SPEAKER_00]: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children.
[SPEAKER_00]: How much more will your father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him?
[SPEAKER_00]: One of the most important spiritual principles for Christians is that God is good, and he gives his children good gifts.
[SPEAKER_00]: With all the depravity, pain, suffering, and wrong in the world, we must establish the unshakable goodness of our Heavenly Father as our foundation.
[SPEAKER_00]: the blessings of our Father are fast and numerous.
[SPEAKER_00]: Oftentimes, He blesses us in ways that go unnoticed from a light rain or a cool breeze to an unexpected gift or a miraculous healing.
[SPEAKER_00]: Our God is constantly working to turn the evil in this world for our good.
[SPEAKER_00]: James 117 says, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
[SPEAKER_00]: The world will try to tell you that God plays favorites.
[SPEAKER_00]: It will look at the life of one and compare it to another as if it were every person's destiny to be the wealthiest and most successful person in the world's eyes.
[SPEAKER_00]: God blesses us in far greater ways than worldly success and wealth.
[SPEAKER_00]: He is concerned with that which is eternal and will actually produce the abundant life your heart truly desires.
[SPEAKER_00]: And while provision in this world is most definitely important and got promises to provide everything we need physically, he has not promised to make you a success in the eyes of the world.
[SPEAKER_00]: He has only promised that if you follow him, he will guide you to the best possible life, filled with the fullness of relationship with him, purpose, and every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.
[SPEAKER_00]: If we truly take stock of our lives, compared to what we deserve, we will begin to better see the incredible blessings given to us by our loving Heavenly Father.
[SPEAKER_00]: allow God to guide you away from the pursuit of that which is fleeting so that you might be filled with greater deaths of joy at the abundance of eternal life and blessings which are yours in Christ Jesus.
[SPEAKER_00]: Take time today to reflect on the blessings you've been given by your father, allow him to shift your pursuits away from earthly wealth and success, toward that which will actually satisfy you for all of eternity.
[SPEAKER_00]: May you be filled with joy and thanksgiving in light of the wonderful gifts you've been given by your good and loving father.
[SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, reflect on the blessings you've been given by your heavenly Father.
[SPEAKER_00]: Take time to really think about all that your God has done for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: James 117 says, every good gift and every perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of Lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
[UNKNOWN]: Thanks for watching.
[UNKNOWN]: And next.
[SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Lord to help you shift your pursuit, away from earthly wealth and success, that you might receive to greater measure, the joy and blessings, belongs to give you.
[SPEAKER_00]: In what ways have you been pursuing the things of the world over the things of God?
[SPEAKER_00]: What worldly pursuit has captured your attention and is guiding you away from the abundant life God longs to provide for you.
[SPEAKER_00]: And last, take time to receive the love of your heavenly father and rest in his presence.
[SPEAKER_00]: often it takes spending time in God's loving presence to have our perspectives and pursuits shift.
[SPEAKER_00]: Communion with our father changes everything.
[SPEAKER_00]: Exodus 3314 says, and he said, my presence will go with you and I will give you rest.
[UNKNOWN]: Thank you very much.
[SPEAKER_00]: When we allow God to free us from pursuing worldly success and pleasing others, we experience to greater depths the joy of relational living.
[SPEAKER_00]: When relationship with our father is our chief goal and soul desire, we position ourselves to live joyfully and satisfied in every season and circumstance.
[SPEAKER_00]: May you follow the Lord's leadership into a life of greater joy and peace, and may your eyes be opened to the wealth of blessings given you by your loving, near and good father.
[SPEAKER_00]: Thanks so much for listening to today's podcast.
[SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh Miller with verse 15.
[SPEAKER_00]: One of the best gifts God gives us is being used by him to bless others.
[SPEAKER_00]: The Bible tells us that we are God's body, his hands and feet, and often he uses his people to reveal his love and tangible ways on the earth.
[SPEAKER_00]: Who around you needs a sign of God's love, a sign that God wants to bless his people.
[SPEAKER_00]: What could you give today?
[SPEAKER_00]: I want to encourage you to take a step today and join God where he's at work, give someone a word of encouragement or a gift or an act of service, and experience the blessing of being used by God to love another.
[SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Kim.