I learned how to saddle her, lead her and care for her. One of my best friends had horses too, so I rode with them through the woods and in the pastures near their house. Although she was a tall horse I was never afraid when riding. She kept a good steady pace and behaved well. We had fun together. Not everything about rider and steed was perfect. She could be obstinate and stubborn. She could kick and nip. She liked to mash me up against the stable wall. She didn't always like being saddled. But we kept riding and I kept enjoying her.
Eventually my cousin traded her off and I got married. I still have many fond memories of riding that horse. But that’s not the end of the story.
Recently while visiting with family, I talked about the horse that my cousin had bought. That same cousin was there and he said, “Yeah, I knew Rebekah loved horses so I thought she ought to have one”. I was shocked. Although I said nothing, I had never known the reason why he got that horse. The reason was me. I just thought it was a fluke and an accidental blessing. I enjoyed the blessing of that time with a horse not knowing it was a gift of love. It made me love my time with that horse more and it made me love the giver of the gift even more.
Did you know that your life is a gift of love? Every single day has been purchased by the Blood of the Lamb, because God loves you. You were planned for, prepared for and delivered into this world by earthly parents. But God Himself gave you the breath of life. Before you were even discussed on earth as a possibility, God knew you. He has established every single day for you. You have been given a gift bought with love, paid for at the cross and redeemed at His resurrection.
Oh beloved, you may have been enjoying your life, not giving the Giver of the Gift a second thought. Today is the day to thank Him for this unspeakable gift! Enjoy it. Quit crying over things you cannot change. Quit wishing for something else, when you have the best. Quit hoping for a better day and enjoy today! God knows your struggles, your trials, and the tight places you are in. The One Who ordained your first breath has also ordained every single day for you. He’s even ordained the last breath you will ever take.
Run to Him this morning and ask Him to give you a new appreciation for what He has done. Enjoy today, love the Lord, love your spouse, love your family, love your friends, thank God for every single gift He’s given you and rejoice that you are planned for, prepared for and cared for beyond your wildest imagination. God loves you and He’s for you and that’s a gift no one can take from you.
Ecclesiastes 3:13 And people should eat and drink and enjoy the fruits of their labor, for these are gifts from God.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God NAS
James 1:7 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.
Psalm 139:14-16 I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are Your works, And my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them. NAS
Psalm 79:13 So we Your people and the sheep of Your pasture Will give thanks to You forever; To all generations we will tell of Your praise. NAS
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