The Perfect Gifts For You!

Merry Christmas!
from my family to yours.
Isn’t Christmas such a perfect time to celebrate God’s incredible gift to us?
In New Zealand, Christmas is celebrated in summer so there is no snow, snowmen or lots of lights. But we still see God’s Christmas mark on nature. He decided to bless New Zealand with it’s own native Christmas Tree – the Pohutakawa Tree!
It’s bright red blossoms appear at the beginning of December for about 6 weeks. I took the above photo down the road from where I live – the waterfront is covered in these beautiful red blossomed Pohutakawa trees. As you walk along the path beside the water, you feel like you are royalty as the ground is covered with the fallen blossoms like a red carpet!

Walking along the “red carpet” brings so many thoughts to my mind – God loves beauty, He loves to shower us with beauty. He gives the Northern Hemisphere a gorgeous white Christmas. I have heard that each snowflake is unique, just like humans. No-one is the same, we are all unique. What a BIG God! We can see His character in the nature around us can’t we?

A “red carpet” is for royalty and the Pohutakawa tree is blossoming at the perfect time – a time to remember Jesus, the King of all Kings. If you are a daughter of the King, then you are also a princess!

With all the Christmas shopping happening this week – God reminded me of His gifts to us – the ones that hold REAL VALUE! Instead of a “life time guarantee” they have an “eternal guarantee”. His gifts don’t come with an exchange card because He knows exactly what you need or desire. He has in His possession the perfect gifts for you!

“Every good and perfect gift is from ABOVE, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17 NIV

God’s gifts to us, the gentiles, started over 2,000 years ago when Jesus was born in the stable at Bethlehem. They continue today , wrapped up in the Word. Paul in Colossians 3:1 tells us to seek them out and unwrap them!

“If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead] aim at and seek the [rich eternal treasures] that are ABOVE where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” Colossians 3:1 Amplified

I encourage you to make it your aim this Christmas and into the New Year to SEEK out the gifts that your Heavenly Father has for you. They are hidden in His Word and in communion with His Spirit. He has the perfect gift for you to unwrap every morning! – the Amplified Bible says “perfect” means free, large and full! Our God is not a god that buys His gifts from the “$2 Shop” (do you have those in the U.S.A?), gifts that come from the “$2 Shop” are small, cheap and short-lasting! They just bring clutter into your life. But the “perfect gift enriches your life. Happy gift hunting!

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I want to tell you about something that is COMING SOON that is so exciting!

I have finished my book on “Discovering God’s Names”.

It is jam packed full of revealing thoughts on God and His names. It is born out of my research on His names for my ladies Bible study that I led this year. It is set up like an 8 week group study but is also perfect for individual meditation. I can’t tell you how much I have learned about God, His nature and my own poor image of Him. This study has really been so life changing. It has enriched my spiritual life and turned my image of Him upside down and inside out!

Here is a brief outline of what is included – I start the study by talking about the significance of names and why it is good to study God’s names then we move through 7 of His names in the order that they appear in the Bible – Elohim, Adonai, El Roi, El Shaddai, Jehovah, Jehovah Jireh and Jehovah Nissi.

Watch this space for more details on how you can obtain your copy of “Discovering God’s Names”

Merry Christmas!
Rachel Larkin

God is ……

God is so much more than we realise isn’t he?

He so wants for us to seek Him out and find out MORE about who He is and His plans for us.

At the beginning of this year I had one prayer on my heart – from Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good!”
He is good all the time to us. He has provided for all our needs this year. I have witnessed God healing me, my family and an internet buddy (Hi Stephanie – I am still praising God for your healing!) this year.

I have tasted and seen that God is good – but it has created in me a hunger for more tasting!!!!
2008 is going to be great!!!

What have you prayed for at the beginning of the year? – share your answers, write a comment.
Rachel Larkin

Love is GRAND!

My Hubbie and I have been married for 15 years yesterday!!!! WOOHOO~~~~~~

We had a very romantic lunch on a veranda of a historic villa amongst a gorgeous country garden!!

No Kids! (sorry darlings) and it felt like the real world was far away.

Isn’t it good to ‘get away’ in the middle of the day.

Well Christmas is in full swing in our home – the tree is up and the house is decorated. BUT the focus is all ME! ME! isn’t it? How many people will actually remember and thank God for His son this Christmas?

Make room in your heart for celebrating Jesus and His love for you – His Love is GRAND!

Rachel Larkin