“Praise the Lord, for he has shown me the wonders of his unfailing love.” Psalm 31:21a (NLT)

At this time of year, I find myself much more reflective and contemplative than I normally am. Wanting my life to make a difference and hoping I’ve done a few things well in the year that has just vanished. But more than that, I find myself this year with a longing deep in my soul to bring to light all the ways that God has met me. His provision. His Love.

His kisses from heaven. Heaven’s grace: the simple gifts God uses to whisper to us, “You are loved, you are special. You are Mine!” These blessings often cloak themselves in the simple, the mundane but they are love gifts just the same. We see them in a spectacular sunset, the warm touch of a friend, a loved one’s whisper, “God put you on my mind and I prayed for you today.” Sometimes these kisses come in disguise.

I readily admit that some of the “kisses” I’ve experienced this year, haven’t always seemed like His whispers of love in my life; when my beloved son seemingly derailed his life with one poor decision, when a close friend had serious medical issues, when my precious sister was broken and hurting and I couldn’t be there to comfort her. But I have seen God bring beauty from the ashes in ways I never dreamed possible and blessing upon blessing. I have been overwhelmed by His love as I pause to look back.

Lord, I want to live with a heart of thanksgiving. I want to have eyes wide open to glimpse the kisses you send my way and to live in the light of your love all through this year and in the years to come. Amen.

Thought: Take some time today to reflect on how you have been “kissed” this past year by God.

By Kristi Huseby
Used by Permission

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KISSING?  by Rod Marshall

Mother and Child Affection

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The post Kisses from Heaven appeared first on Thoughts About God.

We are told that there are things that accompany salvation (Hebrews 6:9). The things that accompany salvation are probably innumerable. Here are but a few.

Abundant life  –  John 10:10
Being sanctified – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
Christ in us  –  Colossians 1:27
Deliverance from the power of darkness  – Colossians 1:13
Eternal life  – 1 John 5:11
Forgiveness  – 1 John 1:9
God being for us  –  Romans 8:31
Hope  – Acts 24:15
Illumination  –  Hebrews 8:1
Joy and peace  –  Romans 15:13
Knowing the things God has freely given –  1 Corinthians 2:12
Learning Christ  – Ephesians 4:20
Married to Christ  – Romans 7:4
No condemnation  – Romans 8:1
Our names written in Heaven  –  Luke 10:20; Hebrews 12:23
Peace with God  –  Romans 5:1
Qualified to partake of the saints’  inheritance  –  Colossians 1:11-12
Righteousness, peace, and joy –  Romans 14:17
Strength in the inner man  –  Ephesians 3:16; Romans 8:11
Taste of the Lord  –  1 Peter 2:3
Understanding eyes  –  Ephesians 1:18-19
Victory in overcoming the world  –  1 John 5:4-5
Whole armor of God  –  Ephesians 6:11-18
Extra ordinary miracles  –  Acts 19:11
Yearning heart of the Lord  –  Jeremiah 31:20
Zeal for the Lord  –  Roman 12:11

What a joy when our hope is in Christ!

My prayer for you this week

“Creator God, thank-you for making the unchanging nature of Your purpose very clear to us by confirming it with an oath. You did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for You to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. Thank-you, in Jesus name, Amen.”  Hebrews 6:17-20

by Alec Niemi
Used by Permission

FURTHER READING

• • God’s Good Gifts – by Max Lucado
  • God’s Timeless Gift – by Allan Mitchell
  • Accepting God’s Gift of Love by Charles Stanley

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The post God’s Gifts appeared first on Thoughts About God.