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
Every Gift
It was over a century ago, on Jan. 23, 1922, at Toronto General Hospital, when 14-year-old Leonard Thompson became the first person in the world to receive a purified extract of insulin. A Canadian discovery that has saved the lives of millions globally, insulin came from the work of Drs. Frederick Banting and Charles Best at the University of Toronto, providing hope for people with diabetes, which had previously been a death sentence. Insulin is one of Canada’s greatest gifts to the world.
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There is a group of monks in Missouri who produce delicious Christmas cakes each year to fund their abbey. My brother introduced them to us a few years back by sending us one of their cakes for Christmas. We look forward to receiving our annual Christmas cake each year. We all love to receive special gifts, and we are careful to thank those who give them to us. The Bible tells us that the ultimate gift giver is Jesus Himself. The apostle writes this in James 1:17: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” There is no greater gift giver than our Creator Himself. He began by giving us the gift of life, as he carefully knit us together in our mother’s womb. He then offered us the gift of eternal life through Jesus. On top of all of this he offers us His peace, joy and hope. On top of these spiritual gifts, Jesus teaches us to pray for our daily bread. All we have is a gift – thank the Giver.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley