(with “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee,” Music: John B. Dykes)
Music: Edwin M. Willmington
© 1988, arr. © 2002 by Shepherd’s Staff Worship Music/ASCAP
God’s Gifts to Us:
The first gift came in the form of a thought — the thought that we should exist even as He knew what we would become. The second gift came with the very breath of God — filling a single precious soul with the essence of the Image and an endless, continuing life. The third gift arrived in the presentation of a perfectly formed world — offered in its entirety for the use of the One, just because He loved enough to give His best. The fourth gift bestowed the authority of choice — despite the impending risk of abuse. The fifth gift was the personal Presence sharing a quiet walk in the garden. The sixth gift seemed not a gift at all, as it bore with it the pain of betrayal, separation, and rejection for both the righteous Giver and the fallen soul who now required an atonement which pointed the Way. But without the sixth, the seventh gift would have been unnecessary. And this was the gift from His heart. For God so completely loved us, that He tore away from His own heart His only, most beloved Son, and gave Him to us, that if we would chose Him for ourselves, the endless existence He gave us could be spent eternally in His presence.
Our Gifts to the Lord:
The first gift came in the acceptance of the sacrifice of the Giver and the appreciation of life reborn. The second gift — lifted hands and bended knee pouring out honor and praise to the One who has given so much. The third gift offered in gratitude — a living sacrifice of every talent, skill, resource, and the very essence of the image back to the Life of the sacrifice. The final gift is given when our crowns of glory are placed at His feet, because He loved us first, so we could love Him for eternity.
Lord, may the music, words, service,
time, talents, and meditations
of our hearts
be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14 (author's paraphrase)
© 2002 Kimberly H. Shoup
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for local church use only, without the prior permission of Kimberly H. Shoup.
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