“This is how much God loved the world, He GAVE the GIFT of His Son, His one and only Son…” John 3:16 (the Message)
As I sit here in my home today, I am watching Oprah, it’s her “Ultimate Favorite Things” show. What this particular show is about, are the items that Oprah has found over the years, that she absolutely loves & wants to share with everyone.
Basically what happens is that she comes out on stage, & shares some kind of story about an item she found, shares how much it costs & who it’s made by, then tells her audience that they are going home with that particular item, the FedEx Elves come out & shower the people with the particular item, needless to say, the crowd goes wild!
Some of this year’s feature’s included, a diamond watch & earrings, cashmere sweater & blanket set by Ralph Lauren, a Panini maker, a Brownie/Lasagna pan, Diet books, her special Hair products created by her hair stylist, 5 years worth of free movies from Netflix, 52’ Sony 3-D Flat Screen Television, Nikon Digital Camera, custom-built closets, Nike Shoes for the Family, & a 7-Day Cruise through the Caribbean.
People get hysterical, jumping up & down, screaming, hands in the air, dancing around, hugging the people around them, slapping “high-fives”, fanning themselves, jaws dropping open, some bawling their eyes out, some just stand there shaking their heads in disbelief. This scene happens over and over for the hour, all waiting to see the next thing that she will bring out –today Oprah actually pointed out the fact that they had Medics on site, “just in case”….
But as I sit here watching—I can’t help but think about the one thing that Oprah can’t buy, or even give for that matter!
For when I think of the Ultimate Sacrifice of my Heavenly Father, & what He gave me—the life of His One & only Son, to die a death that I deserved, so that I could have a life that will last forever with Him, ALL of Oprah’s “Ultimate Favorite Things” pale in comparison to this.
So please excuse me for a moment, as I raise my hands in praise, dance around some & cry out with all that is within my being, “I WILL BLESS YOUR HOLY NAME, & EVERYTHING IN ME WILL DO THE SAME, ALL THAT’S INSIDE THIS DUSTY FRAME, WILL BLESS YOUR NAME! (Psalms 103, paraphrased).
Won’t you join me in giving Him the praise for His Ultimate Gift to us????