A Priceless Gift Given to the Underserving...

So many times in life we get used to the nice things and think nothing of them.  We often take the things that were meant to be special for granted.   Why is it we think more of material gifts that will eventually rot away given to us by people of the world then the more valuable gifts that never stop growing given to us by our Heavenly Father?

Recently I have  realized how much my life is a gift,  a gift given by God to someone undeserving.  Going through 2011 I thought it was going to be the hardest year of my life but looking back it has been the most rewarding and blessing filled thus far.  The other morning in my quiet time, my mind started to wonder, I began to ask myself, "Would I still be the man of God, the christian that I am today without the family I grew up in or the friends and leadership I have now and have had along the way?..."  

As that question Lingered in my head and I thought about it more I became more unsure of the answer.  I realized God could have done anything he wanted with my life, he created me.  He knew about the many many many times I would and have failed him, he knew about the times where I would completely shut him off from my mind.  Even though he knew these things he still decided to make me the guy I am today and bless me with the things I have today and my relationship with him.  Yes God gave me free will to make my own choices,  but I realized throughout my 19 years of living the Lord guided me every single step of the way to make the right choices.  He guided me to my high school youth group, where I now have the honor to be a part of the team of leaders,  He guided me to what are now my closest friends (Besides my own family) I could not picture my life with out this family, He brought me to my very own mentor, five years ago I didn't even know what a mentor was now I don't know what I would do with out his spiritual guidance.  One other thing in my life I found to be a very precious gift from God is my family.  God knew exactly where he wanted me, he knew that I would be the most productive for him in child slot number six.  He gave me godly parents, one who has left a tremendous legacy here on earth and the other who has a rock star ministry as a high school janitor... of all things.  After I kept these thoughts fresh on my mind I realized these things, the things that I mostly take for granted, these are the gifts I need to be most grateful for.  Without God's use of these people in my life I would not be were I am today.  God could have easily let me go off the deep end but for some reason he placed each and everyone, who I mentioned, in my life to guide me to the growing relationship I now have with him.  These are the gifts I need to be most thankful for, not the new clothes or watch that go know where, but the gifts God gives that keep growing.  I am very much undeserving for these people and experiences in my life, but words cannot describe the joy and thankfulness I have in my heart because My Father decided to give me these priceless and timeless gifts, gifts that lead me to the most priceless undeserving gift... my relationship with Him.