Good afternoon everyone,

Genesis 29: 34,35-Again she conceived and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi. And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “This time I will praise the Lord .” Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she ceased bearing.

If we are anything like children we love the gifts our parents have given us over the years, especially the ones we desired the most. But now as a parent as much as my wife and I love to see the joy giving gifts to our childre, our prayer is that our children would eventually have a greater praise over us and the relationship we share over the gifts we give. That my wife and I are not a "means" to joy and pleasure, but we become that joy and pleasure to them, gifts or not!

Leah so desperately wanted to be loved and treasured by Jacob that she believed the gifts of children given to her by the Lord would finally fulfill her ultimate desire of having Jacob treasure her! But after having Judah (whose name means praise) she simply praised the Lord, displaying that God is no longer a means to her desires, but is her desire and praise!

We are many times like children, desiring Jesus to gives us things that we can be joyful and satisfied with as the "ultimate gift". But like Leah, it takes time to realize that the gifts are always pointing to the Ultimate Gift of Jesus! Jesus was never meant to be a means to our desires for gifts, that we then worship until we get tired of it and ask for something new. As hard as it can be to get out of this idolatry, fight against praising God for only gifts, but press through to worship and praise Him for who He is!

In His Love, Ld