"Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created." - James 1:16-18

Towards the end of a sunny day on the beach, I find myself drifting into this different place of relaxation and joy.  My absolute favorite time on the beach is from 5-7pm or thereabouts.  The crowds start to leave and the sun is making it's way back towards the ocean.  The light changes and the color of the sand and the water shifts.  Shadows start to get longer.   The beach clears out and usually I'm left with just me, a chair and my thoughts.  

I remember one day when the umbrella that i use just became useless because the sun had shifted too far for it to be useful anymore.  The shade that it provided during the heat of the day moved so far away from me that it wasn't worth keeping the umbrella up anymore.  

I love the analogy that James presents us in this verse.  After he talks to us about temptation in the previous verses, he comes to us with this.  Every good and perfect gift if from above.  God does not change like the shifting shadows of the day. He is constant.  

I love this.  In a world where the scenes change, leaders change, our tastes change, God doesn't.  He never will.  He continues to provide us with amazing things.  The sun, the sand, the ocean, long walks in the woods, books, amazing food.  The list goes on and on.  These gifts that James reminds us of should not be taken for granted. Ever.

God, today, thank you for never changing and for giving us so much.  So so much.  You amaze me.