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"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world."~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu
🐒 Middle school - I remember those days so fondly- said no one ever. The days of not knowing who you were, what you wanted to be, how you were going to wear your bangs, what backpack was cool, and who you would sit with at lunch.
🐒 My middle school hair sagas include using mayonnaise as a rinse - the only problem is it didn't rinse out. Then I trimmed my own bangs and in trying to even them out ended up cutting them to about an inch long. I stayed home from school the next day out of embarrassment, I guess thinking that one day's hair growth would disguise the mistake. I salute my hairdresser.
🐒 Ah yes, after such huge successes in middle school choosing a career in teaching 8th grade math made perfect sense, right? I actually think because I remembered just how awkward it was it would somehow make me a better teacher?
In Matt 25:14-30 Jesus tells a parable of a master who distributed talents according to their abilities. To one he gave five, to another two, and to another one. The one he gave five to made five more, the one who received two made two more. The last one who was given one was afraid of the master so he dug a hole in the ground and buried it, not earning anything. The master was very pleased with the first two, but the latter he angrily took away the one talent he had given him and gave it to the one with ten, saying,
"for to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But for the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away." Matt 25:29
This parable and the following verses back up what we already know about God - He designed each of us with varying talents and wants us to use them.
"As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." 1 Pet 4:10
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit." 1 Cor 12;4
🐒 Sometimes we feel like we don't have any talents. And sometimes we know we are passionate about different things and possibly good at them. There are tests you can take to help identify your spiritual gifts and your personality traits if you need a little help.
Can you cook? Are you organized? Do you show hospitality whether your house is clean or not? Can you lead others towards a goal as you see the big picture? Would you rather support the cause without attention behind the scene? Are you good with numbers? Can you strike up a conversation with just about anyone? Are you a good listener? Is your first go-to prayer? Is it easy for you to tell others about Jesus? Are you good at teaching others how to do something? Are you artistic? Creative? Athletic?
What are our own gifts? Let's ask God to reveal them to us and show us when & how to use them. Be assured, we have them, and need to use them so others can benefit from them.
We also benefit from being used by God for the kingdom. That's how the body of Christ is designed:
"Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are many parts of one body and we all belong to each other." Rom 12:4-5
"He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love." Eph 4:16
🐒 And then we can truly have world peace.
✙ Dear Lord, You create something out of nothing. You designed each of us with Your eternity in mind and equipped us individually to fulfill our purpose. We know You aren't hiding that from us so please open our eyes to know what, when & how we can use the gifts you've given us to show Your love to this world. Thank You for making us each so unique-help us not to compare ourselves to others, but lead us to work together as Your body here on earth. Amen.
Thanks for the encouragement
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