Using What You Have

I love, love, love being able to do things that I am talented in and passionate about. I tend to put a lot of mental time on things that would fall into that category. Sometimes it is my sermon, sometimes an art project, or sometimes it is a speaking project. All these things I love to do and when I get an itch for an idea I just run with the idea.

The above areas are some of the things that I have been blessed with talent and competency, to various degrees. One of the running themes in all of the areas are creativity. I like to be creative. I like to watch shows that deal with creativity — several fall into this category.

Another thing I like about spending my time doing anything that would fall into those categories is that it generally benefits others. I believe that when we are doing things that will benefit someone, in the end, then it is definitely worth the time spent.

On the contrary, if you are doing something that doesn’t benefit others, then it may not have the same outcome. There are very few tasks that may not be considered something which will benefit someone else. Helping someone out makes me feel good and think my talents are worthwhile.

We all have things we like to do and some of those areas are things we can do that will benefit others. What is it that you can do? Can you help move someone, cook/bake, crochet, cross-stitch, draw, paint, carpentry, tutor, etc.

Whatever you have, use it...so that it may benefit others and glorify God!

Recruiting His (Jesus') Team - A message about the calling of the various

One of the aspects which I love about the church is the various types of people that make up the church - both globally and locally. It reminds me so much of the variety of the 12 Apostles (even the additional two, later in scripture).

They each had their own personalities, flaws, and strengths. However, they didn't all have the same personality, flaw, or strength. They were unique and different. They made their fair share of mistakes, but Jesus put them together to make a great band of brothers to accomplish a task.

Sunday, we looked at the appointment of the original 12 Apostles. As Jesus appointed them and sent them, we are also being sent out to the world! Here are some applications to choose to use this week...

• Being Called ~ There have been times in my life that I was called on the telephone which I wish that I hadn't answered. Sometimes those types of calls are being asked to participate in a group/organization. I tend to say yes to these calls, sometimes with regret. There have been times I've regretted saying yes, initially, but found a great reward in the end. I would think that maybe a few of them started into this new commitment and thought "what have I gotten myself in to?" However, if it was like me, I usually enjoy the commitment, in the end.
• Using the Various ~ God will use you in a great way if you can allow Him to mold you. Too often we start to have some "hardening of the arteries" and lose our pliability. As you are unique, remember that God will use you even when are aren't like "someone else." Too often we can get down on ourselves and think that we are not as useful. Believe me, you are useful! I love Peter's encouragement to his recipients in I Peter 4:10-11 (Read here). It describes how we are different but we can still be of great benefit to the Kingdom!

Think of ways you can be out of your comfort zone to increase the coverage of the Gospel. How can you use your variants of yourself to make a great impact for God?

Now it's your turn...What have you had success in a talent/ability of yours that you thought, at the time, was not really much of a talent/ability?

What Are We Busy About?

Tasks…we all have them.  We all have things on our plates to do during a day.  Even if one is retired and their task is to take seven different medications and have coffee with friends, during a given day, those are still tasks to complete.  However, what happens at the end of all those tasks, how did we come out any better?
I have a job where there are tasks involved and it can be difficult to rest until the tasks are completed.  However, sometimes I feel that though the tasks are completed there isn’t much to ultimately show for it.  In most of those cases, that is where I am confident God is working in places I am not.
Are you busy?  If so, what are you busy with?  That brings us to this week’s quote…

It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, "What are we busy about?"  ~ Henry David Thoreau

As I look out the window of my office, I see some birds flying around in the dampness of the day.  They are not simply staying in their nest all day, they, too, have tasks to complete.  However, I think that they are not just busy, they have a busyness that accomplishes something.
In life, may our busyness accomplish something.  May we not be busy just to be busy.  May we be heading to a goal, even if the goal is not tangible. May we not just scurry around on earth as busy-bodies, or drift from week to week in church without accomplishing much.  May we use the time and talent that God has given us and make the best of each day!

Stifled

Wouldn't it be great to be free?

Near our house is a dog that is tied up.  He is a good-sized dog that would be able to run a lot, if given the opportunity.  Instead, he is tied up on this cable and has about a 24 foot circle to run around in.  He has all the freedom he wants inside of that circle.  He can jump.  He can roll around.  He can run - in circles.  He can lay in his "house".  He can eat and drink.  So much to do in so little of a space.  He would probably be ecstatic to be freed from that circle.

I cannot imagine being confined to living in a circle. However, oftentimes I feel that way.  I think that many people feel that way.  Maybe it is in their family, at school, at work, or in the church.  You can do anything you want, but you cannot go outside of this circle - for one the cable will make sure you stay within. I feel sorry for that dog.  I think "If you want a dog, why make them stay in that small of a space?"

A word that is describes this type of living is "stifled".  It is not an unfamiliar word, but I thought I would look it up for the meaning of the base word, stifle...here it is...

1 a : to kill by depriving of oxygen : suffocate b (1) : smother (2) : muffle
2 a : to cut off (as the voice or breath) b : to withhold from circulation or expression : repress <stifled our anger> c : deter, discourage intransitive verb :: smother <stifling in the heat> to become suffocated by or as if by lack of oxygen

When one is not permitted to be outside of a circle they start off by feeling stifled.  They are having their figurative oxygen taken away.  They are feeling suffocated.  They cannot breathe.  If not given any air, one will either search for air elsewhere, die, or be given air where they are at.

We have "teams" but, from my perspective, if you want to do something that doesn't require monies or help from these groups, get it going!  Don't be so independent that it is kept from the church, but if you want to have a youth event, it doesn't have to be discussed in the Education & Youth meeting.  If you want to use your talents to organize a picnic, no need to go through Member Care & Activity.

The Teams are meant to keep us organized, not prevent us from doing things.  In other words, if you have something on your heart that you want to do for God...DO IT!  Why wait for a meeting...time may be ticking for your "harvest"...get in the fields and, possibly, bring others with you!

If you are feeling suffocated, discouraged, deterred...you need to get off of the leash and do things for Him!  Many references encourage us to use our talents...Romans 12, I Corinthians 12, I Peter 4:10-11 - among others.  Remember that use of talents shouldn't be reserved for our meeting times.  I use probably less than 10% of my talents when we're meeting. 

Wouldn't it be great to be free? YOU CAN...YOU ARE!!!

Your Talent Isn't Yours

We live in a very selfish world. I am one of them. I like to have things my way. I like to do things what I want to do. The plot thickens when you want what you want and they are different. That is our society.

This also reflects to a different part of our culture. We tend to be anyone but the Good Samaritan. We walk on the other side. We totally ignore. We are too busy to care. This also plays into how we use our talents.

With reference to the story of the Good Samaritan, they all had the ability to care for a victim. They had a talent that they refused to use...care. So many of us have talents and we tend to think they are our talents. However, I was listening to a cool new show that came out this spring on FOX and the main character said the line (I hope I quoted it right) that makes up this week's quote...

"You've got it all wrong. You have a talent and it isn't yours. It is to be used for other people." - "Cal Lightman", character from Lie to Me

The premise of the show is an agency that studies facial expressions to determine if one is lying or not. I don't know how true it is, but there are probably some true expressions that indicate different feelings. The workers interview and study people to see if they are telling the truth, and if not, why. All these characters have a talent, which is put to good use. However, the main character said at the end of an episode the line above.

WOW!

It hit me. My talents are not mine. They are given to me to be used for others. Just like your talents are also.

As talents are as broad as any spectrum, so the uses span that much further. That is a huge net that is able to help people.

You have a talent, but do not hoard it. Use it to help others. Don't allow yourself to pass on the other side of a situation by not helping out, be like the Good Samaritan and use your talent to benefit others! Don't get it wrong and think that your talent is yours....'cause it is not!

Reminding myself that my talent isn't mine...

Discovering a Surprise

In the school I went to the most, we had an indoor pool. It was an Olympic sized pool. This may not seem like much, but I lived in a town of about 3,000 people, and this was in 1982. Though I enjoyed being in a pool, I didn't really know how to swim. I was very scared and nervous when our PE class had swimming each quarter. However, through my time there, I not only became very comfortable with the water, I became a much more skilled swimmer. I would sometimes surprise myself with being able to make it to a different level or learn a different stroke. Life can often be a lot like my experiences of learning to swim...

One of the greatest discoveries a man makes, one of his great surprises, is to find he can do what he was afraid he couldn't do. ~ Henry Ford

Trying a new skill is not comfortable to most. You may feel like you are going to make a fool of yourself or afraid of hurting yourself. I've had lots of these types of learning situations - riding a bicycle, learning to snow ski, learning to do a forward flip, etc. All entailed many times of failure before you figure out the skill. Even after learning the skill, there are still moments of failing, but it doesn't stop one from going at it again. Also, once you learn the skills, it is very enjoyable to practice them, again and again.

The same goes with sharing Jesus. You are nervous because it is not something that you are accustomed to doing. You may also have a "one method" mindset that shackles your thinking from realizing you can share Jesus in any way that is natural to you. Regardless of what fear prevents you from sharing Him daily, may you be empowered to overcome that fear. Knowing that once you figure out what is natural to you, you will look forward to the next opportunity. Even if you "fail", you have learned the skill enough to know how enjoyable it is to keep trying!

So, say "Hi", ask "How's your day going?", tell someone, "I'm praying for you", ask "Are you afraid?", just listen, leave a good tip, pay someone a compliment, or any number of things that are natural to you that allows you to have an open door to share Jesus.

Looking forward to the next opportunity to use my skills...

Can't Wait!

Tomorrow I get the chance to be an "in school suspension" supervisor, and I'm excited about it! This may sound odd for someone to be excited about, but look at it this way. God has allowed me to be a model to two boys who, I'm told, were in a scuffle.

I am drawn to "Matthews" (aka tax collectors). Those who "no one likes". I'm not saying that these kids are not liked, but I will probably find out more about the root of the cause of the scuffle as I have 7 hours around them.

I don't know how God will use me. For all I know, He may use me to impact someone else's life, other than those students. But I can't wait to see how He will...

Until later...anticipating the surprise in being used...

E-mail Encouragement: Motivate Someone Today

I have just recently shared that each and every time that I watch the movie Hoosiers I want to go play basketball. I also really like movies that are about teachers, coaches, or leaders that influence a group of people to achieve their goal. Those type of movies fire me up to preach. Concerts have also had the same effect. I once wrote a sermon in very little time after coming home from a concert – from the motivation of a certain song. I say all that to get to this week’s quote…

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily. ~ Zig Ziglar

Zig Ziglar is one of my wife’s favorite motivational speakers. While growing up, her family listened to some of his tapes. Motivation is like gas in a tank, it eventually runs out, if not refilled. Each of the motivators that I mentioned only kept me going for a period of time before I needed something else to motivate me. Hence, we need it “daily” in order to have a passion in our lives to do different tasks. It can also be very motivating to motivate someone else. Since you can’t ask someone to motivate you, try motivating someone else – and see how it affects you! Though, if you have a movie, song, or, possibly, a book that motivates you, use that to get you going!

Is there something that motivates you to do things for God? If so, I hope you use it over and over to motivate you to do things for God. If there is something that I can help you with to motivate you, I’d be glad to help motivate you!

May you be motivated daily to share Jesus in practical ways to those you’re around!!!

Have a great rest of your week!

Motivated ~

Monday Mentionings: Don't Be a Carl - Nehemiah 3:3-5

I hope your week got started off on the right foot. After my weekly "family reunion" with all of you and then a great Love and Respect class, my week got to a good start. Unfortunately, Sunday evening our blower motor on our AC/heater unit decided to go out - during the hottest part of the summer! We're thankful it will be fixed on Tuesday!

Sunday, we looked at the third chapter in Nehemiah, specifically, verse five. In the whole list of those working for the progression of the wall, here is mention of those who didn't want to do the work. I wonder why they didn't? Did they not like Nehemiah, his ideas, his plans, his leadership? As "nobles", were they "too good" for that work? Were they just lazy? I don't know; but I do know that they didn't help out. Our challenge is to not be a "carl". I mentioned that the name Carl had a meaning that was taken from a word that meant the opposite of noble, that is why this lesson was titled, "Don't Be a Carl". Here are some applications to choose from...

1. I see the church as "under construction" because we can always "build on" to make things better. That is not necessarily numerically or physically. Rather, in some qualitative way, we can always improve somewhere. How will you not be a "carl" and get involved in a work of the church? Ask God where and/or what He wants you to be involved with.

2. Paul tells two different churches that the body is made up of many parts. Likewise, a church is comprised of many different types of people. Brainstorm your talents. Then, decide which ones you would like to see used in the Kingdom to aid in its growth.

3. As we understand that we are just a fragment in the whole Kingdom, we can also be encouraged by understanding that we are very important. Just as a puzzle is disappointing when you find out that a puzzle piece is missing, God also is disappointed when a Christian is "missing" by not aiding in accomplishing one of the "missions" of the Kingdom. Praise God that you are just a fragment and revel in the fact that you get to work with a lot of others to "build a wall"!

4. Our church needs you! We need to work together to "build the wall". Our "qualitative construction project" needs everyone working together "in sync" to accomplish our goal. Let us pray that nothing will cause the "cog of completion" to be jammed and come to a standstill!

5. Nehemiah made sure the work continued. On some occasions, God's "plan to save man" has been down to just one person or His peoples' backs have been "against the wall". Satan tried his best to stop the plan, but God was "supervising" and caused Satan to lose and the plan to prevail. We have many obstacles today in which Satan is working in (i.e. ACLU, relativity, no absolutes, etc.). However, just as God caused His plan to prevail, today, He will cause His will to prevail no matter what Satan does to impede it. Pray that as God supervises us and we will understand that He is the "Great Architect" and enjoy being a part of His "crew" to make great things happen for Him in this area!!!

"Carls" aren't involved, using their talents, humble, working harmoniously with the group, and under the direction of God. So, don't be a "carl" - get involved, use your talents, be a fragment, be in sync, and be able to be supervised!

May God bless you as you enter into your Tuesday!

Teaming Up with God ~