Day 157---Thursday's First Blog Post!!

Gifts?

Writing my first blog post...me?  Yes, something I am feeling like I need to do.  I think I’d rather tell a story through my pictures but I’m feeling a nudge to step out of my comfort zone and trust.  I’m going to start slow and do one blog post a week with what God has put on my heart.  There will be more than just the one picture a day on this particular day.  So- on Thursday’s of every week I will have pictures and a little writing to go with them.  Yes, all of this for the 3 people who see my blog including my Mom!  You know what…I think this writing gig is more for me though.  I’ll take it! 

This week, I have really been digging into gifts.  The gifts that God gives to us.  You know, those things that you are really good at, the things that you love to do, the things that make you happy?  Those are gifts and we can use them to bring glory to God.  But how do we do that?  Sometimes, well- most of the time, I let that lie come into my head that I’m not good enough or perfect enough.  But God is not in the business of seeking out perfect people.  In Mark 2:17, Jesus says, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor- sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”  That speaks to me.  I read this week in Stressed-Less Living by Tracie Miles, that “God is in the business of blessing those who admit their imperfections and weaknesses and embrace their need for him.”  And don’t we all need him?

I’ve been thinking about my gifts.  I have some gifts of coming back with a zingy comment to my husband.  That’s probably not a gift though.  Photography is something I love to do.  I enjoy taking pictures of the beauty I see around me….even the ugly-beautiful around me.  My joy is in that.  I don’t get a lot of joy in taking pictures of people…other than my children.  Taking pictures for friends stresses me out.  I want it to be perfect and I stress too much about it.  I don’t like to be stressed.  But my true joy is finding the beauty around me.  I am always seeing it and saying, “There is a picture!”  My joy turns to passion once I add a message to that photo.  This is where God comes in for me.  I believe I am supposed to take pictures with a message.  I hear it from friends, family and people that I barely know- about how my pictures touch them.  My pictures?  That makes me happy and brings me joy.  If my picture with whatever message I put on it…brings someone closer to God, then I am supposed to share this gift.  Bruce Wilkinson said, “It’s time to begin the journey of your life.  May your heart sing as you embrace everything God has planted there.”

“Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time – pray that our God will make you fit for what he’s called you to be, pray that he’ll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something.  If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you.  Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.”   ~2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 The Message

What are your gifts?  What makes you happy and what makes your heart sing?  Spend some time thinking about that and read Ephesians 2:10.  “For we are God’s masterpiece.  He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.”  What gifts has God given you and how will you use those gifts?  I have to say that when I see God and stand before Him, I hope he will say, “Well done my good and faithful servant, well done.”