As always, I was grateful for the response to the last blog. That was the one about ceilings, whether they exist (they do) and whether it matters (not so much). It seems a topic more have thought about than you might think.
One of the comments invites further comment on my part. It was written by my friend (and financial counselor) Mark Taylor. A glance at the last post (listed at right) will reveal his full remark. Among his points is his own sense of being short on creativity and wondering if God is more pleased with developing our strengths or the areas where we are naturally lacking.
As for the first, knowing Mark, he seems plenty creative for the line of work he’s in. My confidence in him as a financial counselor is strengthened by his more conservative view of things. He’s diligent, he researches, he stays aware of his field. I, with my flights of fancy and creative whims, need his perspective and know it.
On the other, about what pleases God, first let me separate the theological from the practical. My sense is that God, being the epitome of love, accepts everything we do. That is, with the exception of sin. He is for us! And what we want to work on, our areas of strength or others that just interest us, is a decision he leaves to us.
From the practical perspective, however, it’s in finding our strengths that we learn who we really are, and make our particular contribution.
Let the other areas be developed by those that have them. I, then, will depend on them for help in time of need, and they me when the time comes.
That’s only if my talent is developed. (It’s not much use until then.)
I heard this once: “God holds us responsible for what we have, not for what we don’t have.”
All of us have something.
Work on that.
Our Lives Together
Its About Life
3:41 pm
Yes! Exactly why I need to work at my strengths until I can regularly afford to hire a housekeeper (which is NOT my strength.) :)
10:44 pm
Very timely Hyatt!
During our Monday morning prayer time – we were asking the Father that we remove all self-imposed ceilings (actually the prayer was, we be allowed to use a spiritual shot-gun and blast the false ceilings away!). Kristan was repeating the thought – love God, and do as you please…Psa. 37:4. “Delight yourself in the Lord; And He will give you the desires of your heart” – dying to live in this place!
6:47 am
“Knowing what we have”…now that is the tricky part! I often find myself amazed at what others can do…and often times I wonder if I could the same. Self doubt often times keeps me from reacting to the impulse but sometimes I overcome “it” and try anyways. The results…whether good or bad are hung on Gods refrigerator proudly. All of us are multi faceted…which facet gets polished is up to us. I find that the journey to “know what we have” is the most rewarding…
8:27 pm
A gift is acceptable according to what the giver has, not according to what he has not.
John Stott
8:29 pm
I once heard John Stott referred to as the “ten talent man”….it was true and how he used it to bring honor to God and glory to Jesus.
10:21 pm
I think that “God” gives us all tasks, one that we can handle and the ones that we can’t. The one of which we can handle, we go through it like a breeze in the wind. Then there’s the one that we can’t handle so easily,but if we challenge ourselves to do it and ask him for guidance, I think we can…and when we do, I think “God” smiles at us and give a us a pat in the back, and says ” I knew you can do it”.
And for those people who cannot handle the tasks that “God” has given to them, well, some give up and some asks others for help.
10:35 pm
I was in this mode where I needed reassuring about what exactly I was good at and my husband of 38 years provided that just tonight before I read this blog from you, Hyatt! So perfect! Just like The Lord to talk to a person, such as myself, deliver His message, then follow it up with something just like this—-your perfect blog———–explaining further exactly what He was trying to drive home! Love this and I am so thankful to Him and to you!
4:32 pm
Hyatt,
This was a good blank slate. It spoke to me about what I have; not about what I don’t have. Thank God for His Holy Word and everything he means from it. Thanks for reminding me to do with what I have and not to worry about what I don’t have. Bill is helping the man two doors up with some upkeep on his home and I feel like he is being a blessing. Thanks for your art and blog.
Becky