Day 97 - Using Your Talents

Do not neglect the gift that is in you.

1 TIMOTY 4 :14 NKJV

"God gives each of us a unique assortment of talents and opportunities.  And our Heavenly Father instructs us to be faithful stewards of the gifts that He bestows upon us.  But we live in a world that encourages us to do otherwise.

Ours is a society that is filled to the brim with countless opportunities to squander our time, our resources, and our talents.  So we must be watchful for distractions and temptations that might lead us astray.

God has blessed you with uniques opportunities to serve Him, and He has given you every tool that you need to do so.  Today, accept this challenge: value the talent that God has given you, nourish it, make it grow, and and share it with the world.  After all, the best way to say "Thank You" for God's gifts is to use them." p196

"Not everyone possesses boundless energy or a conspicuous talent.  We are not equally blessed with great intellect or physical beauty or emotional strength.  But we have all been given the same ability to be faithful." - GIGI GRAHAM TCHIVIDJIAN p196

"The Lord has abundantly blessed me all of my life.  I'm not trying to pay Him back for all of his wonderful gifts; I just realise that He gave them to me to give away." - LISA WHELCHEL p197

"It is the definition of joy to be able to offer back to God the essence of what He's placed in you, be that creativity or love of ideas or a compassionate heart or the gift of hospitality." - PAULA WHELCHEL p197

"Almighty God created us, redeemed us, called us, endowed us with gifts and abilities and perceptions. To demean the gift is to insult the Giver." - PENELOPE STOKES p197

TODAY'S PRAYER

Father, You have given me abilities to be used for the glory of Your Kingdom.  Give me the courage and the perseverance to use those talents.  Keep me mindful that all my gifts come from You, Lord.  Let me be Your faithful, humble servant, and let me give You all the glory and all the praise.  Amen

Day 2 - You Are Not An Accident

Points To Ponder: I am not an accident.

Verses To Remember: "I am your Creator,  You were in my care even before you were born." ISAIAH 44:2 (CEV)

Questions To Consider: I know that God uniquely created me.  What areas of my personality, background, and physical appearance am I struggling to accept?

Day 1 - It All Starts With God

Points to ponder: It's not about me.

Verses to remember: "Everything got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." COLOSSIANS (MSG)

Questions to consider: In spite of all the advertising around me, how can I remind myself that life is really about living for God, not myself?

The Purpose Driven Life by Warren Zondervan

What's next for Lent?

Yesterday, Ash Wednesday, marked the beginning of the period of Lent. As you can see, I like to read inspirational books. Throughout this period of Lent, I will now be reading The Purpose Driven Life by Warren Zondervan. This book, will last  the duration a 40 day period, which is typically associated with Lent.

For the next 40 days I will be reading through the book and selecting quotes that I feel are relevant to the world, and myself.

As you may have noticed, I have not yet finished Stephen Arterburn's - 100 days Of Serenity.  As I still have only 3 days remaining with this book, I will place my main focusing upon it, continuing to display quotes from that book onto my blog. 

As for the new book, I am now on Day 2, and for the next 4 days I will simply put the key points from each day, not direct quotes.

I'm sure I will enjoy the next 40 days of reading The Purpose Driven Life, as much as I have enjoyed the past 96 days of reading 100 Days Of Serenity. And I hope you will too =)

Day 96 - This Is His Day

This is the day that the Lord has made.  Let us rejoice and be glad today!

PSALM 118:24 NCV

"God gives us this day; He fills it to the brim with possibilities, and He challenges us to use it for His purposes.  The 118th Psalm reminds us that today, like every other  day, is a cause for celebration.  The day is presented to us fresh and clean at midnight, free of charge, but we must beware: Today is a non-renewable resource - once it's gone, it's gone forever.  Our responsibility, of course, is to use this day in the service of God's will and according to His commandments.

Today, treasure the time that God has given you.  Give Him the glory and the praise and the thanksgiving He deserves.  And search for the hidden possibilities that God has placed along your path.  This day is a priceless gift from God, use it joyfully and encourage others to do likewise.  After all, this is the day the Lord has made." p194

"Some of us seem so anxious about avoiding hell that we forget to celebrate our journey toward Heaven." - PHILP YANCEY p194

"All our life is a celebration for us; we are convinced, in fact, that God is always everywhere.  We sing while we work ...we pray while we carry out all lives occupations." - ST. CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA p195

"The Church is the last place on earth to be solemn ...provided you have lived right." - SAM JONES p195

"Celebration is possible only through the deep realisation that life and death are never found completely separately.  Celebration can really come about only where fear and love, joy and sorrow, tear and smiles can exist together." - HENRI NOUWEN p195

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, You have given me so many blessings, and as a way of saying "Thank You," I will celebrate.  I will be a joyful Christian, Lord, quick to smile and slow to frown.  And, I will share my joy with my family, with my friends, and with my neighbours, this day and everyday.  Amen 

Day 95 - Your Real Riches

Don't collect for yourself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in steal.  But collect for yourselves treasures in haven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don't break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

MATTHEW 6:19-21 HCSB

"All too often we focus our thoughts and energies on the accumulation of earthly treasures, creating untold stress in our lives and leaving precious little time to accumulate the only treasures that really matter: the spiritual kind.  Our material possessions have the potential to do great good - depending upon how we use them.  If we allow the things we own to own us, we may pay dearly for our misplaced priorities.

Society focuses intently on material possessions, but God's Word teaches us time and again that money matters little when compared to the spiritual gifts that the Creator offers to those who put Him first in their lives.  So today, keep your possessions in perspective.  Remember that God should come  first, and everything else next.  When you give God His rightful place in your heart, you'll have a clearer vision of the things that really matter.  Then, you can joyfully thank your heavenly Father for spiritual blessing that are, in truth, too numerous to count." p192

"Wealth is something entrusted to us by God, something God doesn't want us to trust.  He wants us to trust Him" - WARREN WIERSBE p193

"When possessions become our god, we become materialistic and greedy ...and we forfeit our contentment and our joy." - CHARLES SWINDOLL p193

"What we posses often posses us - we are possessed by possessions." - OSWALD CHAMBERS p193

TODAY'S PRAYER

Dear Lord, all I have belongs to You.  When I leave this world I take nothing with me.  Help me to value my relationship with You - and my relationships with others - more than I value my material possessions.  Amen