THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING!!

WE ALL APPRECIATE RECEIVING GREAT GIFTS; FROM BIRTHDAYS AND WEDDINGS TO ANNIVERSARIES AND GRADUATIONS, THE OPPORTUNITIES TO RECEIVE GIFTS GOES ON AND ON. MANY OF THE GIFTS THAT WE GET, WE CHERISH AND ENJOY FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES.  WE OFTEN MAKE PROVISIONS FOR VALUABLE GIFTS WE RECEIVE, TO BE PASSED ON TO THOSE WE LOVE FOR THEIR CONTINUED ENJOYMENT.  SOME GIFTS  WE RECEIVE, WE ACKNOWLEDGE RIGHT AWAY AS A  GESTURE OF KINDNESS, BUT IF WE REALLY DON’T HAVE A NEED FOR THE ITEM OR SIMPLY DON’T CARE FOR IT, WE FIND A WAY TO DISPOSE OF IT THROUGH REGIFTING OR JUST BY SIMPLY THROWING IT AWAY!  

 BUT HOW DO WE VIEW THE GIFTS THAT GOD CREATED WITHIN US AT THE BEGINNING OF LIFE? THOSE GIFTS ARE OFTEN LABELED AS TALENTS, QUALITIES AND ABILITIES!  OTHERS MAY VIEW OUR GOD-GIVEN GIFTS AND STAND IN EITHER AWE OR ENVY AT WHAT RADIATES WITHIN US.  IT IS GREAT WHEN PEOPLE CAN SEE POSITIVE POTENTIAL ILLUMINATING FROM OUR BEING, BUT IT IS MOST BENEFICIAL WHEN YOU YOURSELF RECOGNIZE THAT THOSE ATTRIBUTES ARE TRULY GIFTS FROM GOD.  HE CREATED YOU WITH THE PURPOSE OF LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST AND TO USE THOSE QUALITIES TO BLESS THOSE AROUND YOU.   HE DESIRES FOR YOU TO BE A POWERFUL EXAMPLE  FOR OTHERS BY USING THOSE GIFTS TO GLORIFY HIM!  

SOME PEOPLE, WHO HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO REACH CELEBRITY STATUS, USE THEIR GIFTS TO PROMOTE THEIR OWN AGENDA.  THEY BELIEVE THAT THEY GOT WHERE THEY ARE SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR UNIQUE QUALITIES AND PERSONAL CREATIVITY. GOD GAVE THOSE PEOPLE ABILITIES THAT WOULD ELEVATE THEM HIGHER THAN THEY COULD EVER IMAGINE AND PLACED THEM IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MANY WILL ONLY DREAM ABOUT OBTAINING.  RECOGNIZING OUR TALENTS AND ABILITES AS GIFTS FROM GOD IS AN IMPORTANT STEP BECAUSE WHEN WE ACCEPT THESE ATTRIBUTES AS GIFTS FROM GOD, WE UNDERSTAND THAT GOD HAS CHOSEN US TO USE OUR GIFTS TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS AND BRING THEM TO THE FOLD.

WHEN OTHERS SEE US UTILIZING THE GIFTS WE WERE BLESSED WITH, PRAYERFULLY THEY WILL SEE THE PURPOSE IN THEIR OWN GIFTS AND WILL HAVE THE DESIRE TO USE THEM IN A WAY THAT IS PLEASING TO GOD.  THIS CONTINUOUS RECOGNITION AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE WILL CREATE A CYCLE THAT WILL MAGNIFY HIM AND ENCOURAGE HIS CHILDREN TO SEEK HIM IN ALL THINGS!! WHEN WE PRAISE AND GLORIFY GOD, WE ARE GIVING HIM THE DESIRES OF HIS HEART.  WE ARE GIVING HIM THE GIFT OF OUR LOVE AND OUR COMMITMENT TO LIVE LIFE IN THE WAY THAT HE CREATED US TO LIVE WHILE HERE ON EARTH. PLEASE DON'T SET ASIDE THE GIFTS YOU'VE BEEN GIVEN AND DON'T TAKE YOUR GIFTS FOR GRANTED! APPRECIATE THE GIFTS THAT WERE HAND-PICKED ESPECIALLY FOR YOU AND LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE, ILLUMINATING YOUR GIFTS FOR OTHERS TO SEE. USING YOUR GIFTS ACCORDING TO GOD'S PLAN AND PURPOSE BUILDS HOPE IN OTHERS AND CREATES A NEVER-ENDING CYCLE OF GIFT GIVING THAT TRULY HONORS AND GLORIFIES GOD!!

JAMES 1:17  EVERY GOOD AND PERFECT GIFT IS FROM ABOVE, AND COMES DOWN FROM THE FATHER OF LIGHTS, WITH WHOM THERE IS NO VARIATION OR SHADOW OF TURNING.