Gifts

Have you ever found a gift for someone and you were super excited about it? You probably couldn't wait to give it to them, because you KNEW it would suit them perfectly, or maybe you knew it was exactly what they needed. However, when you gave it to them, they were not quite as excited about it as you had hoped. They seemed appreciative but you could tell, they did not see what you see.

Let's flip that around a bit, have you ever received a gift and you weren't quite sure what to make of it? You graciously thanked the person who gave it to you, and you really do appreciate the thought, but you're pretty sure you didn't need this at all. Nevertheless, you bring it home and set it on the table so you can see it, and and try to find its usefulness, but it escapes you completely. A few days later, you move it to an out of the way shelf or put it in a closet just to get it out of the way, and quickly forget about it altogether.

Sometimes gifts are given not because of what we want, but purely to meet a need. The trouble is, if you didn't want it, then in all likely hood you are probably completely unaware of the need this gift was to fill. I recently received just such a gift, and I left it on the table for a day, but then had decided it was not me. The person who gave it to me is close enough, and loves me enough, that I could say 'I really appreciate it, but this is so not me.' When I did that, I learned more about what I have been missing. I was shown a perspective I had never considered, but it was sound and sensible advice. Turns out, they did know me quite well, and loved me enough to help me fill a gap of which I was completely oblivious.

All of this got me thinking about the gifts God gives us. I believe each and every person is made for a purpose and to that end, has been uniquely given gifts in order to achieve that purpose. The bible mentions gifts of the Holy Spirit in both the Old and New Testaments. Some of the gifts, given to us by God, have been with us since we were born. and are largely responsible for how we interact with the world. Other gifts are given to us at God's discretion and sometimes on an as needed basis. But how do we receive those gifts? Some seem naturally more desirable and others we just might not understand. Take wisdom, understanding and knowledge; YES PLEASE, I'd like some of that! How about counsel and piety? Maybe more of us think we have those, than there are that have truly received them from God. But then there is; speaking in tongues, exhortation, or evangelism, UM...No but thank you for offering.

What happens when we don't see ourselves the way God sees us? Do we put the gifts He has given us on 'an out of the way shelf or closet?' The thing is, if God has given us a gift, then it is in our best interest to see the need differently and use those gifts immediately and enthusiastically. Because when God is for us, who can be against us? There may be times that one area of spiritual giftedness is stronger than others, because they are poured into us at His discretion, but we are to USE them and fulfill our purpose.

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Chicken Tortilla

A repeat but instead of the corn I used last time, this time I used black beans.