Do It Afraid ((2))

THIS IS FROM ONE OF THE DAILY DEVOTIONS THAT I GET FROM CHRISTIANITY.COM... MY THOUGHTS ARE BELOW THE DEVOTION......

"But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them,as he chose." 1 Corinthians 12.18 (ESV)

Devotion:

Oddly enough, I'm thinking about plastic knives today. You know, thekind you get with your to-go meal at restaurants, packaged with aplastic fork, spoon, and napkin?

For years I ditched the plastic knife, thinking they are a waste of energy and not very useful at cutting my food. Steak, chicken, pot roast...metal knives slice right through these, but not plastic knives. Hardfoods are not their forte. Where plastic knives do excel, however, is in cutting fresh from the oven, piping hot brownies!

Have you ever cut brownies with a table knife and made a ragged mess outof them? Well, I've discovered a way to enjoy them, and keep them intact, while they're still warm. I've used this trick successfully foryears, as my hips will attest. Nice squares of warm, gooey chocolate goodness with smooth edges can be yours when cut with a plastic knife.

Knowing plastic knives' special knack for cutting brownies, I use them specifically for that purpose. I don't try to cut cardboard, steak orwood with them. That would be a senseless misuse of their gifts.

Oh, but how often have I misused my gifts or stepped away from mynatural talents, attempting something I am not really cut out to do?This usually leads to frustration and a mess.

The point is this: God designed each one of us with certain abilities, but we tend to look at the abilities of the other women and we getc aught in the comparison trap. We try to emulate her gifts and hertalents when God has called us to something totally different.

Some of my friends have better culinary skills. Some of my friends traintheir children better than I. Some of my friends are well organized. Some of my friends...well, it really doesn't matter. What does matter is this: What am I going to do with what I am?

Paul puts it this way in I Corinthians 12.17-19: "If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were anear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a singlemember, where would the body be?" (ESV)

In what way has God gifted you? Have you yet to use that talent for Hisglory? Are you a wonderful hostess? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who is a teacher. Are you an organizer? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who is creative. Are you great with children? Then don't compare yourself to the woman who writes the newsletter.

After many years of anguish over my place in this world, or in mychurch, or in a women's group, I've come to embrace that which God has blessed me with. And I've decided I love being a plastic brownie knife!

Dear Lord, thank You for the gifts and talents You've given each of us.Please show us where we are most useful for Your kingdom and Yourpurposes. Give us boldness to carry out Your will especially when it might be an unexpected task. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


EVERYONE HAS A PURPOSE IN LIFE. EVERYONE HAS A MISSION TO ACCOMPLISH.ONE OF MY FAVORITE QUOTES IS: "WHEN I AM AT THE END OF MY LIFE AND I AM STANDING BEFORE GOD, I HOPE I CAN SAY, 'GOD, I HAVE NOTHING LEFT. I HAVE USED EVERY TALENT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.' THAT QUOTE IS SO YUMMY. WOULDN'T THAT BE SUCH AN AMAZING FEELING? MARK AND I GO TO A LARGE CHURCH IN INDY. TRAFFIC NEEDS DIRECTED WHEN CHURCH LETS OUT OF SERVICE EACH SUNDAY. THIS WINTER, THERE WERE ALWAYS VERY KIND PEOPLE OUT IN THE SNOW-FILLED STREETS DIRECTING TRAFFIC TO ENSURE EVERYONE'S SAFETY. MARK AND I WOULD ALWAYS COMMENT ABOUT HOW THANKFUL WE WERE FOR THOSE PEOPLE.THEY WERE VERY GIVING OF THEIR TIME AND EFFORTS AND IT WAS GREATLYAPPRECIATED. THAT WAS CERTAINLY A JOB THAT NEITHER MY HUSBAND NOR I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE.

BUT THEN IT GOT ME THINKING. MAYBE THOSE PEOPLE AREN'T WILLING TO GIVEUP A WEEK OR A MONTH OR A YEAR TO DO SOME MISSION TRIPS AND HELP BUILD HOUSES AND START BUSINESSES ABROAD AND EDUCATE THE PEOPLE IN THE VILLAGES. MAYBE THEY WERE GIVING THEIR TIME THE WAY THAT THEY WERE ABLE. WE ALL HAVE A REASON FOR BEING HERE. OUR LIVES ARE SUPPOSED TOBE USED TO DO GOD'S WORK AND SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT HIM. WHETHER YOU CHOOSE TO DIRECT TRAFFIC OR SERVE DINNER AT A HOMELESS SHELTER OR WRITEA CHECK TO UNICEF OR TEACH ENGLISH, YOU CAN SERVE GOD AND OTHERS WHILE YOU ARE HERE. MAKE THE MOST OF IT. AND DON'T BE AFRAID TO 'DO IT AFRAID.'