Tending our Talents

In the parable of the loaned money, (found in Matthew 25:14-30), Jesus tells of a master who is preparing to go on a journey. Prior to his departure, he gives varying amounts of money to three of his servants. To one, he gave what would be worth about $5,000, to the next; $2,000, and the last; $1,000. He entrusted each of them with his money, expecting to see a return. When he arrived back from his journey, he checked to see how each of his servants had done.



The first, to whom he had given much, had earned an equal return, doubling the master’s money.“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness!” – (Matthew 25:21)



The second servant had done the same. He had been entrusted with $2,000, and had $4,000 to return to his master. “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” – (Matthew 25:23)



Finally, the man who had been given $1,000 reported to the master. The foolish servant claimed to fear the master, so he had gone out and buried the money in the ground. Upon the master’s return, he dug it up, and took the money to present back to his master. His master did not give him the reception he had likely expected. The talents had been given for the servants to utilize, to invest – not to hide away. Taking his talent, the master had him removed and sent out, and gave his money to the one who had multiplied the most.



“God gives us time, gifts, and other resources according to our abilities, and He expects us to use them wisely until He returns. We are responsible to use well what God has given us. The issue is not how much we have, but how well we use what we have.” – (NIV footnotes for Matthew 25:15)

Each of us given,
talents meant to grow;
blessings from the Lord,
to extend, to sow.
May we use our time,
with wisdom and grace;
invest what’s given,
in our present space.
May He multiply,
whatever we bring;
so more hearts may know,
to honor the King.
Let our hearts soon hear,
the words from the Son;
“Come and share my joy,
your work is well done.”





Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You bless us with time, gifts, resources and abilities that You have purposed for us to utilize to serve and honor You. Thank You that we are not expected to do this in our own strength, but rather in Yours. Thank You that as we earnestly seek You, You make our path plain. Forgive us for our fearfulness, or our anything else that keeps us from moving forward and utilizing what You have given for Your purposes. Teach us how to be bold on Your behalf, and may many come to know the hope that is found in You alone. Be glorified as we give You all of ourselves. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present.

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. – James 5:11

Terrified

Terrified.

May 7, 2014 at 1:00am

To be honest, I’m terrified.
What can I say? It is simply the truth. Is it okay to feel this way? Is it okay to let the world know? How vulnerable can I be?

The truth is I am terrified. Not just afraid, but terrified. I know what some of you are thinking…Overdramatic, but, I kid you not. Look at it through my lenses:

For 6 years I have dedicated my life to a specific job that has required certain skills and special knowledge to complete.. The problem is, when it comes down to it, I have no control as to what will happen next.

You see, I get “paid” – if you can even call it that – by individuals who have decided that they like me enough to fund me, or they see the work I am doing and want to help fund the job. This leaves me and everything I invest myself into and puts it at the hands of a group of individuals who have a lot of other things going on for them and a lot of other focuses. In a regular 9-5 job, growing in a skill set or working overtime would get you ahead in life. Not in this business. Doing what I do requires that I give up everything – a comfortable home, job security, health benefits, regular income, a normal routine, etc – for the sake of something else or someone else.

Well then, why do I do it?

I do it because I know the value of what I am doing. Sure, I get paid $1.50 an hour, but I don’t do it for money. I do it for Him. I do it because I know that the reward in the end will be worth it.

Here is my problem though.

Not only am I terrified of what may come in my life, but I am terrified of letting people know I am terrified. In this line of “work” you need to be strong. You need to have all your ducks in a row, because if you don’t, that $1.50 and hour becomes $.75 an hour, and now I can’t pay rent.

But, I post “Terrified…” on Facebook anyways, and immediately I will have a slew of messages from “concerned” people – some who really do care – and then about a dozen comments under my post, sharing inspirational scripture that they think will help me or some ridicule as to the content of my character. All of these things coming from hearts of gold, I’m sure, but all that ends up getting translated to me as “you’re not doing your ‘job’ right.” In a moment of weakness, I slip up and let the world know what is going on in my heart, and it takes that phrase and runs a mile with it.

Well goodness, what am I to do? Take the hint and end it all? Keep pressing on with perseverance? Take it as a sign that He wants me to give it up?
I have no idea. I didn’t study for this part of the test apparently. So, I keep trucking along. Hoping it gets better. I start a new campaign that will hopefully get more support behind me. This takes away from other tasks at hand that I need to focus on and now some supporters are getting antsy.

“What is he up to” they wonder. “I’m not supporting him so that he can just ‘hang out’ and ask for more!” they say. - - - I sit in silence. Not sure what to do.

You see, I spent 6 years doing this. I don’t “know” anything else. I didn’t go to college because I thought this would be what I would do with the rest of my life. In fact, all of the learning I have done has been so specific to this ministry these past 6 years that, there are really no jobs out there for me to be beneficial to. I will need to start at the bottom no matter where I go, and the only entry level job out there is maybe some dishwasher or fry cook (both respectable jobs which I have both worked as). I can do it. I just feel as though I wasted 6 years preparing myself for nothing. Goodness, if people knew my mind went there I would get sermons galore in my email tomorrow. I know the “right” answers, I have taught them to people, but in a moment like this, many things are tested.

Faith is a funny thing. It keeps the fire burning even when there seems to be no oil left. It will always take faith to press through the hard times. It will always take faith to move forward into an unknown area. It will always take faith to believe the Words that Jesus spoke so long ago. That if I seek His kingdom and righteousness all of these things will be added to me. That is a bold statement, but a true one.

  Sometimes fear mascaraed as wisdom, making us try to find our own solution to these problems, but true Wisdom is rooted not in fear itself, but the fear of the Lord. It is rooted in the places that put Him, the great God Almighty, into the equation. True wisdom would be involving Him into this situation and recognizing the answer. Wisdom isn’t about getting rid of fear; it is about putting it in the right place. It’s okay to be afraid. As long as you have allowed the Lord to take preeminence, you will step out of this okay. “Courage isn’t the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear.” -  Courage is about putting fear in its place and moving on from there. My relationship with the Lord looks very peculiar to people. I am very honest with Him. I figure that the God of the universe can handle my emotions and distress. I find that admitting I have a problem is the first step, and if I admit it to Him, it opens a door to Him that allows lasting healing to come in.

To be honest, I am terrified. I don’t know where I will end up or how long this season will last, but Jesus takes preeminence. Knowing how He loves me will casts out any inappropriate fear I have and replace it with confidence in who He is. I’d rather be confident in who He is than who I am. He is a much stronger person. I’d rather rely on His strength than my own, because my own would leave me here in a ditch of fear, unable to move. When it is on Him, I simply don’t need to worry.

by Hudson Taylor Wells 

Should I trust my judgement?

Corinthians could have been written to me, to the church of Salisbury. It is crazy. How people are the same, 2000 years ago and today! 

I can't even imagine Paul trying to address our issues today. All the things we get wrapped up in that take away from what really the message of Jesus is about.

1 Corinthians 4:3- "What about me? Have I been faithful? Well it matters very little what you or anyone else thinks. I don't even trust my judgement on this point. 4 My conscience is clear , but that isn't what matters. It is the Lord himself who will examine me and decide.

I think that is exactly right. What about ME? Have I been faithful? I think we can get very confident serving in our comfortable churches. Are we really being faithful? Or are we just are playing the role. I lived it for years. I was one of the most faithful, I taught others, I said the right things, looked the right way... I would have said I def was faithful. But was I faithful to the right things? Was I faithful in my taking a step with Jesus everyday on my spiritual journey. I Like Paul said .. I don't even trust my judgement on this point.
Vs 20 For the kingdom of God is not just fancy talk; it is living by Gods power.
Are you living by Gods power and what would and does that look like - you who are the church?

                                                                                 Heather Wilson

                                                                                 GiveSendGo

Good Friday

Matthew West - Do Something

The Game

So I am reading a book, called The Game.  It is a sci-fi type book, not Christian, but I find it very interesting. The premise of the book is that This World called Tygon has come up with this "game" for kids under 18 to play to teach them how they should live their real life. 

"The Game is a virtual reality simulation designed to teach kids about life and the rules of reality, letting them learn and make mistakes in the safety of a computer simulation"  The "Game" lasts until you die inside of it and then you come back to reality. If you earned enough credits by how you lived in the game you can use them to buy back into the game. Hopefully each time living life more purposeful and with wiser choices.While you are in the game you do not know it is a game. It feels like real life, but everyone on Tygon can watch you play the game live on tv. 

The people in the game live on a place called Earth and you soon get the picture that they are trying to plant the idea that all of us,  living today, might all just be part of a big simulated game. 

What is interesting in reading this book is that I wonder, if this life was a game, how would my life be "scored"? Would I be living every moment to the fullest or am I just cruising by doing the everyday life stuff? Would I be one of the players that the people on the outside would want to tune in to watch? 

What would people see if they watched my every moment- would they see someone who said one thing but lived another?  Or someone who genuinely cared about the other people around me?  Someone living to make a difference or someone barely living? 

How about you? How are you living this "Game of Life"?  What would you do differently if you could start over? 

The great thing about this life- is that we don't need to have a do-over. We can make changes and start living now the life we are suppose to be living. Every day is a gift, look for opportunities to become more than you are today. And the best part is that we dont just have to try and do it alone. We have a Heavenly Father, waiting with second and third and fourth chances saying- Dont Give Up, There still is time, yes the "thief's purpose is to steal, kill and destroy... but 

 My purpose is to give life in all its fullness."

                                       John 10:10

Start living accepting the gift of living a FULL LIFE today! 

Easter Week

It is Easter Week. All over the country we are gearing up for this weekend. What are your plans? Maybe church with the family? Easter Dinner? Easter Egg Hunt? 

Whatever your plans, no matter how busy and hectic this weekend might be, stop and think about the Mission of Jesus Christ as he came to this Earth to show us how to love, live, and sacrifice. 

Do not let His sacrifice go unnoticed. Do not let His mission be in vain. Take time to talk with your family about what you are living for, what sacrifices you could be making, what Mission God has called you to live. 

Do not be complacent. 

Do not just ignore.

Be Willing.

Be Open.

    to  

Love Freely.

Give Freely.

Serve Freely.

Live Freely.

Do what God has called you to do. 

Across the Street or Around the world. Every Christian has a Mission. 

What is yours? 

My favorite verse in Galatians 5 ... VS 13 
For you have have been called to live in freedom- not freedom to satisfy your sinful nature, but freedom to serve one another in love. 

Then I love that Paul, speaking to people who are getting trapped in feeling like they need to follow the law to be 'good christians' , says " the whole law can be summed up in this one command, "Love your neighbor as yourself". 

Wow you mean it wasn't "Make sure you are Circumcised!" because that was one of the major church issues of the day. He was saying ... ok if you really want to be able to say you obey the law, Love one another. 

 vs 15 but instead of showing love among yourselves, you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

 Its really not funny how many people are turned off by christianity, because of christians and the church "destroying one another" instead of 'loving one another' I am going to end with what my study Bible says about these verses 

"When we are not motivated by love, we become critical of others. We stop looking for good in them and see only their faults. Soon the unity of believers is broken. Have you talked behind someones back? Have you focused on someones shortcomings instead of their strengths? Remind yourself of Jesus command to love others as you love yourself ( Matt 22:39) When you begin to feel critical of someone one , make a list of that person;s positive qualities. If there are problems that need to be addressed , it is better to confront in love than to gossip. " 


Ok I think that gives me enough to work on today , and this week, month, year.... Will we really learn to love each other? The choice is up to me. Your choice is up to you.

Light up your world

                               

Hello Everyone!

Or at least the 3 people that might be reading this.

Welcome to the GiveSendGo Blog. 

 We will be keeping everyone up to date on what is going on with GiveSendGo.com and other great ministries we find around the country and the world. If you know someone who would like to be a guest blogger please send them our way as we know the body of Christ is made up of many ordinary people with extraordinary stories.

We here at GiveSendGo are excited to see the extraordinary journey that God has started us on and where it is going to lead us.

GiveSendGo has 3 co-founders that also happen to be siblings.  Emmalie Arvidson, Jacob Wells, and Heather Wilson.  We all have had our lives changed by feeling Gods calling on our lives and want to encourage others to use every minute of the day to live out the mission God has for you, whether around the world or across your street.  There are hurting people everywhere that are just looking for true love, forgiveness and acceptance, and we know that can only come from God.

Are you willing to be God's hands and feet?  Not always and most often not found  in some Great Super Spiritual Cause , but  in our obedience in the everyday of our lives.

Take the journey with us.
Let us know what God is doing!