I didn’t have a devotional topic in mind this morning and even when I put my fingers on the keyboard, still nothing but then God took over. See, I’ve been thinking about granddaddy so much these last few days and sometimes my heartache feels like it was just yesterday that I was standing next to his bed when he finally received his rest and I want to cry. I want to be able to walk into the house that he lived in for over 60 years and hear him say; “Hey Marcy,” yet I know that I won’t hear him. I used to wonder what was the point of visiting somebody’s grave when it’s only his or her body there but if granddaddy’s burial place was a 10-minute drive, I’d probably be there everyday. Whew… I’m just so emotional yet through it all I’m looking for God in my tears because I know they have a purpose so I bow my head and pray for God to speak to me. I pray for His purpose in my heartache and in my strength and yet in my listening I received these words for you…
Stop living like you’re dead and stop burying your blessings because you’re afraid they may hurt somebody’s feelings or that your haters may get jealous! So what!! You made it through cancer, radiation, chemo, dialysis, high blood pressure, blood clots, and diabetes; shall I go on? Migraines, sinus pressure, toothache, alcoholism, drug addiction, sex addiction, being lied on, abused by the hands of someone who was supposed to love you, being homeless, without a car, lights off, no food in the refrigerator, money in the bank or your pocket, no job … still not enough? You made it through surgery when the doctor said you wouldn’t, you made it when momma/daddy died even though it felt like you’d never breath again, you made it when your spouse walked off, when the doctor said you got a STD you still survived, you walked off from that accident that should have claimed your life, that bullet grazed you when it was meant to pierce your heart, that knife didn’t go deep enough even though it was meant for your lung, that gang was stopped by the police on the way to jump you in so you got away… my point is YOU’RE LIVING SO ACT LIKE IT. All the things that should have killed you didn’t. Those things that would have killed you didn’t. Those things that meant to stop you, they didn’t succeed! Those things meant to quiet your praise, didn’t work. Those folks, who kept putting their mouth on you, can’t hurt you. Those folks who always whispering behind your back, can’t hinder you. That person, who hurt you and thought they had your joy, didn’t win! That person, who thought they’d stolen your smile, didn’t get it. Baby, don’t you get it? God is trying to come in but you’ve got to open the door. Stop worrying about what folks say, what folks do, how other folks will look at you and all that because there will always be somebody hating on what you have because they feel like it should have been theirs. Live for you and appreciate what you have. God blessed you with what you have and he didn’t stop sending down blessings when He gave you yours.
Don’t you know that God gives each of us different gifts/talents? Well the bible says in Romans 12:4, “For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function.” Stop being ashamed to use your gifts and blessings because Romans 12:6-8 says, “In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.” Which simply means, whatever your gift, use it to the best of your ability! 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 says, “A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge. The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.” It isn’t up to you the gift that you receive but it is up to God, so why hide it? Who cares because folks think that what you’re saying isn’t true because as long as you’re doing what God has given you to do, then you are doing your job. Do I think that everybody believes what I write, no but that’s their opinion because I am simply using the gift that has been bestowed upon me. Do I do it for worldly gain, no because the bibles says that my gift will make room for me, so I don’t have too.
Stop hiding your gift out of fear of hurting someone’s feelings because you may do a better job, they may be glad for the help. Stop hiding your gift because you don’t want to hear what others have to say, who are they anyway? Your gift was made for you and no one else can do with your gift what you can so use it. God has blessed you to be able to teach when a lot of others can’t. God has blessed you to cook when others can’t even boil pasta. God has blessed you to sing when others couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket. God has blessed you to be an encourager to others when some folks can never find the right words to say. God has blessed each of us with a gift that is specifically for us so don’t hide it. 1 John 2:27 say, “But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true–it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.” As long as you remain in fellowship with Go, he’ll remain in fellowship with you and your gift will continually be renewed. So use what you have because what sense does it make to hide it anyway?
Lakisha, the Author 