“For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” Romans 12:4-8
These verses from Romans were for the devotion on my desk calendar today and they sure put everything that we do with the Haitian children in the attached photo into a proper perspective. Our life was created and prepared to accomplish much along our journey. We have unique gifts, talents and amounts of time that we can use to benefit others within our family, community and also with these four Haitian children; two boys and two girls. You can hold tightly on to your gifts and enjoy looking at them but keeping them to yourself and if you do that, do it quickly as when you draw your last they will be gone and their purpose will be gone; just like you. Share them, bless others with your time, talents and treasures and those gifts will benefit others in so many different ways in your community and around this world. A few days ago I encouraged you to be like a river and to let your gifts flow through you so they may benefit the lives of others; be a river. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘We give Thee but Thine Own’ that were written by William W. How in 1854.
“We give Thee but Thine own, whate'er the gift may be; all that we have is Thine alone, a trust, O Lord, from Thee. May we Thy bounties thus as stewards true receive and gladly, as Thou blessest us, to Thee our first-fruits give! Oh, hearts are bruised and dead, and homes are bare and cold, and lambs for whom the Shepherd bled are straying from the fold. To comfort and to bless, to find a balm for woe, to tend the lone and fatherless, is angels' work below. The captive to release, to God the lost to bring, to teach the way of life and peace, it is a Christlike thing. And we believe Thy Word, though dim our faith may be: whate'er for Thine we do, O Lord, we do it unto Thee.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay