Gifts & Talents

My pastor keeps telling me how God has given me many gifts and talents.  I want you to know at first that I was taken aback by his statements.  I have never considered what "I" do as gifted or talented.  

Let me explain my thinking behind that statement.  First off what in my mind is a talented person? 

• Performance Talents - A person who can sing, dance, play an instrument, act (etc)
• Artistic Talents - A person who can draw, paint, design, photographers, film makers and basically anyone who could create something in the physical that was in their imagination (etc)
• Scientific Talents - Doctors, Dentist, Surgeons, Scientists (etc)
• Literary Talents - Authors, Writers, Teachers (etc)
• Athletic Talents - Sports, Mountain Climbing, Cyclist  (etc)
• Genius Talents - No matter the area - the person knows all there is and has the ability to find the new frontier of their field (etc)

I didn't feel that I fell into any of those categories.  However God showed me, that what I took for granted as everyday normal things weren't so ordinary for everyone.

I considered myself crafty, but not talented.  I have a cousin that can make beautiful wreaths and floral arrangements that I cannot do.  I have another cousin that can knit anything and I just couldn't grasp the technique to make anything worth having.  One of those cousins once did pastel chalk portrait of me, I can't even draw decent stick figures much less a portrait of someone.  Now they are talented, my craft skills are more of the sewing and paper crafting area.

Give me a few yards of fabric, I'll chop it up in small pieces and sew it back together again making a quilt.  I could even make curtains and other home-dec items but I couldn't make clothes.  My aunt could make the most gorgeous coordinating outfits, but I never learnt those sewing principals.  However, I do love to sew and the stuff comes out like I had envisioned which not all people can say that.  That is a gift!

Through the guidance of other Stampin' Up! demonstrators, I learnt how to see something and recreate it.  Maybe even switch it up a bit.  I even can come up with my own stuff.  Over the years I taught workshops and I learnt that not everyone can do that.  What I considered being "the queen of copying" doesn't come naturally to everyone.  That is a gift.

Through my love of using computers to make even ordinary paperwork look pretty and professional I spend a lot of time on computers, creating.  In my mind my job is to make my boss look good.  It bugs me to no end when documentation is distributed when it doesn't look professional or the best that it can.  It has taken many, many years to see that not everyone who works in an office can do things with our company’s computer programs that I can do.  That is a gift.

Know that all my computer knowledge has been acquired on the job - so what others taught me or I have taught myself is it.  Those programs are not being utilized to their fullest potential.  But what I do know, I utilize the dickens out of it.  That being a quick study is a gift!

I have an organizing skill, that can't handle things not where they can be found (easily) on a regular basis.  Not only in the office, house, and craft room, but in my computer files too.  Even my home computer - I blow my computer tech's mind when he sees how much I have on my computers and how organized it is!  

When you ask me for something I want you to be able to give it to you immediately.  Also I want you to be able to find it when I am not around, so organization is key.  Come to find out, not everyone can do this.  I used to think it was just laziness on their part, but no, some people don't have that gift - and they need people like me who do!

The writing you ask, well a few years ago I just thought it was me talking on paper.  I talk a lot so I write a lot.  I write like I speak.  I don't speak proper English, I don't write proper English. 

I was prophesied over - being told that I was to be a writer; I didn't think that my writing was a gift/talent.   However when God tells you and shows you what you have accomplished in the past, you tend to listen.  At least I did.

I took a writing class and listened to the stories of the other students.  You know what I found out; everyone had their own writing style.  Every one of them had me intrigued with their stories and they were intrigued with mine.  I now accept my talking on paper as a writing gift/talent.  It isn't the same as theirs but it is uniquely mine.

Okay, I have accepted the fact that I have gifts and talents.  Now what?

As I looked around there are millions of people who are called to write, why would God have me write, when there are so many out there who write better than I do.  Because that is the gift He gave me and He gave it to me for a reason.  

Do you feel that way about your gifts / talents?  Do you love doing it?  Then do it, it doesn't matter who else is doing because they aren't doing it exactly the way you are or touching the same people you are.   

Joyce Meyer doesn't touch all the same people Benny Hinn does. 

Benny Hinn doesn't reach all the people that Sid Roth does. 

Sid Roth doesn't touch all the same people that Apostle Charles Ndifon does. 

My pastor doesn't reach the same people as your pastor. 

They all spread the word of God, but they don't do it the same way, they don't reach the same people, but they are doing what they love and sharing their gifts / talents.

I was in a mentoring course that guides you to get from your dream to your destination.  Our God-given gifts and talents are for good and they are for His plan for our lives.  One of the things taught that the gifts/talents that God gives us are to be used to bless others.  If you keep it for yourself, not share it with others it will be taken away. 

All this to ask, what gifts / talents has God given you?  What are you good at?  What do you do that people wish they could do?  What is it that you do that you can't help but think about doing anything but that? 

·      Some people it is cleaning, what can you clean that will bless others?

·      Some people it is cooking, what can you cook that will bless others?

·      Some people have a gift for talking, what can you say to others that can bless them?

·      Some people have a gift for children, is there a way that you can bless children or those with children?  

·      Some people have an encouraging skill set that can cheer lead on the people around them - that is a gift that can bless the socks off others!   

·      The list goes on and on...

Also don't compare your gifts / talents to someone else.  As the old adage goes, "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth!"  God gave you YOUR gifts, they are for YOU! 

I always wanted to be musically talented, I am far from it - I couldn't carry a tune if you gave me a dump trunk to try to carry some form of a tune...yeah that bad!  However, God gave me so many other talents that I have learnt that I don't need the musical talent. 

I enjoy and encourage those around me who do.  Frankly I get to enjoy their gifts / talents by getting into what they are doing - I get to have fun while they are sharing their gifts / talents with me.  Embrace your gifts and talents - they are unique to YOU. 

Personally I have a lot that I cannot do - or even like to do - or want to do.  I don't focus on those items, I find people that can do those things and pay them to do it for me so that I can focus on what I LOVE to do.

Look around yourself and see what you are gifted in.  If you are coming up empty, ask God.  

Seriously, ask God what are your gifts and talents.  Most of all, ask God, who you can bless with those gifts / talents.   

Your gifts / talents might be second nature to you, not meaning much to you but those gifts / talents you have may mean everything to someone else. 

Bless someone with YOU today.

Until Next Time, God Bless!