"The New Road," Christian Music Video

 

Talents or Gifts?

© Stephen Eagle Brooks 2013

What is the difference between talents and gifts from a Christian perspective?

An individual is born with a talent or, sometimes, many talents. Just remember the parable?

Have you developed yours to the fullest potential or "buried" them in an attempt to "save" them? Newsflash: you cannot take them with you when you go.

I have one friend who has many talents. He is an outstanding watercolorist, photographer, author, musician, stand-up comedian, and all-around nice person. He has done a great job of developing his "talents" and sharing them with the rest of the world.

Sadly, I have another friend who has many talents who refuses to the ones she has been given. In effect, she "buries them.

Gifts are quite a bit more complicated, but they ARE NOT synonymous with talents. So, when someone says I "have a gift" when it comes to playing a musical instrument, though a nice thing to say, it is not correct. Instead, they should say, “I have a talent that I have developed to share with others.”

The best place to start learning about "gifts" is Romans, Chapter 12. These gifts are the ones that Father God distributes to each individual when he/she accepts Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. These gifts are called "motive gifts." Most of the time a person receives only one,  infrequently, two or three. God "gives" these gifts for the individual to "use" for the growth and edification of the Body of Christ. These gifts include: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leadership, and mercy. So, there are seven motive gifts. You may find them in Romans 12: 6-8.

I hope this explanation begins to clear up some of the differences between talents and gifts. Imagine, or sort of picture in your mind, a Christian person who uses his/her talents AND gifts to their fullest potential. What a tremendous blessing!

In closing, we have only mentioned the gifts that God gave to the church, or one-third of the "whole counsel." We still have the Holy Spirit's gifts and the gifts of Jesus to discuss on another day.

Happy Day after Valentine’s Day

Stephen Eagle Brooks © 2013

So, how many of you exhausted your supply of love yesterday?  After all, you bought flowers, chocolates, gifts, cards (lots of cards), and Lord knows what else you purchased.  Better keep some of those things on the down low.

I do have a relatively simple point, however.  If love is an action, how many of you “did something,” requiring any effort on your part, to demonstrate your love on Valentine’s Day.

Did YOU wash the dishes, vacuum, prepare dinner, clean the golf shoes, do the laundry, or fold the clothes?  What “actions” were indicators of love to your special “loved” ones?

Well, if you did exhaust yourself, please “fill free” (get the pun) to stop at the “Love Filling Station.”  It doesn’t costs us much, but the price paid by Another was total sacrifice hanging on a cross, mocked by a large crowd, until death.  He loved us without even a card or a box of chocolates.  In fact, we stood with the others and shouted, Crucify Him!”  He loved us while we were yet sinners.

And, yet, we will not even love our family members who do not make the decisions we “EXPECT” them to make.  Unforgiveness, avoidance, and writing off someone because you do not agree with them are not love.  It is just downright MEAN.

On this day after Valentine’s Day, do you have more love to give than yesterday?  Or, will you return to the same ole routine prior to February 14^th?  I f you are “out of love,” maybe you should consider the “Love Filling Station?”  I hear there is an endless supply, and it is NOT $4.00 per gallon.

Love others as you love yourself.  If you don’t love yourself, then it is impossible to love others Address that issue, first.

This is my commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.”  Are you prepared to give your life for your family, loved ones, and friends?

Greater love hath no man, than he would lay down his life for a friend.

Um’m…

“Love, love, love.  All we need is love.  Love is all we really need.”

"Love is but the song we need.  I feel it ‘fore we die.”

“Surround me with Love.”

Have a great day filled with love, my friends…

Please accept my comments as just some things to ponder?

PS A giant meteor slammed into Russia today.  A huge asteroid barely missed the earth sometime overnight.  Weather and climate patterns are chaotic, to say the least.  It appears that “The Day after Tomorrow,” will soon be a reality.  The Age of the Dinosaurs climaxed with an asteroid six miles across slamming into the earth somewhere in Mexico, creating a blast greater than billions and billions of atomic bombs.

PSS I don’t know if any of those PS things are totally true, but they do provide excellent “fodder.”

Do We Love Others as We Love Ourselves?

Well, Valentine's Day has come and gone. And, apparently, in some folks' lives, so, also love. Country singer, Mindy McCready, died of a supposed self-inflicted gunshot wound, leaving behind two young children. My heart is broken every time I hear of these senseless tragedies. I pray that she is finally at peace.

But, the bigger question for this Monday morning is do we truly "love one another as we love ourselves?" I think we do, because I question whether we really do love ourselves. Maybe, we have been programmed that the best we are is not good enough? Or, that no matter what we do, we will just come up a bit short? Maybe we have chosen to wall our real selves off from the rest of the world, because it "hurts" too much to come out?

In many ways we, are like onions. Layer after layer, we are peeled away until we get to some part of us that is really us. Who knows?

"Love is all around; I see it in the air." Nice" Love Boat" theme, right? "Actually," (just for you, graciE), love being in the air doesn't accomplish very much. Only when it is communicated, shared with ACTIONS, on a heart to heart basis does love become REAL. Sadly, REAL love is getting harder to find.

The accepting and embracing of our "true selves" is very hard for many people.

Today, let's make it our mission to show others, through our actions, that we genuinely love them. Tell them, before it's too late. Even if it's just the hourglass of time that takes them away from us, do not allow one precious second to pass by without "loving."

For my part, I do love you. What love I have is yours, free of charge and you don't have to ask.

Have a blessed day, a day complete with smiles and laughter, and love. <3 o:p="">

 ☆`•.¸¸.✻Hope your day is filled´´¯`•.¸¸.٭✻.☆

 ♪. ♫ with the beautiful music of

☆`•.¸life!¸.✻´´¯`•.¸¸.٭✻.☆ ~sEb~