Inhaling

In the book, “The Go Giver” by Bob Burg and John David Mann, there is a section that gives the key to effectiveness in giving. The key is staying open to receiving. The only way giving can happen is because there was first a receiving. Somehow we had to get that which we wish to give. In order for the tide to roll out it first had to come in. In order to exhale, we first had to inhale. It doesn’t make sense to try to only give. It may be more blessed to give than to receive, but they go together.

Another thought on this is the Bible concept that to whom much is given, much is required. Burying talents is frowned upon by the giver of the talents. There are giftings in my life that need to be out of the box and into the marketplace today.

We have all had much fun lately singing a children’s chorus at church:

This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let is shine

Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine

Hide it under a bushel- NO!
I’m gonna let is shine
Hide it under a bushel- NO!
I’m gonna let is shine

Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine

Matthew 18:3 3 And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

A planned course

Here is a proverb that started my day this morning:

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” ( Proverbs 16:9)

A podcast I was listening to yesterday made the following observation:

Our gifts give us our ability
Our anointing gives us our purpose
Our calling gives us our direction

A couple thoughts this morning on those. I have been studying the properties of gifts. God has gifted all of us with ability to think, dream, plan and counsel. If I am waiting for God to drop a complete version of all the details, I may be waiting a long time. The Proverb said “In his heart a man plans his course.” As I look at the call of Abraham, which was one of the great examples of gifting, anointing and calling, I find that God did not so much tell him where he was going. But God did tell him where not to stay. If I am stuck in a rut of tradition, I may be comfortable but not using the gifts at my disposal.

Going faster in the wrong direction is never the right answer. Choosing a path and pursuing it takes the direction of God. I am moving today from the present to the future. When God called Abraham, He told him to get out of his tent and try to count the stars. God then told him that it was a picture of Abraham’s offspring. That picture of the future guided Abraham’s entire life after that.

“Get out of your tent and look around” Good advice !