Good Stewards

What a great day yesterday! We were on a mission -- to help Amanda -- and nothing would slow us down! Not downtown Dallas morning rush hour, not 100+ degree temps, not the lack of AC or electricity, or even the swarming wasps that tried to thwart us!!!

The continual thought in my head throughout the day was about something I had read in Guideposts the night before. Side note: if you have never read Guideposts, you are missing out! The tag line of the magazine is 'True stories of Hope and Inspiration' and it is all that and then some. Anyway -- I read a story of a lady who felt a calling to leave her job and start a business making customs aprons. Sounds crazy. But through a {not so random} chain of events she did it and became a success. Not just financially, but spiritually. She followed her path and it led to more good than she could imagine. Her story ended by saying that her apron's are packaged with a scripture verse attached that has become her business plan - "As each has received a gift, employ it for one another, as good stewards of God's grace."

As I have had the privilege of seeing Amanda's apartment makeover unfold, I have seen this verse play out over and over again. Some have a gift of generosity, and it showed abundantly! Some have a gift of prayer, and through those prayers so much has been accomplished. Some have a gift of creativity and design, and from that a plan was formed that transformed this not so hot apartment into nirvana! Some have a gift of being hard workers. They show up and do what is asked and usually even go above and beyond. One dear friend has the gift of patience and an AMAZING gentle spirit and she watched 8 of our children all day while we worked! For me, I have the gift of being able to sew. As I put the nursery items together I just felt so in sync with my gift. It wasn't for me and my benefit, but using it to serve others. When you are in that 'sweet spot' of where God wants to use you, you can literally feel it oozing from your pores. And that is what we all have felt through this process. There is nothing more true than the phrase - you get more when you give.

If you don't know what your 'gift' is that you have received from God, pray about it. He will reveal it to you. And once you know what it is, start giving it. The rewards are greater than anything you can ever imagine!!!