Take Your PlacePrøve

Take When you read the word "take" , what images come to mind? For me, I see a hand clutching something and holding it with a strong grip. I don't see the giver in my image, but I presume the giver expects the taker (or recipient) to use what has been given. Knowing that God is the Giver of all good gifts, He has similar expectations that we, His children, would use the good gifts He's given us. Knowing God doesn't give bad gifts, why are we sometimes slow in taking God's gifts? Our actions seem odd, considering the love undergirding God's placement of talents within us. These talents are also gifts and solutions to needs in our world. These gifts aren't perfunctory tokens that last minute Christmas shoppers are familiar with. No, God's gifts are profound expressions of His love, blessing the recipient and empowering the recipient to be a blessing to others. In other words, God's gifts are intended to be multi-use. Multi-use? Yes! Another image I have for the word "take" is bringing something to a particular place or activity...like bringing a towel to the beach or packing a suitcase for a trip. If you've grabbed your God-given talents, have you carried them with you to meet the needs your talents were created to address? In life, you have the power of choice. Your response to God's deposit of talents within you is your choice. Considering the importance of your gifts, my encouragement begins with one word: "take" !