Tuesday May 24 2016  UNIQUE GIFTS

In a recent past blog I stated how God has created us all uniquely and that he uses our uniqueness in wonderful ways.  While listening to a sermon yesterday, Reverend Jon Weece, from Soutland Christian Church in Lexington, Kentucky, told about a man who had been born with cerebral palsy and had discovered a unique way to express his art.  He showed a short clip from U-Tube telling the story.  It is an amazing story and well worth the time it takes to Google “Paul Smith Typewriter Art” and scan to the website that has a video face displayed which is two or three down from the top. 

Viewing what Paul Smith was able to create brought tears to my eyes.  His art was so exquisitely executed.  I don’t know if there is another artist in the world that has created the kind of spectacular art that Paul Smith presented to the world.  Regardless his handicap of having minimum use of only one finger and sporadic motion of his left hand, God graced him with the desire to do something no one else could do.  The late Paul Smith had a strong faith in God (as you will see by his artwork), and believed that God gave him this unique gift to carry out and to leave behind.  He left the world a better place for having lived.  What a beautiful legacy he left when he departed this earth.

What kind of legacy will you leave behind?  I’ve often wondered what kind of legacy I will leave behind.  If you know the unique talent that God has bestowed upon you, what do you do with it?  Do you cultivate it, using it to make the world a better place?  Or, do you just allow that gift to lie fallow?  When we are given a gift, we cannot take credit for that gift.  Gifts of talent are given to us by God.  As I once heard Joyce Meyer say, “We can’t take credit for the gift that God gives us, but when we stand before God He is going to ask us, ‘What did you do with your gift?’” 

I heard that message many years ago and that very day I consecrated my gift of poetry to the Lord and committed to myself to give God one poem a day as long as I am able to think and write.  Have I missed a few days?  Yes, I have.  Do I beat myself up over it?  No I don’t.  For you see, it is my gift back to God for the gift He gave me as a young child.  It is my way of saying thank You Lord and giving Him praise through what I write.

Are all my poems great?  Absolutely not!  Maybe the question should be, are ANY of my poems great?  Perhaps not, but they are given to God from a heart of gratitude for the pleasure and joy I receive from both writing them and giving them to friends and strangers to enjoy.  And now I have thousands of them.  Perhaps they shall be part of my legacy, part of my heart that I am leaving behind that my words will continually bless others who come after me.  I certainly know I was blessed just to see what Paul Smith left behind.

Never think that your legacy must be tangible.  You may have the gift of compassion or giving.  Your gift may be to show your love to others and let them know someone cares about them.  Your gift may even be the laughter and joy that you bring to others.  Whatever your gift may be, if you are not using it, take it out, dust it off, and extend your uniqueness to another.  It is never too late.  You see, God never takes back His gifts.

WHAT LEGACY WILL I LEAVE BEHIND?

By Kathleen Martens

May 24, 2016

How will the world

Be a better place

When my time comes

To meet Jesus face to face? 

What function have I

While living on earth?

What is my purpose?

What is my worth?

There is a questions to ask

So we discover our direction,

Find out what you love

And follow your affection.

How will I influence

Other people I meet?

What will I leave behind

When my heart no longer beats?

I hope it to be smiles

In hearts tucked deep,

And times of my laughter

Their memory will keep.

I hope not to leave

Heartache in my wake.

I hope what I leave

Is all for God’s sake.

I hope the words I’ve written

Will bring healing and health,

And that others will realize

The WORD OF GOD is their wealth.

I only desire a legacy

Which will tell God’s story.

And whatever I’ve done on earth

Will be done for God’s glory.

Thank You Father for the gifts You have bestowed on mankind.

Thank You for all the art that lives on from generations past.

Thank You for being such a wonderful Creator with such a great imagination.

Thank You that I am me.

I thank You Lord for everything You have given me in this life.

Thank You for watermelon.

GOOD NIGHT.  REMEMBER TO THANK GOD FOR THE GIFTS HE HAS GIVEN YOU.  If you aren’t aware of your unique talent ask God to show you what it is.  And, one question you might ask yourself is, what it is that you love to do. You may be surprised at what you find.