Good morning!

When I was in college, my teachers gave us assignments with subjects to write on, a format to put the document in, and a “Due date”. The reason for these assignments was that would learn something through research and critical thinking. If I used someone else’s completed project and my name on it, it would be called “Plagiarism” and would be subject to being expelled. If I worked hard on the assignment and followed the rules of writing, I would get a good grade if not, I would fail; with each succeeding document that I wrote, my skills grew as did my confidence and that’s how things work in the Kingdom of God as the example of the five fish and a loaf of bread points out (Matthew 14:13-21). So when I got my report and degree, I could be proud of what I had done. Today, I write prolifically and I have kept a copy of every writing I had submitted and a lot of them are on my web page (Mikes Encouragement). The secret to all of this is that I was given the raw materials I would need, access to research documents, a mind to think and reason, time, and critiques; if I didn’t understand the assignment or had questions, all I had to do was “Ask”. In the same way when the Lord assigns us to a project He gives us everything we need if we will but Ask, knock, and sometimes pound on the door, to seek help, and be obedient at all costs (Matthew 7:7-5).

When Moses was given the task to create a magnum opus (The greatest achievement) “Build the Wilderness Temple”. At first, it would seem that the Lord wanted Moses to “Build something from Nothing” which is how God built our world (Genesis 1). Then the Lord mentions two gentlemen who have specific skills that will be useful in completing the task. Ok, so Moses has help but where is all of this “stuff” going to come from?  The answer is, “Look around” and “ask around” (Exodus 25). It is interesting, to me anyway, that in everything the Lord asks of us, He provides the raw materials to put it all together. It would be nice if God would drop a completed project in our hands but then again, what would we need faith for? Faith is an important ally because it helps us to see things through to completion. When we have to put the work into building, writing, speaking, etc., our skills grow and we can take pride in the project’s completion.

Upon exiting Egypt after 430 years in exile, the people were told to ask for materials from the Egyptians. The people were not told why they had to ask for it or what to do with it – simply ask for it and carry it with them. Some of the people had the notion that the products belonged to them and then misused them to build an idol and call it “their God” (Exodus 32). What the people were not aware of when they misused the materials was the Lord gave Moses instructions that would require the materials. By misusing them, they sinned and tarnished God’s blessings. In the same way, when the Lord gives us skills and abilities, He gives them for His plans and purposes.

So why would give our precious resources to the world and not God? “Convenience”, to please the world, and/or to get that “Golden Ticket”. When I got out of the military in 1997, I started working in IT where I made a lot of money and put in a lot of time which put a strain on family time. When I received a full-ride scholarship through the military because of my disability. God opened that opportunity that I would use it get a degree in Theology instead, I worked to get an MIS degree but I just couldn’t cut it;, It was like “Banging my head against a wall”; I didn’t get the degree in MIS so I got three worthless degrees that I didn’t need. In a sense, you could say I wasted His blessings and got nothing in return – that’s how the world operates. My reasoning for working long hours and studying so hard? I thought that making a lot of money would be good for my family but, in the background, I wanted to earn a lot of money to afford the things that I couldn’t when I was in the military in essence, I was greedy. It is no wonder people run from one venue to another, one dream to another never accomplishing anything other than tiring themselves out which, is a waste of time, talent, and funds.

My encouragement for you today is that you will consider the gifts that you have been given and seek to use them to honor God. You may not see immediate rewards but when you need it the most, it will be there waiting for you and be more than you expect.

I.H.S. MK

Father,

You give us so much and though it comes in pieces, and sometimes it looks like pieces are missing, You will show us how to put them together. Trusting you does not come easy because we are under the impression that surrendering to you means “Giving up our dreams” which is a convenient lie. The truth is You want us to be successful and You want us to have “Hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11). The Church at Laodicea thought they were “Rich and didn’t need anything” not realizing how poor and broken they were (Revelations 3:15-19). I surrender all that you have given me to Your service Lord. May this ministry reach lives for Your Kingdom? May Lord Your blessings be upon my family, my city, my state, and this Republic.

In Jesus’ Name