Monday, July 11, 2011 - Pure Genius

"For we are God's workmanship, 

created in Christ Jesus to do good works, 

which God prepared in advance for us to do." 

Ephesians 2:10

     "A faithful man will be richly blessed, 

but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished." 

Proverbs 28:20

      Thank you to all you computer programmers and inventors who've made my life run more smoothly in my weak areas. Quicken software for my home finances keeps me from pulling my hair out (or the rest of Tom's) as I balance our books. Word processing programs increase my joy in writing on a daily basis since I don't have to begin again at every typo. And, spell-check grammarian - you've saved me from multiple blunders. Kudos, Al Gore, for inventing the Internet which places this link in the line of vision of sweet readers within seconds after I publish it. My heart swells toward you geniuses who dedicated yourselves to figuring out how to transmit loving voices and untranslatable text messages so we can keep in touch. 

     All these accolades and realizations of how gifted, knowledgeable and talented other people are could make us feel slightly insignificant in comparison, but comparisons fail us and can depress us every time. God favored each of us with original flair and He stirs our individual sensitivities to see specific needs around us. These are where He created opportunities for our gifts to intersect with someone's need. When we surrender ourselves as God's creation to be used for His purposes, He infuses our comparably small brainpower and limited abilities to make a world of difference in someone else's life.  

Father, thank You for giving geniuses the ability to use their brains and hands to help the world.  Spill into our lives today and bring to mind all the ways You want to use us uniquely in Your Kingdom. Never let us fall into Satan's trap of thinking that if we can't do something that makes the world sit up and notice, we may as well not try to do anything. You work in us through the increments we're willing to release to You. May we let You have more of us today than at any other time in our lives.

In the Name of Jesus, the only One Who was ever totally surrendered to You - no comparison!

     "God is not unjust; 

     He will not forget your work
          and the love you have shown Him 
               as you have helped His people 
                    and continue to help them." 
                         Hebrews 6:10

"So 

(remembering the early days when you stood boldly, vv. 32-34)

do not throw away your confidence; 

it will be richly rewarded 10:35

     "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, 

         so that in all things at all times, 

             having all that you need, 

you will abound in every good work." 

2 Corinthians 9:8