Also ran?

(08.10.21– Potential! –Matthew 25: 14-30)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Often we feel we are also-ran in life, always coming in without the prize. Because we don't have “enough” talent, we shouldn't try in the first place?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

My Grandpa Leo always told me: "The reason we don't get more done in life is because we don't think we can do it in the first place." So, years ago, before Holly and I moved to Beech Springs, we owned a small bungalow in a nearby town. The house needed more bedroom space and another bathroom. We looked at remodeling costs and decided that there was only one way we could get the job done; I needed to do it myself. The job entailed removing the old roof, building a dormer and closing everything up before winter. I had never done a job like that before and wasn't sure if I had the know-how. Nonetheless, after doing the research at the library, and remembering Grandpa Leo's advice, I decided to do it. It worked and I never looked back.

Often we feel that, because we don't have "enough" talent, we shouldn't try in the first place.

Here's a story: Once there was a talent show at a local hall. The first contestant played a saxophone solo. It was so brilliant that the audience cheered wildly and gave him a standing ovation. Shortly after he walked off the stage, a very prominent individual in the music industry offered the player a recording contract, and a chance to play with some of his jazz heroes. The second contestant read a poem she wrote. The words and the way she read those words moved some people to tears. When she was done, the audience cheered enthusiastically. Shortly after she walked off the stage, she was offered a position writing poetry for the local newspaper writing, with an opportunity to publish more of her work. The third contestant walked out to the stage carrying a guitar. "Well," he stammered, "I had thought I would play this guitar my father gave me. But there are other players so much better than me, so I didn't put anything together." The crowd fell silent. Shortly after he walked off the stage, his father seized the guitar and gave it to the saxophone player saying, "Take this and use it so that others may hear the music this instrument makes." (Author Unknown)

How often do we feel like the third contestant? Perhaps you're feeling like you have a talent for something, but you're not sure if you are talented enough. Have you ever thought about where your talents come from? God knows our potential better than we do! He gives us an abundance of talents because He loves us enough to trust us with them. It is up to us to use those talents. Otherwise, like the father of the guitarist in the story, He will take our talents away from us and give them to someone else who will use them. So let's use our talents proudly, toward eternal ends, trusting in God who gave us those talents in the first place. Not enough talent is never a reason for not discovering your true potential.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we often do we feel like the third contestant feeling like we have a talent for something, but not sure if we’re talented enough. Lord, where do our talents come from? You know our potential better than we do! You give us an abundance of talents because You love us enough to trust us with them. Yet, it is up to us to use those talents. Otherwise, like the father of the guitarist in the story, You will take our talents away from us and give them to someone else who will use them. Help us Lord to use our talents proudly, toward eternal ends, trusting in You who gave us those talents in the first place. Not enough talent is never a reason for not discovering our true potential. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.

Also ran?

(08.10.21– Potential! –Matthew 25: 14-30)

My friend, may I ask you a question? Often we feel we are also-ran in life, always coming in without the prize. Because we don't have “enough” talent, we shouldn't try in the first place?

My friend, Life’s a story, welcome to This Passing Day.

I'm M. Clifford Brunner.

My Grandpa Leo always told me: "The reason we don't get more done in life is because we don't think we can do it in the first place." So, years ago, before Holly and I moved to Beech Springs, we owned a small bungalow in a nearby town. The house needed more bedroom space and another bathroom. We looked at remodeling costs and decided that there was only one way we could get the job done; I needed to do it myself. The job entailed removing the old roof, building a dormer and closing everything up before winter. I had never done a job like that before and wasn't sure if I had the know-how. Nonetheless, after doing the research at the library, and remembering Grandpa Leo's advice, I decided to do it. It worked and I never looked back.

Often we feel that, because we don't have "enough" talent, we shouldn't try in the first place.

Here's a story: Once there was a talent show at a local hall. The first contestant played a saxophone solo. It was so brilliant that the audience cheered wildly and gave him a standing ovation. Shortly after he walked off the stage, a very prominent individual in the music industry offered the player a recording contract, and a chance to play with some of his jazz heroes. The second contestant read a poem she wrote. The words and the way she read those words moved some people to tears. When she was done, the audience cheered enthusiastically. Shortly after she walked off the stage, she was offered a position writing poetry for the local newspaper writing, with an opportunity to publish more of her work. The third contestant walked out to the stage carrying a guitar. "Well," he stammered, "I had thought I would play this guitar my father gave me. But there are other players so much better than me, so I didn't put anything together." The crowd fell silent. Shortly after he walked off the stage, his father seized the guitar and gave it to the saxophone player saying, "Take this and use it so that others may hear the music this instrument makes." (Author Unknown)

How often do we feel like the third contestant? Perhaps you're feeling like you have a talent for something, but you're not sure if you are talented enough. Have you ever thought about where your talents come from? God knows our potential better than we do! He gives us an abundance of talents because He loves us enough to trust us with them. It is up to us to use those talents. Otherwise, like the father of the guitarist in the story, He will take our talents away from us and give them to someone else who will use them. So let's use our talents proudly, toward eternal ends, trusting in God who gave us those talents in the first place. Not enough talent is never a reason for not discovering your true potential.

We pray. Heavenly Father, we often do we feel like the third contestant feeling like we have a talent for something, but not sure if we’re talented enough. Lord, where do our talents come from? You know our potential better than we do! You give us an abundance of talents because You love us enough to trust us with them. Yet, it is up to us to use those talents. Otherwise, like the father of the guitarist in the story, You will take our talents away from us and give them to someone else who will use them. Help us Lord to use our talents proudly, toward eternal ends, trusting in You who gave us those talents in the first place. Not enough talent is never a reason for not discovering our true potential. In Jesus name we pray. Amen!

Therefore my friend, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry for itself; each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matt 6:34) This Passing Day. May this passing day honor our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and be a blessing to you and everyone you meet. Find a stranger and say hello. Don't let another day pass without your day blessing someone else.

If you have a special prayer request, please send your request to ”This Passing Day!”

<thispassingday@gmail.com> From Beech Springs, God bless you for Jesus sake.