'Having then gifts... let us use them.'

Ro 12:6 NKJV

In Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life, Dr. Charles Swindoll writes:

'Once upon a time, the animals decided that they should do something meaningful to meet the problems of the new world. So they organized a school. They adopted an activity curriculum of running, climbing, swimming, and flying. To make it easier to administer, all the animals took all the subjects.

The duck was excellent at swimming. In fact, he was better than his instructor was! However, he made only passing grades in flying, and was very poor in running. Since he was so slow in running, he had to drop swimming and stay after school to practice running. This caused his webbed feet to be badly worn so he became only average in swimming. But 'average' was quite acceptable, therefore nobody worried about it - except the duck.

The rabbit stayed at the top of his class in running, but developed a nervous twitch in his leg muscles because he had so much make-up work to do in swimming.

The squirrel was excellent in climbing, but he encountered constant frustration in flying class because his teacher made him start from the ground up instead of from the treetop down... so he only got a 'C' in climbing and a 'D' in running.

The eagle was a problem child and was severely disciplined for being a non-conformist. In climbing classes, he beat all the others to the top, but insisted on using his own way of getting there!'

'Having then gifts... let us use them.'

When God has gifted and graced you to do something, give yourself to it and let the rest go.

"We have different gifts."

Ro 12:6 NIV

You may have several different gifts, but you must discover your core gift and build your life around it.

David sensed that he was more than a shepherd; he was a king-in-the-making.

Killing Goliath just gave him a chance to demonstrate it. Had he failed to realize that, he'd have gone back to tending sheep.

What blinds us to our core gift?

(1) Focusing on our flaws. Instead of focusing on our strengths we listen to our critics and rehearse the qualities that discourage us most. Be careful; the company you keep will either lift you or lower you. That's especially true of those who resent your success, because it reminds them of their own lack of it.

(2) Envying the gifts of others. It's okay to appreciate others as long as you don't try to duplicate them. Instead of living in somebody's shadows, stand on their shoulders and glean from their wisdom.

Be an Elisha; ask God for twice as much as your mentor. Uncommon people are just common people who recognize their core gift and put it to work. Paul speaks of seven different gifts:

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully" (vv. 6-8 NIV).

I am still discovering it, developing it, and I will always dedicate to the God I serve...........

What's your core gift?