March 22, 2015

Sunday Devotional With Mr.E: "Cut-Out" The Excuses

This is week two for Sunday Devotional With Mr. E! It is a new weekly feature(at least my plan is weekly) combining my faith as a Christian...and my passion for art!!  If this is not something you are interested in....just move on to the posts about art/arted.  If you ever have questions about faith...feel free to e-mail me.  I may not know all the answers...but I can try to answer your questions...or find someone that can!!! As always...thanks for reading!!!

"His master replied,'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'  

Matthew 25:21
2nd Grade Matisse Inspired Collage

Henri Matisse is my favorite artist.  I probably shouldn't have a favorite, but his color palette & patterns speak deeply to my artistic soul.  He was a person who was born to create!  It was at the very fiber of his being.  Life could not keep him from it. During his last ten years or so, he suffered from many physical issues.  These issues kept him from continuing his art as a painter. I'm sure many would have given up/quit.  He had numerous "excuses" available to him, but he did not choose to use them.  He found a different way to continue what he knew he was meant to do using paper cut-outs and the help of assistants. Some would say that this work created out of his adversity was his best! 



In Matthew 25:14-30 we read about the parable of the talents. It is a little long for me to repost here, but please take a moment & go read it ( LINK TO SCRIPTURE ).  A master is leaving town for a time, and he places three servants in charge of his talents(money).  One servant is given five talents, another two, and to the last only one talent. It doesn't give a reason why the money was given as it was, but you don't really argue with the master when he's handing out such things.  The first two were wise with what was given them, and doubled the money for their master.  

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things;  I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master's happiness!'

Matthew 25:21(NIV)


 The servant that was given only one talent had hid his talent while the master was gone.  When he returned the talent, the master was not pleased.  He had done nothing to profit the master with what was given him.  His excuses got him no where with the master.

The Lord gives gifts to His children and desires for us to use them for His glory & honor. We need to ask God to reveal to us what these gifts are & how they are to be used.  We can not fall into the trap of comparing our gifts to others, or wishing we had gifts that God just hasn't given us.  Each gift is given for a reason, and God has a plan for it (and YOU!).  We need to find that "THING" that is at the very fiber of our being...our heart beat.  What is it that brings you true JOY & God glory & honor?  Do you love to clean, organize, work with children, sing, speak to others, teach, fix things......WHATEVER!?!?!?  God uses all things!!!  Your gift may not look like mine, but it is important to the body of Christ.  It is needed. YOU ARE NEEDED!  Not because God can't do it without you & your "talent".....but because he chooses to use you and desires your relationship with Him to grow.  

Matisse had no time for excuses in his life.  He had to be about the business he knew he was meant to do.  What about you? Are you making excuses?  Are you about the business God has given you to do?  Are you living a life free of excuses in regards to using the "talents" God has given you?

PRAYER

Dear Jesus, please help us be a people of purpose....Your purpose. 
May we leave behind the excuses that are born out of fear/doubt.  
Allow us to use the "talents" you have given us to bring glory & honor to You & You alone!!
In Your Name Lord Jesus
AMEN  

7 comments:

  1. Very inspirational! Thanks for doing this series. I look forward to it each week.

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  2. Thank you for another great devotional!

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  3. Thank you for another great devotional!

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  4. Wow! It is amazing how God is tapping me on the shoulder right now. A group of artist friends are looking at "Creative Calling" and we're discussing this passage yesterday. I have been struggling with "talent" meaning money and not talent as in what you can do in the Bible. I was saying that I did not want to twist or take it out of context of the story. Haha! And here it is today, you are bringing it to my attention again through the Holy Spirit. Thanks.

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  5. Enjoyed this! Madeline L'Engle said, “If you’re given a talent, you have to serve it. You don’t own it. You don’t control it. You don’t manipulate it. You can do that and be a best-seller if you want to. But ultimately it is a gift that is freely given and you have to serve your gift.”
    Mrs. Anna Nichols
    founder, editor, artteachershelpal.blogspot.com

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  6. Mr. E, I am really enjoying your new series--please continue!

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  7. These are great! Thanks for the connection! pam in Tucson

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