He knows our days
Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. (Psalm 139:16)
As part of God’s amazing creation, we are all designed according to His plan. We’re given gifts and talents to use in service to our Father and humanity.
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (James 1:17)
Our gifts are unique to each of us
God bestowed upon Farmer Bob a multitude of skills and abilities–builder, engineer, mechanic, inventor, repairman, musician, cook, teacher, leader, problem solver, and more.
Following God’s plan, Farmer Bob used his gifts in service to others.
Some of us may believe that God skipped over us when awarding gifts, but not so.
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans 12:6-8)
We all have gifts. Talents that God granted especially to us. And Scripture makes clear that we are to use our gifts in service to our Father and His people. Perhaps, like me, you’re still discovering some of your gifts. Or, you seek God’s guidance in revealing the gifts He has granted you. If so, we need to continue to pray for our Father to show us the path He has determined for us.
Finding our gifts
If we feel God overlooked us in His assignment of gifts, we are mistaken. What might we do to discover our gifts?
- Prayerfully connect with God asking how we can serve Him.
- Keep a journal of thoughts, reflections, and ways we feel led to serve.
- Look for the needs in our home, workplace, church, and community and ask God to show us how we can help.
- Watch and listen to others as they speak of needs.
- Seek mentorship from someone whom we trust for spiritual guidance.
How can we use our gifts?
Psalm 139 reminds us that God planned our lives even before we were born. He wants the very best for us. He also wants the very best of us. Only by seeking His will can we know what His plan is.
Farmer Bob left a legacy in his example to serve his Lord by helping others. I pray I have learned by his example of service and can be an example for others. I pray for all of us.
Do you have a mentor or role model who exemplifies service to our Father? If you have a moment, please share their story in a comment.
Katherine, I was blessed to meet many older people on mission trips to Russia with Operation Carelift. They showed me about making the “golden years” count for God and gave me a vision for my future.
Annie, I know you were a blessing for all the people you met on your mission trips. Thank you for following the journey Christ called you to. Like you, I believe the “golden years” are still a time for us to serve Him and we’re never too old to spread the love of Jesus to others. Wishing you a week filled with joy and blessings.
I wasn’t blessed to meet Farmer Bob in this life, but I am so looking forward to sharing eternity with him, as I’m certain we’ll be fast friends on heaven’s shores. Thinking about your question, it would be so easy to say my adopted dad. Like your husband, dad had many wonderful gifts from God that he taught his children (some of us learned anyway). His greatest lesson was the example of how to be a godly man, father, and friend. With all that said though, the greatest example was my adopted mama. Not because she taught me great skills (although cooking has sure come in handy), but she taught me instead to walk in faith, pray in earnest, and depend upon God. The greatest example I’ve witnessed was laying in that small bedroom in the pre-dawn hours and listening to her speak with God. Often praying for her family, you could sense she was speaking with a friend. I’ll always remember that example.
J.D., you and my Farmer Bob have a lot in common. I wish we all could have met in person, but the reunion will be special when our time comes. Your dad and mama were wonderful role models for you. What a blessing God chose them as your parents. I know they are proud of the youngster they nurtured and the godly man you have become. Wishing everyone on the Cross-Dubya a blessed, healthy, and happy week.
Thank you Katherine for encouraging us in our gifts and purpose. I’ve had two mentors who stand out-one professionally who saw potential in me and brought out my hidden gifts and the other spiritual who discipled me and led me to treasure the Word and dig deeply. Both were used to guide me to live out my unique design.
Thank you for sharing, Marilyn. Like you, I’m so thankful for the role models and mentors who guided and nurtured me professionally and spiritually. Isn’t it wonderful how God sends just the right people into our lives at just the right time? May God continue to bless you on your journey.
My mentor(s) was a person, but an entire family. The parents being of the same age as my parents, showed me the godly love as if I was one of their own. Their children are like brothers and sisters to me. They exemplified a godly family in everything they did and lived out their faith everyday. I pray that we could be that kind of an example to those God has placed in our path.
Thanks Katherine!
Thank you for sharing, Ben. What a blessing for you to have this family love you and guide you in your formative years. I believe you are now doing the same for others. May God continue to bless you in His service.
The legacy of Farmer Bob is to be honored and you have done a commendable job of doing so here. I would like to meet this dear man when I get to Heaven.
Also, you’ve beautifully encouraged others to find and walk in their God-given gifts.
Thank you, Katherine.
Thank you for your kindness and encouragement, Connie. When we reach our final resting place, that will be such a day of rejoicing! Wishing you a week filled with blessings and lots of opportunities to write. So wonderful to see you at BRMCWC!
I think sometimes we fail to recognize some of the things we do as gifts and talents, and therefore, don’t consider them to be something we can use to honor God and further the kingdom. Growing a garden, cooking a delicious meal, sewing, writing, and so many others. If we use them to love someone else, that person experiences God through our offering.
Thanks for using your talent to encourage me and provoke me to good works, Katherine.
I agree, Terri–we sometimes view our “ordinary” abilities as outside the realm of God’s gifts. But we know that everything God created is “extraordinary.” He has provided us with so much we can share with others. Thank you for your encouragement and for your service. Blessings!
Thank you for sharing this reminder that we all have gifts and we should be looking for ways to share them.
Thank you for your kindness, Janet. I’m grateful for your encouragement. I hope your week is filled with joy, blessings, and the opportunity to bless others.
I’ve had a few mentors in my life, women who exemplified service and grace. Isn’t it wonderful knowing that God holds our days and made us for His purposes? Thanks, Katherine. God bless!
We’ve all been blessed with mentors and role models chosen by God, just for us! It’s so awesome that He selects just the right people to come into our lives at just the right time. Wishing you continued blessings in your ministry, Nancy.
Exceptional role models were definitely my Dad and Mom, more so as I peruse their five+ years of dating correspondence and get a closer look into the integrity they expressed in their love and service to one another. They waited a LONG time before marrying. A rare thing anymore. I await a heavenly introduction with Farmer Bob. What a wonderful legacy he’s left!
What a wonderful relationship your parents had–what a blessing for you and your family. Their legacy lives through each of you and continues with your children. There will be wonderful reunions in heaven! Wishing you joy and blessings, Mary.
As a middle school youth, a dear friend and her family would drive many miles in the opposite direction to come pick me up for church. They planted seeds in my life that would later lead to me surrendering my life to Christ and choosing to serve Him all my days. Thank you for your post Katherine!
When we look back, we can recall many memories of those who impacted our spiritual growth. I’m so glad you had this family to nurture your growing faith. I have a friend who is doing the same for a young neighbor. It’s a gift of love and an example for us all to see as to how we can share the love of Jesus with others. Thank you for sharing, Nicki. Wishing you a blessed week.
It is a blessing to have people in our lives like Farmer Bob was to you. These mentors can help us discover our gifts and talents and inspire us to use them wisely.
I’m thankful for the blessings Bob brought to my life and his example of service. Thank you for the kindness you have shared with me today, Barbara, and your love for others through your ministry of service to our Lord. I hope your day is filled with sunshine and joy.
Our posts go along the same lines this week. I love that God created us all so beautifully unique.
I noticed that too, Jen. I think it’s another sign of God’s amazing creation that we are so special and unique. We truly are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).
What a wonderful husband God blessed you with. I’ll bet Farmer Bob was like the wonderful mentors in my life – they didn’t talk about their service, they just lived it.
That’s such a good way to describe a life of service, Candyce, very little talk, much action, and a life dedicated to serving others. Thank you for your kindness. We are both blessed to have had such mentors.
Thank you for rename that we all have gifts to share to enhance the kingdom of God.
Thank you for your encouragement, Yvonne. We are blessed that our loving Father grants us gifts and guides us in how to serve. Wishing you joy and blessings!
this is such a touching, post, Katherine! Farmer Bob sounds like a wonderful man and you must miss him very much! I appreciated your insights on the gifts God gives each of us!
I do miss him, Kathy, more than I know how to express. But I’m so grateful for the time God granted us and the legacy Farmer Bob shared with me and others. Thank you for your kindness, my friend.
Thanks Katherine for bringing to my mind many people who have journeyed with me and have given me godly role models. I admit I’m often on the side of “what do I have to give,” so your post was also an admonishment to keep serving Him.
I know that I hold back, at times, too, Sylvia. But that may be part of God’s plan, too. I pray that we both can be led by the Spirit in the direction God would have us to go. May God continue to bless you on the journey.
Your post reminds me of my most recent mentor. She gives freely and without expecting anything in return. She knows the Lord will provide. She prays, teaches, encourages, and goes out of her way to help others. She’s a blessing and a godly example to many.
How wonderful that you have such a mentor, LuAnn. What a blessing! And I know she inspires you to be a mentor for others.