{"id":26544,"date":"2019-10-05T03:30:31","date_gmt":"2019-10-05T10:30:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/?p=26544"},"modified":"2019-10-01T14:45:48","modified_gmt":"2019-10-01T21:45:48","slug":"october-5-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lccredding.org\/church\/2019\/10\/05\/october-5-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"October 5, 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u201cHaving then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them\u2026\u201d\u00a0<\/em>Romans 12:6a<\/p>\n

Abusers, Refusers and Users<\/strong><\/h2>\n

I think most of us enjoy giving\u00a0<\/strong>gifts, but are we gracious receivers<\/strong>? I got to thinking about three different responses to gifts I\u2019ve given over the years: the \u201cAbusers\u201d, the \u201cRefusers\u201d, and the \u201cUsers\u201d. Let me explain.<\/p>\n

The \u201cAbuser\u201d: I\u2019ve given gifts to my neighbor\u2019s kids who had so much stuff they did not appreciate or take care of them. I would see them laying out in the yard forgotten and abandoned, left out to get ruined in the rain. I would rather they would \u201cre-gift\u201d than to just disregard them. But, as a gift, it is theirs to do with as they please.<\/p>\n

My great niece who lives out of state reminds me of a \u201cRefuser\u201d: Not long after she was born, I sent her a decorative pillow for her bed on which I had spent many hours doing all kinds of needlework recording her name, birth date, weight, etc., along with cute animals and flowers. On a visit to see her and her family, I did not see the pillow. She told me that her mother told her to stash it in her closet to keep it nice. I was disappointed that she could not enjoy it and be reminded of how much I thought about and loved her. Others may refuse a gift either because they feel unworthy or think it needs to be earned or paid back. I don\u2019t think they realize the joy it gives to the one who was giving it.<\/p>\n

Best of all is the \u201cUser\u201d, like my friend and a mother of several small children for whom I had crocheted an afghan. What a blessing it was to me when months later I visited their home and found that afghan on the couch! You could tell it had been used, washed, and used some more! Right on!<\/p>\n

All this made me think about the kind of gift receiver I am. God not only offers us the gift of eternal life and the indwelling of His Holy Spirit through His Son Jesus Christ, which I have gratefully received, but He has given me many other gifts that I have often not received well. I have been guilty of neglecting, refusing, or being fearful to use them, like the servant who hid his talent in the ground (Matthew 25:24, 25). How much joy it must give our heavenly Father when we receive His gifts and trust Him to use them.<\/p>\n

He has given each of us gifts to be used for His glory and honor. What kind of gift receiver are you?<\/p>\n

\u201cFather, I may not know the best gift to give someone, but every good and perfect gift comes from You. Help me to be a good steward of each one. Amen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

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