Using Gifts to Serve

The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:7-11

Do some things just come naturally to you? Maybe you’re a natural athlete or can speak eloquently. Maybe you have a knack for making others feel appreciated or perhaps you have a smooth sense of humor.

These things that come naturally are some of the gifts that God has bestowed upon you. Your experiences may have helped shape them, but you embrace these gifts like a fish takes to water.

Other things may take more fine-tuning before they become a part of your make-up. Maybe sharing isn’t your strong suit or perhaps you struggle with confidence.

God’s bestowed gifts are just that- gifts! Tokens to be used and enjoyed. Not only are these priceless treasures intended for our use, but they’re also intended for our use in the service of others. Hospitality and grace are key components of being good stewards and servitude. Who doesn’t love the feeling of a welcoming, genuine smile, a warm, homemade meal, or a gentle, understanding look? Who doesn’t appreciate being appreciated and accepted for who you are?

Showing others compassion through God’s strength is a gift God bestows upon us all. We are all capable of fulfilling His word and purpose for us in order to glorify Jesus Christ.

When You Have Eaten & Are Satisfied

When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the LORD your God for the good land He has given you.

DEUTERONOMY 8:10

Land. What do you think of when you think of the word land?

Do you think of property you own? Or perhaps wide, expansive spaces? Do you think of an apartment dwelling or maybe a city park? Or do you think of a dense, forest or a parking lot? Land can have a million different meanings to each individual, but the common ground (😉) for all of those meanings is that God has given land to us to be stewards of.

We won’t argue about the “correct” uses of land. We’ll just look at the scripture. “Praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you.” It doesn’t matter if you own land. Did you eat today? Is your hunger satisfied? Then praise the Lord for the abundance He has graced us with. Your food came from somewhere. It came from the earth, from the dirt, from the nutrients in the soil. What a wonderful God to think of everything!

Farm to Jesus is born out of this scripture. We have so much to be grateful for and still so much to learn. God provides.

First Fruits

“that you shall take some of the first of all the produce of the ground which you bring in from your land that the Lord your God gives you, and you shall put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to establish His name.”

– Deuteronomy 26:2

Maybe you don’t have a garden. Maybe you’ve never grown edible plants. Maybe you’ve never even planted a seed. That’s okay, and it doesn’t have to mean that that maybe has to become never.

God has given us so so many gifts. I don’t just mean the gifts, talents, and blessings He bestows on us. I’m talking about actual gifts, like the water we need to survive and the food for our bodies’ nourishment. He gave us the soil and earth to grow in. He gave us the seeds and plants to tend to and harvest. He gave us the water for the plants to thrive. All for our nourishment. How amazing is that!

Maybe you’ve never grown your own food or have no interest because there’s always been food at the grocery stores, and that’s okay. But…

What if we grew food for others?

Really! Even if you’ve never touched a seed in your life, let’s work together and grow some food for others! I’m not saying plow your whole lawn and become a row crop farmer. I’m saying… find a pot or a place in your yard to plant an edible seed or plant. Water and tend to your plant. Anxiously anticipate its needs and the fruits of your care. And then, give some of those fruits to others.

The Social Apostolate has been in operation since 1968. Their mission statement says,

“ The Mission of the Social Apostolate of Savannah is to care for and empower the poor, homeless, disabled and ‘at risk’ people in the Savannah area in witness to the biblical values of charity and justice.”

https://socialapostolate.org/history

We can help them with their mission by providing real, nutrient-dense food for the individuals they assist. All it takes is a seed and your time. Will you rise to the Grow Food For Others challenge? Will you give your first fruits to those who need it most?

Know Your Why

Y’all. Father Mike’s homily on this video… I can’t convey to you how powerful it is. He speaks of knowing your “why.”

Why are we Catholic? Why do we believe what we believe? Why do we practice out our faith in specific ways?

He doesn’t answer every single one of those questions (that would take ages, and he does explain a million things in a Bible in a Year podcast), but he hits home on thinking about your “why.”

Choosing to be faithful isn’t and historically hasn’t always been the cool thing to do. So, why do it?

Listen to this when you have a quiet moment. His words help you look inward and maybe start to understand your why.