People don’t hide your lamp under a bowl

Talents give us the natural ability to do something well or easily. However, to master a talent, it must be put into action (practice and nurtured). Talents are labeled as gifts and everyone has at least one gift. Speaking, reading, writing, music, art, building, thinking, making others feel safe and/or happy are just a few. As we can be reassured that we are all unique and needed, no matter what, still, there are three very important steps to effectively utilizing these great gifts.

1. Contact ~ Awareness of our gifts.
2. Observation ~ Gained information about our gifts.
3. Training ~ On-going process and investment to further improve our gifts.

In the “Parable of the Talents,” Jesus teaches that the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man going on a journey. Before he goes, he gives three workers different amounts of talents. “To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. [Matthew 25:15-18] The third worker in that parable, the one who “dug in the ground and hid his master’s money.” This is what is said about him ~ “Take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” [Matthew 25:28-29] In other words, what we refuse to use, we loose. Our talents are God’s gift to us and what we do with it is our gift back to God. We may carry the smallest gift, but just like as the mustard seed, nothing can be judged by its size:

It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches. [ Luke 13:1]

Giving my class a better visual to the meaning of this parable, I shared with them a story of a woman, who was greatly inspired by her friends exquisite landscape of flowers. This dramatic and eye-catching view brought on her own personal epiphany to start and plant her own garden. After buying all the supplies, cultivating the soil, planting the seeds and watering; day after day, week after week, she waited with anticipation and nothing happened. I asked my class how they would feel, if this happened to them? Then I asked, “How does God feel, when we refuse to grow?” After all, we do get a clear vision from scripture.

“Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good…” [Genesis 1:31]

“The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, He went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then He said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard Him say it.” [ Mark 11:12-25]

A proud teacher moment is when you watch the motivation in your students, as they encourage each other in deeds and words. This year, a class has not gone by without one of my students putting their skills into action to bless others. In the book of Luke 11:1-2, we read, “One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When He finished, one of His disciples said to Him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Father, hallowed be your Name, Your kingdom come…'” This gives me the visual to if Jesus said to pray, “Father,” then God is looking down on my students and saying, “My kids got talent!“

Cecilia Grace, singer songwriter. who currently live in LA not only blessed us with joining our class on zoom this week, singing a few great songs, but leaving us with these moving words; “I always feel like it is the Holy Spirit who writes it for me; like I am just a pencil.”

We are never too young or too old, to discover hidden talents within us, the Bible makes that very clear. Learning is a treasure that will follow us where ever we go, if only we receive it. My beautiful Aunt Mae, gave me these thought provoking words to share; “Everything you do, you learn.” So people don’t hide your lamp under a bowl, as your light is a gift that was meant to help others see!

Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [Matthew 5:15]

A teacher is not so much responsible for what our students know, but more so for the seeds we plant to help them grow. As God’s word says:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. [Jeremiah 29:11]

Let us ask the Father in the Name of Jesus, by the power and grace of the Holy Spirit, to open our eyes so we may see the exquisite landscape, He prepared in advance for us. We know we have been given the ability to meet the calling, Lord get us motivated, and may we have an God fearing attitude to carry us the whole way.

Until soon ~ Many blessings,

Deanna Danielle

Deannadanielle.com

• A Bible
• Colored paper
• Markers
• Scissors
• Tape
• String or ribbon