The Puzzle Pieces

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Here we are, Superkid, almost halfway through the year. And little by little we have given ourselves over to the Lord by focusing on the different parts of our lives. This was our pledge to Jesus:
 
This is my gift to You, Jesus. I give You ME! My life, my thoughts, 24/7, every beat of my heart, my skill, my talent, my good and my bad, my strengths and my weaknesses, I give to You now.
 
I like to clearly know WHAT (or in this case, WHO) I am giving when I give a gift, don’t you? That’s why we are digging deep to understand what “ME” is. I pray that this year will lead you to know YOURSELF as much as you are beginning to know Jesus. I am glad HE knows us so well! He should, because He made us!
 
Psalm 139:13-16, one of my favorite passages in the Bible, says so. The New Living Translation says,
 
You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
 
We are complex, and He made us that way. We are like a 5,000-piece puzzle that has to be put together. We were not made to live our lives in an unplanned, “whatever happens, happens” way. Jesus had a plan and purpose for your life when He made you, so He knit parts or pieces into your soul and body that would lead you and help you become what He designed you to be. Like the remote control works on your TV, telling it what to do, Jesus put TALENT, DESIRE and SKILL in your being to move you and equip you! This terrific trio is part of His plan for your success! We just have to allow Jesus to put that “ME” puzzle together.
 
So, let’s talk about SKILL. The dictionary (dictionary.com) says that skill is “the ability, coming from one’s knowledge, practice, aptitude, to do something well.” APTITUDE is an important word that means “talent, natural leaning or inclination.” This is how Jesus moves the puzzle pieces into place for you. We will talk more about our God-given DESIRE and TALENT next month but it’s important to realize that talent and desire are not enough to be a success in life.
 
God gives us these amazing GIFTS but He requires something from us to make it all work.
 
To be skilled in something requires some time, study and effort on our part. For instance, you may enjoy sports, math, art or music. You could become an athlete, doctor, scientist or famous singer, but you must first develop skill. Sometimes we don’t like the hard work that it requires. I wanted to play the guitar and piano when I was young and maybe I had some talent. However, since my mom could never get me to PRACTICE, that is a talent I don’t have now.
 
I also loved to sing. Now that I would do! I practiced singing all the time! Many times the Lord would help me learn and grow. He gave me skill that I needed in some areas, as I practiced. So Jesus was able to use that talent in my life and ministry. Remember, even when we practice and work to be skilled in our talents, we are not working alone. Jesus can GIVE us skill as we EARN skill!
 
In Exodus 31, the Lord GAVE the people skills to create, design and build. Exodus 35:35 says, “The Lord has given them special skills as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet thread on fine linen cloth, and weavers. They excel as craftsmen and as designers.”
 
Skill includes understanding and knowledge, but we are not left to learn and understand on our own! In Isaiah 28:26-28, He gives the farmer understanding. I have heard so many stories of farmers who had bigger and better crops than anyone else because of the understanding and help the Lord gave them. Verse 29 says, “The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is a wonderful teacher, and he gives the farmer great wisdom.
 
The Lord can give you everything you need except the part that only you can do—apply yourself in learning and practice. You could have the best music talent, sports ability, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) talent or artistic abilities in the world: You’ll still require practice, learning and work, and you’ll still need Jesus in order to be happy and satisfied in life. He will help, inspire, give understanding and even make learning fun. Jesus will do His part to bless when you give your skill and effort to Him!
 
In Ecclesiastes 12 the Bible tells us to worship the Lord and do what He says. This is His original purpose in creating us and it’s the path to all happiness.
 
Superkids, give Jesus your efforts and practice, and He’ll help you develop your skills. Becoming what He created you to be is the best way to love Him. Remember, this “ME” puzzle is a project you and Jesus do together. After all, He’s the only One who knows what the picture on the box looks like because He created it!
 
 

Piece by Piece,
 
Commander Kellie ♥