God bless!~

Any prayer requests, feel free to PM me, & I'll send it to the Lord ;) <3

-Love, GinniePark

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Memory Verse of the Week:

"For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day shall be your holy day, a day of Sabbath rest to the LORD." - Exodus 35:2a

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Doing God's Work - Exodus 35:30-36:7

Spiritual Gifts

30: "Then Moses said to the Israelites, 'See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah,"

31: "and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills - "

32: "to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze,"

33: "to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts."

34: "And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others."

35: "He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers - all of them skilled workers and designers.

 

More Than Enough

1: "So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded."

2: "Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work."

3: "They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning."

4: "So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing,"

5: "and said to Moses, 'The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD has commanded to be done.'"

6: "Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: 'No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.'" And so the people were restrained from bringing more,"

7: "because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work."

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Reflection

Spiritual Gifts (35:30-35)

Bezalel and Oholiab are given the Spirit of God as well as wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and all kinds of skills. The skills are artistic in nature. God's gifting is not limited to the spiritual realm, but extends to all different types of vocations. In addition to aesthetic skills, God grants these two "the ability to teach others." When Bezalel and Oholiab are first mentioned in Exodus 31, the Lord says, "I have given ability to all the skilled workers to make everything I have commanded you" (Exod. 31:6). God empowers a number of people for these artistic tasks. Nevertheless, they still must be taught by Bezalel and Oholiab. Often we think we are either gifted by God to do something or have to learn it and work hard at it by ourselves. In reality, God's gifting includes the humility to learn and work.

 

More Than Enough (36:1-7)

What an honor it is for the people to use the gifts that God has given them to build the tabernacle. The Spirit of God is at work in these craftsmen, and He is also working in the rest of the people, who continue to bring more and more freewill offerings for the Lord. In fact, they bring so much that Moses has to order the people to stop giving. What a wonderful problem to have!

There is somethin about giving that is infectious. The more you give, the more you want to give and encourage others to give. God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor. 9:7), and He promises that "whoever sows generously will also reap generously" (2 Cor. 9:6). Let us give until God commands us to stop!

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Application

-How has the Spirit of God gifted you? Ask God to enable you to be a good steward of the gifts He has given you, faithfully using them to build His kingdom.

-Think of one thing you can give to God today, whether it be a monetary donation to your church or a Christian organization, or a gift of time or talent.

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"A cheerful giver does not count the cost of what he gives. His heart is set on pleasing and cheering him to whom the gift is given."

-Julian of Norwich

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God's Resources Build

As one of the world's first billionaires, John D. Rockefeller was one of the richest men of his time. As a philantropist, he gave away five hundred million dollars, yet when he was once aksed by a reporter, "How much money is enough?" he replied, "Just a little bit more." In a day and age of continual excess, it is becoming increasingly more difficult to be content with what we have. Rather than rejoicing over the fact that we have homes, cars, or the latest technology, we are often prone to complain about all the things that we do not have.

However, as Christians we must realize that we own nothing; God is the ruler of all and the owner of everything. In Psalm 50:12, He says, "If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it" (emphasis added). We are merely stewards. But what does that mean? A king is the absolute owner and controller of his kingdom, but in times when the king is away or perhaps at war in a distant land, a steward looks after the kingdom in his stead. The steward doesn't own any of the king's property, but is simply in charge of looking after it.

As Jamie Munson writes, "Everything we have comes from God and belongs to God: life, family, money, resources, time, job, talents....everything. We are stewards of what God has given us. He owns it; we use it." Knowing this, let us be faithful and trustworthy stewards and live with a loose hold on the things that we have, always being ready and willing to obey when God prompts us to use what we have for His purposes.

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A Letter to God

Most Holy God, thank You for Your involvement in  my life.

Thank You for giving me Your Spirit.

Grant me wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and the ability to do what You call me to do.

And help me to sow cheerfully and generously.

In Jesus' name. Amen.