Scripture Thursday Linky Party #5 ~ Use Your Gifts

Each of you should use 

whatever gift you have received to serve others, 

as faithful stewards of God’s grace 

in its various forms. 

I Peter 4:10

One of the things we think about at Christmastime is giving gifts.  When you become a child of God, he gives us a gift or gifts, which are special abilities that others may not have.  There are specific spiritual gifts mentioned in I Corinthians 12.  I’m focusing a little bit on that, but also on God given talents. 

Some of you may already know what your gift is, others might have to think about it, but it IS there.   

• How has God made you unique?  
  
• What are your special talents? 
  
• Your particular interests?
• Your strongest characteristics?    

God does not intend for you to keep your gift a secret.  He wants you to open it, and use it right away.  Your gifts are valuable; God will use them to touch the people around you.

I know that one of my gifts is playing the piano.  I have been playing since I was 3 years old.  I am not saying that to brag, but I’ve always known it’s a God given gift.  I take no credit for it.  I have no idea how I play, I just sit down at the piano and God does the rest.

Think about ways you can reach others with your gifts.  Not just at Christmas, but all year long. 

Cooking
Paper Crafting

Hospitality

Conversation – a listening year – a phone call

Praying for others

Sewing

Crocheting/Knitting

Time (for visiting or lending a helping hand)

Good with children (offer a morning/afternoon of childcare for a busy mom)

Artistic

The Gift of compassion or encouragement

Those are just a few ideas I had of some of the talents God has given us.  As you look at the list, I’m sure not one of us matches up to everything, but I’m sure that we match up to something.  

By using your gifts and talents, you are pleasing God, and leaving touches on the hearts of people who benefit from your gift.  I can think of many times when women in my life have left their touches on my heart over the years with their special gifts. 

Weeding my garden, making a wreath for me, a special gift they had made with me in mind, praying for me, meals brought at just the right moment, handmade cards, a personal note, a gift just because, bouquets of flowers handpicked from their personal gardens, the gift of time, snail mail, unexpected surprises. 

As women, we are all influential to somebody.  Our words and actions can be like a letter from God, written on human hearts.  By using your talents, your letter will be one that is received with gratitude (even if not always expressed by the recipient).   I’d like to share one of my favorite scriptures when I think of the ways we as women touch the lives of those around us when we use our gifts. 

You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.  II Corinthians 3:3

Use your gifts and talents throughout the year and make a difference to someone.  I guarantee YOU will feel as blessed as the recipient. 

A reminder that God gave ALL of us the same gift – the most precious gift of all.  The gift of eternal life through His son Jesus.  The gift is free to all, but must be accepted in order to receive it.  That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  Romans 10:9

My project above is a digital scrapbook page.  The scripture from I Peter 4:10 borders around the page and came from Faith Sisters.  Other elements used in this project came from Raspberry Road Designs an Lettering Delights.  The three vintage postcards included in this post are free to you.

It’s time for you to link up your projects.  Any project with scripture from the Bible can participate. I reserve the right to remove any link that does not have scripture or I feel is not beneficial to my readers.

Can't wait to see what you have to link up.  Thanks for stopping by today.

This post is linked to Sharing Your Blessings 

Time for some Free Vintage Christmas Postcards

We then that are strong 

ought to bear the infirmities of the weak,

and not to please ourselves.

 Let every one of us please his neighbour 

for his good to edification. 

Romans 15:1,2

What a great time of year to put this verse into practice. Helping others when we see a need, and have the means to do so.  It's not just about money, it could be a ride to the store, a gift of time - just sitting and visiting with someone can give a huge amount of cheer to lonely people.  

This time of year is especially hard for many, depression can easily set in.  Some think of loved ones who have passed, or some are saddened that they don't have any family to share Christmas with.  Do what you can through this season to lift someone up.  Reach out where you see a need.

It's time for some Vintage Christmas Freebies for you.  I've picked out two Christmas postcards that I thought you might like.  I'll try to post as frequently as I can through the Christmas season.  I hope you enjoy these darling graphics.  Don't forget to click for a larger size before saving to your computer. 

Don't forget about my Scripture Thursday Linky Party.  There's still time to participate this week.  Link up any project that has scripture from the Bible.  

I hope you all have a blessed day.  Thank you for stopping by. 

Free Vintage Christmas Postcards of Children

Hello my friends.  After helping with a Ladies Christmas Paper Craft day on Saturday, I'm really geared up for Christmas.  So... have to share some vintage Christmas postcards with you to get you in the Christmas spirit as well.  This is the year I'm starting early (really!!) so the closer I get to Christmas the more I'll be able to enjoy the festivities.  

I hope you all will have a pleasant day.  Please remember to pray for people you know that are suffering from illness, loss of a loved one, and other hardships.  There are so many that need our prayers, I feel particularly burdened for a number of different friends at this time.  Thanks for stopping by today.

Scripture Thursday Linky Party

 Therefore by Him let us continually
offer the sacrifice of praise to God,
that is, the fruit of our lips,
giving thanks to His name. 

But do not forget to do good and to share,
for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. 
Hebrews 13:15-16 (NKJV)

With Thanksgiving and Christmas upon us, it’s often a time we reflect on our blessings and are thankful for what God has given us.  He reminds us in this verse not to forget to do good and to share.  You might think, what do I have to share?  Most of us don’t have extra money sitting around to put in envelopes and pass out, but we do have talents and perhaps resources that others don’t have, or an accumulation of certain items that we no longer use (such as fabric and craft supplies in my case).

Think about ways you could do good and share. 

• help a mom out with her children for a morning or afternoon,

• visit an elderly person and take them some cookies or muffins,
   
  
• take time to pray for someone

• take someone to lunch that could use a pick-me-up,

• make a meal for someone who is stressed and trying to keep it together

• send an encouraging handwritten note through the mail

• share your time

• clean out your craft supplies, books, fabric, collectibles, toys, clothes, pass them on to someone who can use them

Are your blessings overflowing?  Share them with others; put action behind your gratitude.  Doing for others is a way of pleasing and thanking God.   

Here is my project with today's scripture, Hebrews 13:16.  I made it digitally using images from The Graphics Fairy and Jessica Sprague.  You are free to use this scripture image in your own projects.  

I am attempting to offer my first .png file ~ as I’m not sure how successful I can be at this, please bear with me.  At least if it doesn’t work, you’ll end up a with a nice .jpg file and I can attempt to come up with a better way by next week.  This scripture is also free for you to use in your projects.

This is a weekly linky party.  Here’s how you can participate:

• You may link up a project you have made that has scripture from the Bible on the front of it.  It may be in digital format or other mediums.  

• It is a scripture of your choice and does not have to be specific to any theme.  It does have to be actual scripture from the Bible and not an inspirational phrase or quote.  I reserve the right to remove links that are not actual Bible Verses or links that I feel are not in good taste for this blog.

• You may use the free images I've given you here in your project if you'd like. 

• Please link up to the actual blog post and not your blog home page.

• Please either have my button (code on the sidebar) on your blog, or add a link to my blog in your post.  

• Feel free to email me with any questions littlebirdieblessings@gmail.com

 Thanks for stopping by, I can't wait to see what you share. 

BOLD Encouragement & Free Christmas Images

Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 KJV

This verse has been on my mind today so thought I’d start my post with it.  The word that stands out to me in this verse is BOLDLY. 

It reminds me how to approach my Lord: 

•  immeasurable faith and confidence

• knowing most assuredly that He will help me in my time of need

•  in a way only He knows is best

Remember, we can’t see the whole picture laid out in front of us, but God can.  Only He knows our future and knows best how to help us.  

It is my hope and prayer that the assuring words in Hebrews 4:16 would help your trust  and faith to grow stronger.  I'm constantly striving to be:

Less dependent on self,
&

more dependent on Him.  

  

Free Vintage Postcard ~ Christmas Birds

I have some sweet Vintage Christmas Postcards to share with you today.  One of them has birds of course.  The other is an angel.  I love Christmas!  Keep watching, lots more to add.

Free Vintage Christmas Postcard

 

Have a blessed day my friends, and don’t forget to check the previous post – Scripture Thursday.  I have a new weekly link party for any project that has a scripture verse on it.  You can click here for more details.  Scripture Thursday Link Party