My YAH Given Talent
Shalom my brothers and sisters. It is my most fervent prayer that all is well with you. As I was considering this next devotional I recalled a group I used to be part of. It is a photography group where I road tripped to various destinations and learned how to shoot landscapes, i.e. sunsets, sunrises and my all time favorite, astronomical photos. Starting out I didn’t know how to capture anything but darkness, a completely black photo as if I had left the lens cap on. 😕 So much goes into it; timing, location and the right lens, but during one of my trips to Death Valley, Eric Gail, one of the instructors stayed behind and helped me capture something. Oh the photo is not great at all but to be able to capture anything after standing for hours in the cold night desert shooting nothing but blacked out images; in pitch black darkness is an amazing feeling. I praise YAHWEH for allowing me that experience. I have gone out on my own to shoot more in the Joshua Tree National Park, but all I can say is I improved a tiny bit. However, I do aspire to be a great talent in this area like Eric Gail as there are new even more beautiful locations to explore in TN at night and YAHWEH willing, I can’t wait to plan my first trip of discovery. In the images above I’m positive you can guess which ones are mine and which ones are the incredibly talented Eric Gail’s. (I will say that the abandoned building is my first night shot he helped me capture.) HalleluYAH!
It’s been a minute since my last devotional as I believed that I needed time to refocus and recenter myself to ensure that I am in the Will of YAHWEH. I wonder if any of you have experienced something in your life which completely derailed you from the direction you believed YAHWEH had you headed in? This happened to me several weeks ago. It was something small in the grand scheme of things, but it caused me to wonder if I am truly operating in the Spirit of our ELOHIM.
Ephesians 2:10 says: For we are of the ELOHIM’S (God’s) making, created in union with the Messiah YESHUA for a life of good actions already prepared by EL (God) for us to do. (CJB). This verse tells me that I was born with a talent or gift the ELOHIM created in me before I was born. 1 Peter 4:10-11 says: As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of EL’S (God’s) many-sided unmerited favor - 11: if someone speaks, let him speak EL’S (God’s) words; if someone serves, let him do so out of strength that EL (God) supplies; so that in everything YAHWEH may be glorified through YESHUA the Messiah — to Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. (CJB) This verse tells me that whatever gift I have been given, I am to use it to glorify our ELOHIM.
Thinking back to the year 2006-07, right before my decline, I was going through a phase where I thought that “I didn’t really need church, and I could learn about “God” on my own.” I believed this because I was frustrated with not fitting in and was more like a leaf in the wind, blowing around from ministry to ministry. Well, I was slightly correct in my thinking. I say slightly because we can learn about YAHWEH for ourselves through the RUACH HA’KODESH; but in reality I wasn’t studying or reading regularly for myself. Although still, I was truly seeking our Creator whom I knew was real. One particular day just as I was reasoning with myself and vocalized these thoughts, another very bold and louder thought swept across my mind; “What makes you think you are in that church based on what you need?” “Why would you not think you are there to serve the need of others?” I literally forgot this experience until now. I was so very much caught up in the world then, that I had forgotten what hearing from YAHWEH sounds like; I was completely taken aback and from then on as a christian, I became more active in my church with a focus on consistency. I joined small groups and ministries for no particular reason other than hearing that statement which I now know was YAHWEH who was making a point to let me know it was my duty to be active in serving others no matter where that takes place. I came to realize that I have a servant spirit. I didn’t mind doing what I could in the background supporting the efforts of others whether it was in my traditional job, or in the church. I joined various ministries but none had anything to do with any specific talent or gift that I had; I just wanted to serve. I felt that as long as I was doing what I believed God (YAHWEH) wanted me to do, which is to serve others, and be a help not a hindrance, I was a happy little christian. However still, I never seemed to show any real consistency in serving as I continued to bounce around from ministry to ministry. Serving in the church, always felt just like working within my traditional job; I encountered the same spirit of people serving as I did at work.
Fast forward to today; things are a bit different now. I am walking in Torah and I study scripture to understand it and to obey it. 1 Peter 4:10 means so much more to me now understanding that YAHWEH actually gives us gifts and talents and we are to be good managers or stewards of this gift just as YESHUA explained in the parable of the talents Matthew 25:14-30 I will cite it below. I learned that I am supposed to use the gift He gave me in a way that glorifies Him and if I am being a good steward of it, then I will not waste it. The problem was that I didn’t really know what that gift is and had I stayed in the church I am not sure that I would have searched this out. I performed administrative tasks on technology teams and served in reception for the children ministries and served on special events staff like “Sunrise Service”. All of these things are important especially if I were serving in an assembly which taught the truth in scripture observing the laws and appointed times; but I wasn’t. So then after leaving this assembly, the question for myself and YAHWEH was how did He want me to serve Him? Well, I have spent my life learning different things because I love being creative. I was known as the artsy one in my family; but it was my 3rd oldest sister who was truly the artist. It was more that I wanted to be artistic like her; but never quite had the talent, and it didn’t feel genuine to be referred to as the “artsy one” or “artist” when I had no real talent in it. So I became interested in photography; why paint it when I could take a picture of it? Then there is the soap and lotion formulating, jewelry making and crocheting; while I could do all of these things, I was not particularly good at any of them. The skills to become well crafted in these areas didn’t come easy. In the end, bath and body product making and photography is where I found joy in my results.
So it was around this time last year that I witnessed YAHWEH moving my life in the direction He wanted it to go. I believed it was time for me to focus on identifying the actual gift He gave me to serve Him. I pondered the question, what talent did He give me that He wants me to use for His kingdom? In the 1st month and the 12th day of 2022 it came to me. When YAHWEH puts things on my heart I write notes on it and date it. He placed writing on my heart and I thought; writing? 🤔 The thing is I never looked at it as a specific talent because I had never written anything that I would purposely share. I used to want to write a book, and I would write poetry I never really shared with more than a few people, and I have attempted a blog in the past but quickly put it aside; and that’s what I did when the thought of writing being a gift was placed on my heart. I put it aside and continued getting settled in my new life doing what I was comfortable with; taking pictures. After Pesach (Passover), this desire to serve using my talents increased in me and I was feeling like a failure in serving Him no matter how much I changed my life to walk in Torah. I had completely forgotten what I wrote back in the 1st month of the year and began fasting and praying over it. In YAHWEH fashion, it was confirmed to me in conversations that reminded me of my notes which said: “YAHWEH wants me to write a newsletter encompassing my pictures and testimonies. This is my gift; writing. HalleluYAH.” It began to make sense. Just because I didn’t think I was very good at it means nothing because the fact is that regardless of the quality; writing is something I have done all my life comfortably. When I say all my life I don’t just mean for school, I mean notebook upon notebook, upon notebook, in grammar and middle school; back before MS Word, after MS Word, files and files of unfinished stories, plays and poems. I Never shared any of it because it felt more like a form of therapy. As a child I would get scolded for writing on my mother’s walls. She would say, “Girl, I can’t look at a wall or grab a piece of paper without seeing your name or something you wrote all over it”; “If you don’t stop writing all over my walls!” I abandoned the habit of writing on walls for writing solely on paper; still never seeing it as a talent; it was just something I did. After recalling what I wrote in my notes on 1/12/2022, I purposed to be obedient and wrote the first devotional in June 2022. Writing these devotions have given me such passion in wanting to share what YAHWEH means to me and how He has guided and chastised me over the years. I abandoned any plans I have ever made for my life and opened myself up to YAHWEH so that His will can be done. It is difficult, painful at times, and requires much change. However, overall it has been the best thing I have done for myself and I am pleased to share my experience as He sees fit. It is a novel that has no end as long as I breath because I’m always studying and learning how to love and obey Him prayerfully in a way that pleases Him.
It is now the 2nd month of 2023 and here I am today, prayerfully still in the Will of YAHWEH as I type these words. I am always nervous with every devotional I release as I never know how what I say will be received; but then a bit of confirmation to keep going came. Over the past few weeks I haven’t been quite sure that my heart had been captured in the midst of writing these devotionals as they are not meant to teach anyone. Then I recalled over a month ago that a dear sister-friend said to me after reading a few that she “reads my writing, as a study of YAH’S words through my lenses, but all truth” and a another beloved one communicated to me that they “enjoy the devotionals because they are my transparent and personal real life experiences with YAHWEH, allowing them to relate to my walk in the Faith.” Remembering these comments brought me to tears as my heart was captured exactly as I intended and again; prayerfully as YAHWEH intends. I pray before I write, and it is important to me that above everything, the reader understands what YAHWEH means to me; and that they see Him in every word I write. Psalm 19:14 comes to mind Let the words of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O YAHWEH, my helper and my Savior. (Aramaic Peshitta) If my devotionals are acceptable in His sight, He will share them with whomever needs to read them, He will water the seeds, I pray they plant; or He will strengthen the walk of others on this narrow path with the encouragement I pray they provide. I believe that the word of our Father YAHWEH works differently in the lives of those who choose to be in covenant with Him because we are all different, but on the same narrow path. The importance of being in covenant with YAHWEH is that we hear and obey; admonishing, praying for, and encouraging one another in the name of our King and Savior YESHUA HA’MASHIACH!
Shalom & Berekah!
P.S. If you are new to this walk and are a serious follower of YAHWEH-YESHUA but feel that you are walking alone, email me at the address located on my about page. I am delighted to share with you resources and put you in touch with someone who will not allow you to continue to walk alone.
Just a few supporting verses:
For we are of the ELOHIM’S (God’s) making, created in union with the Messiah YESHUA for a life of good actions already prepared by EL (God) for us to do. (CJB)
-Ephesians 2:10
Their task is to equip the ELOHIM’S people for the work of service that builds the body of the Messiah (CJB)
-Ephesians 4:12
Under his control, the whole body is being fitted and held together by the support of every joint, with each part working to fulfill its function; this is how the body grows and builds itself up in love. (CJB)
-Ephesians 4:16
As each one has received some spiritual gift, he should use it to serve others, like good managers of EL’S (God’s) many-sided unmerited favor - 11: if someone speaks, let him speak EL’S (God’s) words; if someone serves, let him do so out of strength that EL (God) supplies; so that in everything YAHWEH may be glorified through YESHUA the Messiah — to Him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen. (CJB)
-1 Peter 4:10-11
Parable of the talents (CJB)
-Matthew 25:14-30
Let the words of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O YAHWEH, my helper and my Savior. (Aramaic Peshitta)
-Psalm 19:14
But we have gifts that differ and which are meant to be used according to the grace that has been given to us. If your gift is prophecy, use it to the extent of your trust; 7: if it is serving, use it to serve; if you are a teacher, use your gift in teaching; 8: if you are a counselor, use your gift to comfort and exhort; if you are someone who gives, do it simply and generously; if you are in a position of leadership, lead with diligence and zeal; if you are one who does acts of mercy, do them cheerfully. (CJB)
-Romans 6-8
Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will serve kings, not obscure people. (CJB)
-Proverbs 22:29
Whatever work you do, put yourself into it, as those who are serving not merely other people, but the Lord. (CJB)
-Colossians 3:23
Now you together constitute the body of the Messiah, and individually you are parts of it. (CJB)
-1 Corinthians 12:27
All the women who were skilled at spinning got to work and brought what they had spun, the blue, purple and scarlet yarn and the fine linen. 26: Likewise the women whose heart stirred them to use their skill spun the goat’s hair.
-Exodus 35:25-26
Likewise, when people light a lamp, they don’t cover it with a bowl but put it on a lamp stand, so that it shines for everyone in the house. 16: In the same way, let your light shine before people, so that they may see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
-Matthew 5:15-16