Growing Your Gifts

Did you know your Stampin’ Up!® products can be used for things other than cardmaking? I used them today on a Bible Journaling project. The Document Your Faith week 30 prompt from Sojo Academy inspired this project. This prompt was all about growing your gifts and was journaling 1 Peter 4:10.

Two page spread with 1 Peter 4:3-18 on the left page with 4:10 highlighted. "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace." Right page has the Bible journaling image. Bible journaling page with ink blended pale blue sky, yellow sun, and green grass. There are stamped flowers growing in the grass. They are yellow, pink purple, and peach. Tge flowers are labeled with spiritual gifts: wisdom, encouragement, teaching, service, leadership, mercy, giving, prophecy, faith, discernment. There are stamped bees and butterfly embellishments around the flowers. Page also says, "God has given us two hands--one to receive with and the other to give with."--Billy Graham

The flower garden represents the gifts of God that are growing into beautiful flowers. This is not an exhaustive list of gifts found in the Bible or even in the Scriptures I studied. You can find these gifts in 1 Peter 4:11, Romans 12:6-8, and 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11;28. Not all the gifts are represented in this garden–mainly because of space. Here’s a list of the ones that are.

Gifts in This Garden

Wisdom
Encouragement
Teaching
Leadership
Service
Mercy
Giving
Faith
Discernment

God gives these gifts. We don’t do anything to earn them. They are gifts.

But, just like a garden, we need to cultivate these gifts to help them grow. So, let’s talk about gardening for a minute.

We didn’t create the seed or put into it everything necessary to bring forth beautiful life. But, in order to see that seed blossom and grow, we need to take care of it. We need to plant it in rich soil and in a location that receives the right amount of sunlight for the type of seed. We need to see that it receives the correct amount of water to encourage growth. Sometimes that water comes from rain. Sometimes we are responsible for watering our seed. And, to encourage healthy growth we should be checking on it regularly making sure it’s getting enough sun, water, and nutrients to grow, but also removing weeds and pests that want to hinder it’s growth.

This is a lot like our gifts from God. They are freely given, but we have a responsibility to cultivate them. Make sure we’re in a healthy environment. Add in the good things we need to grow and remove the hindrances to our growth.

And, like the quote from Billy Graham says, “God has given us two hands–one to receive with and the other to give with.”

To continue the garden imagery, the gifts (seeds) we have received can turn into beautiful flowers when cultivated and cared for. And, when fully grown, those gifts (flowers) can provide what others need. Just like the butterflies and bees in this image.

What are some other ways you can think of to compare our spiritual gifts to a garden?