Do you remember the commercials years ago where everyone wanted to be like Michael Jordan?
The Original:

The Remix:

Ok, what does that have to do with the Bible? Or a 50 year old, 5’2″, 250 pound me?
This quote:

I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. ~Michael Jordan

or this quote:

If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it. ~Michael Jordan

Michael was looked over in his sophomore year for basketball. He was 5’11’ and deemed too short to play.(Wikipedia) He eventually grew to 6’6″.

I’ve read that he spent hours practicing foul shots.  I can’t find that right now, but the point is, Michael Jordan is what he is because of talent AND tough practice. And he was practicing before anyone even though the was good enough.

Real sports practices are tough. Just ask any football player doing “three-a-day’s” in August heat! My husband says they come home beat…then turn around and go back.  Why? Because they want to be the best.

I know the girls I coached in soccer didn’t like the running around the fields, after school…even in the cold and wet.  But it paid off in our 1-8 record! Ok, so I was given the unwanted team, the under-dogs, under trained, under provided for, and made fun of at every game. We won our last game…against the top team.  Why? Because we practiced.  We trained.  We talked soccer before the game, during the game, after the game, and of course, at practices.  Those girls were never so happy, as when they were jumping up and down, on that cold day, having won, their one and only game.  Priceless. No one grew up to be a Mia Hamm, but I pray that victory stayed with those girls forever.

Exodus 31:1-5 Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts–to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of craftsmanship.

God chose someone – filled them with the Spirit of God – to be creative, to have talent.

Ex 31:6 Moreover, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, to help him. Also I have given skill to all the craftsmen to make everything I have commanded you:

KJV says it this way: And I, behold, I have given with him Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan: and in the hearts of all that are wise hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded thee;

Then Moses went back and said – Hey Bez and Aholiab…God says you know what you’re doing, so you’re gonna oversee and build all the stuff for the Holiest place on earth!(Ex 35:30-35)

Who, ME? God called me out by name?Um, people have died when He called out their names!

The creative force upon the water in Gen 1:2 was poured out upon men.

Ex 36:2(NIV) says this 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.

God even included those that were willing to do the work….just hold that thought.

God put within Bezaleel and Oholiab(Aholiab) special wisdom by His Spirit to be able to do special tasks for HIS Kingdom.  Skills, ability and knowledge have been placed within these two for the glory of God.  But where had they been practicing these skills? In Egypt!

Matthew Henry doesn’t believe that any Israelites would have been used to perform this special work in Egypt…so, therefore, it was a supernatural impartation. But when Aaron created the golden calf, he had some sort of engraving tools and knew how to do so.  So, in my humble opinion, I believe that these men learned their skills at the hands of the Egyptians, who would not have desired to do such lowly tasks as creating the furnishings for themselves.  They had slaves to do that.  This does NOT deny the fact that giftings are imparted by the Holy Spirit.  Only that some giftings come from the heat and pressures of life.

In Germany, the Jews continued to do the special crafts under the iron fists of the Nazis.  In America, slaves did the elaborate sewing for the women of the plantations. In Africa, the slaves work with the diamonds from the mines. In a German cell, Dietrich Bonhoffer wrote his beautiful memoirs.

WE are the diamonds that God is working on.  WE are HIS workmanship, WE are His crowning glory of creation. A naive person cannot be considered wise, because they are prevented from knowing the wisdom that comes from knowledge and choices.  A diamond does not become a diamond, unless it goes through heat, fire, and pressure.

My husband has been reading a book called Outliers:The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell.  The book is about how talent really doesn’t matter as much as putting forth the time and effort.  What he’s shared with me has been very interesting. Many of the people we consider greats in our time were people with the time, the opportunity, and the willingness to apply their aptitude to something, and it later turned out great.  Bill Gates is one example.

Through the years of being a slave to Pharoah, Bezaleel learned something, and when the time came, God called upon him and said “build my tabernacle”.  And he did.  And he oversaw and taught others to do the same.  The sad thing? Bezaleel never entered the promised land, and of course, never saw the Temple(built much, much later).

I have a friend who has suffered with many things in her life.  She is an amazing artist.  I know that there were years where she was housebound, a slave to her physical issues.  On Feb 6, 2011, she has an art show.  God has blessed her with talent, and I’m sure that her time in that slavery had an impact on her art.

Beethoven was deaf.

Michelangelo went nearly blind painting the Sistine Chapel.

Though my struggles with slavery to trauma, tragedy, and terror, I learned to paint.  People have said that God has given me this talent, and I assume that would indicate God putting His Spirit upon me.

• I can’t jump like Mike.
• I can’t run like Eric Liddell.
• I can’t kick like Mia Hamm.
• I can’t write music like Handel, Mozart or Beethoven.
• I can’t paint upside down like Michaelangelo, and
• I am not a skilled scientist like Leonardo DaVinci.

But I can do what God has given me.

Matthew 25 starts with the tale of the foolish virgins.  They all had oil to begin with, but five foolish ones didn’t do what it took to have oil to take them all the way through the night.

Then, the parable of the talents.  Each person was given something, and told to make something of it before the master returned.  No one knew when the master would return.

When the lacking virgins returned, they were late to the wedding, and the bridegroom said: But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.(Mat 25:12)

moral? Matt 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

What happened with the servant that just hid his master’s coin in the ground?

• Matt 25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, [Thou] wicked and slothful servant,
• Matt 25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give [it] unto him which hath ten talents.
• Matt 25:30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

That is a high price to pay for not cultivating the talents that God has given me.  Did you hold the thought about those willing to do the work? Here’s where that comes in.   It is my heart’s desire to hear a different phrase from my master when He comes.

Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.(Matt 25:23)

The ones that did the work were blessed AND ENTERED INTO THE MASTER’S/BRIDEGROOMS JOY!

Bezaleel died with the others in the 40 years wandering. He never entered into the physical promised land.  I don’t know if he’s in heaven or not, but we know that only two lived to go into the promised land – Joshua and Caleb.  I can’t imagine working with my hands to create the home of God here on earth, and not following through to get to see the promised land.  Well, actually, yes, I can.

I have hidden the talents that God has given me for long enough. I painted one painting that stands out, and then I basically stopped.

This year is about coming out of the darkness, and bringing things into the Light.  But, like Mike & Eric Liddell, I need to acknowledge that God has given me gifts.  AND like Mike and Eric, I need to practice the talent God has given me.  I believe that Bezaleel was chosen because he was given a talent by God, and he had practiced it, and was skilled when the time came to create for the temple.  I believe that every one of us has a talent.  What’s your talent?  Is it still hiding under a bushel?

Shine down Your light on Me! ~ Sandi Patti

Thanks for joining me on this journey!

In His hands and under His wings,

~Christi

Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only Wise God our Savior be glory and honor, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen. Jude 24-25

1. 100 days challenge – moving – check
2. 100 days challenge- blog – check
3. 90 days Bible Reading – check-tackling Numbers
4. 50 days T-Tapp – check
5. 21 days Fasting for Food – check – I made lentil soup!