Day 17: Exodus 34-38, Matthew 25

Exodus 34:29-30
I wonder if we see the same sort of shine on the faces of people who have truly been talking with God as the Israelites saw on the face of Moses. Do we see it in their personalities or their presence, or was it unique to Moses?

Exodus 36:6-7
The artisans only accepted the materials that they needed to do the work God had commanded to be done. The people were only ASKED to give what was in their hearts to willingly give, only what was needed.

Matthew 25:29-30
Even though the gifts that have been given to us don't truly belong to us, we can still make good use of them for the benefit of God and others. If we keep the blessings, skills, and talents that God has given to us to ourselves, we are wasting the opportunity that God has given, and it will be taken away.

Matthew 25:31-45
When God is asking us to help, care for, and visit people, there are no limits to this command. We are to care for everyone because they are God's children. We are to help people, from the least to the greatest, no matter what. We are to love everyone and treat them as valuable human beings. Everyone.

Today's ponderments:
What do I have to give? What skills do I have that I have been holding back on, that I haven't used for the grater good, or haven't shared with those in need?

At the moment, I don't have a whole lot of money. I can't find a job, and I'm quickly running out of items on my shelves that I can sell in order to pay my own bills. So I'm thinking that money is not what I have to offer, at least not right now.

But I do have my art. Reading in Exodus today about the artisans that were gifted and called to construct the tabernacle and everything in it, and then reading about how we are called to give and provide to those in need, I realized that art is what I have to give.

I'm not really sure about how I'm supposed to give this gift of art, or if maybe I'm just supposed to do it for me to hear God's voice in my life, to give to myself because I can't give to others unless I'm okay in and of myself. I don't really know how I'm supposed to do it, or what it's going to look like.

But tomorrow, I'm going to start painting again. God will show me the rest in good time.