Song of the Month:
Till I see You ~ Hillsong 
Topic of the Month:
*Talents*
Bible Passage:
Matthew 25:14-30 - Parable of the Talents
4 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done,good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Devotion:
Do you ever feel like no one sees your full potential? Like no one knows what you are really capable of? God knows!! Even when nobody thinks you can, God does. He created us and He knows all that we can do. He's given us all talents that we can use for His glory. Whether it is singing, playing an instrument, writing, or even just encouraging those around us with our words. These are all wonderful things we can do for the Lord! Perhaps you feel like you don't have any talents you can use for God. That's not true one bit! Maybe you have a friend who is feeling down, why don't you send them an encouraging verse from the Word Of God? This can be a great way to show that you care. If God has given you a gift...use it! Don't let it just sit on the shelf and go to waste. This is like the parable we just read. The master gave his servants each a talent, which is actually money. One of them hid it, while the others used theirs to get more. It reminds me of God giving us "talents" and we don't use them. The master later on says that because they were faithful with little, he will give them more to be faithful of. How much this is like God and us! God has blessed us with so much, why don't we bless Him back by using the gifts and talents He has given us?? Let's get out and do it!!
In Christ,
Deborah Allyn
