Today I had an chore to do that had gone undone for too long.  I had put off stocking up my pantry because there was too much stuff that was no longer usuable, not desired, expiration dated and simply not appealing and taking up space.  That was only the "blessings" in the pantry.

The freezer was even worse.  Meats, vegetables, freezer dinners, breakfast biscuits, and pastries had been in the deep freezer so long you could not identify what the items was in the ziplock bags or tupperware bowls.

Of course, I thought I would get around to salvaging the costly food items so they wouldn't be wasted.  My daughter even tried to throw them out but got a loud barking reply from me that she didn't have to pay anything for the food and therefore had no say in my keeping them or throwing them out.  My intentions were good... to go through the items and make an assessment that would help me save money.  The intentions never took priority and the time was never taken to revamp my deep freezer.

Today, I knew I was ready to get some fresh meat and vegetables to have ready to prepare for meals and didn't have room  to store them. So looking at the corn, steak, peas, pie shells, seasoning meats, I didn't focus on the item but their evolution into the ice packs that they had become.  No wonder life is a little chilly in my world... too many dreams, too many gifts, too many good things stuck in freeze within me!

As I deloaded the ice-burnt food, I thought how often we suffer from placing those gifts that God has implanted within the deep freezer of our hearts.  Great ideas get stuck on hold, waiting on the time to come when we  get back around to picking them up for enrichment in our lives.

Dreams delayed, actions suspended and projects unplanned represents our faith in the deep freezer.  I knew the food was a blessing (just like those gifts of songwriting, poetry, designing, painting, dancing, musician, building, that God gives each of us.)  However,  placing things on hold means that often we also the true passions we have become stuck in the dark backgrounds of our lives.  In doing so, we find ourselves imprisoned doing things we don't enjoy, we don't benefit, and we don't truly get fulfillment from.

2 Timothy 1: 6 Paul remembered the unfeigned faith that was  characteristic of young Timothy...  A faith that was demonstrated by the young man's grandmother, Lois, and mother Eunice. Paul was certain that God has given such faith as an inheritance to Timothy, so he reminded Timothy to stir up the gift of God that is resting and ready within. 

 My focus has been on doing greater works in the name of Jesus Christ.  Today I realized that my problem is not getting something new... but using the gifts that have already been placed within me.  Guess what, when I go to the store I buy the same old things and stuff the freezer full.  Things I like, things that are healthy, thing that I can prepare with expertise.  But stirring up the gifts doesn't mean get wind of a totally innovative idea that eyes haven't seen and ears never heard  about before.  Stir up the gift of God is using those wonderful characteristics, desires and abilities that you already have with faith that God will bless your actions and decisions.

Vs. 7 -  for God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power and of love and of a sound mind.  This spoke to me... the things God placed within me and gave me an opportunity to learn and develop  are good enough for me to push beyond the limits to give God glory.

If you have some good things going bad in your deep freezer, take the time to empty and regroup to replace fresh faith on the ideas that you have been given by the Holy spirit to give Glory to God.   God in His infinite wisdom and awesome power does not have to redo the wonder of His creativity.  When he created each of us, He knew us before we entered the womb, therefore He knows what divine gifts are already stock and stored up within us... waiting to be release.

Stir up your gifts ... with faith in the power of God.  Do your works in love and with a sound mind.  Then serve others to bless them with your ingenuity, creativity, skill and know how.  Then we are free to receive even more from the Lord!