Gifts and Talents

         Hannah was barren. She asked God for a child and she had a son named Samuel. Hannah gave the child to the Lord and the Lord gave her five more children.

      There was a man who was lame and sat at a gate to the temple asking for alms. Peter and John were walking by and the man asked them for alms. They did not have any money but they gave the man more than he asked for by giving him healing in the name of Jesus.

      Our God is a God of abundance. He loves to give us more than we ask for. Many times we will settle for less. We say to ourselves many times, that it is good enough. We say that it is good enough for the government and it is good enough for us. Our God is not a God of “good enough.” Our God does not think the way we do. In everything He does, He has always done more than enough. When he created the stars He made more than we can count. When He made the trees He made many thousands of species of trees. Our God wants to bless us, but also give us an abundance of blessings. Our God wants to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think.

      New King James Version
Ephesians 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,

      New King James Version
1 Samuel 1:11 Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

1 Samuel 1:20 So it came to pass in the process of time that Hannah conceived and bore a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from the LORD."

      New King James Version
1 Samuel 2:21 And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the LORD.

      New King James Version
Acts 3:1 ¶ Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.
2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple;
3 who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms.
4 And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said, "Look at us."
5 So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
6 Then Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk."
7 And he took him by the right hand and lifted him up, and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
8 So he, leaping up, stood and walked and entered the temple with them--walking, leaping, and praising God.