"It is more rewarding to be out on a limb doing something significant for God than just standing on the ground taking in air."

This is a quote from my book, THE BLESSING SEER. I spoke on this theme Friday evening at a Festival of Tables at Manley Baptist Church. By the way - hello to my new friends there. I had a great time being with you.

I wanted to share one of my points from that evening on my blog today.

Using a tree as a metaphor here, I asked if the ladies were barking up the right tree. How about you? Are you barking up the right tree?

If all there was to this Christian life was salvation, we wouldn't be here. Think about it. When you accepted Christ you would be beamed up to heaven. But, we Christians are still here. There must be a purpose for that. We are here for a specific reason.

Ephesians 1:11 in The Message says: "It's in Christ we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone."

God has a plan for each of us and has equipped us to be able to work out that plan. We have been uniquely created with our own personality, skills, talents, and gifts. But, so often we use our abilities for everything but God's glory. I equate this with barking up the wrong tree.

There is nothing wrong with using our gifts, but not at the absence of using them in the body of Christ. God has specifically gifted you and created you in such a way as to reach people for Him. Do we miss out on touching these people?

Sometimes we find it more important to climb the tree of success or notoriety. These will not fulfill our calling or touch our intended target.

God is urging us up to a limb where we will experience our purpose which is rooted in Him. Don't miss out on the fruit or the view up there.

I dare you - no, I triple-dog dare you - to go out on a limb with God using those gifts and talents He's invested in you. If you do it, you'll never turn back - you'll be hooked!