God Gives; We Take...

inspired today's give and take contemplation... James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. Acts 17:28For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ How often we are like this robin,who took full advantage of a freshly-filled birdbath!We soak and splash in the faithfully-replenished fountain of blessing.Pray we thank the Giver for all we take! God gives; we take. All we receive precedes relinquishmentEach accomplishment we achieve the fruit of favours lentGoodness and mercy’s wellspring spills; we drink, with gifted breathToo oft mindless of He who fills the fount of life-to-death God gives; we take. A treasure trove of generosityAnoints our touch-and-taste with love’s accountabilityWhere all we have is what we take while He ordains the chanceAnd it is up to us to make the most of all He grants God gives; we take; and if we suffer loss tis but the partOf gain we often overlook until it breaks our heartAnd bids us contemplate the sum of grace till we are awedFor all we have is given from the outstretched Hand of God God gives today; we wake and take it, consciously or notAh pray, that what we make of it is the best we have got He gives; we take. Forbid we boast in anyone but HeWho loves us to the uttermost for all eternity © Janet Martin John 19:10-11So Pilate said to Him, “Do You refuse to speak to me?Do You not know that I have authority to release You and authority to crucify You?”Jesus answered, “You would have no authority over Meif it were not given to you from above.Therefore the one who handed Me over to you is guilty of greater sin.” Olives that have known no pressureNo oil can bestow;If the grapes escape the winepress,Cheering wine can never flow;Spikenard only through the crushing,Fragrance can diffuse.Shall I then, Lord, shrink from suff’ringWhich Thy love for me would choose? Each blow I sufferIs true gain to me.In the place of what Thou takestThou dost give Thyself to me. Do my heart-strings need Thy stretching,Songs divine to prove?Do I need for sweetest musicCruel treatment of Thy love?Lord, I fear no deprivationIf it draws to Thee;I would yield in full surrenderAll Thy heart of love to see. I’m ashamed, my Lord, for seekingSelf to guard alway;Though Thy love has done its stripping,Yet I’ve been compelled this way.Lord, according to Thy pleasureFully work on me;Heeding not my human feelings,Only do what pleases Thee. If Thy mind and mine should differ,Still pursue Thy way;If Thy pleasure means my sorrow,Still my heart shall answer, “Yea!”’Tis my deep desire to please Thee,Though I suffer loss;E’en though Thy delight and gloryMean that I endure the cross. Oh, I’ll praise Thee, e’en if weepingMingle with my song.Thine increasing sweetness calls forthGrateful praises all day long.Thou hast made Thyself more preciousThan all else to me:Thou increase and I decrease, Lord—This is now my only plea.