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What a children's cartoon taught me about being Content


My grandson is with me often, which I love! What I sometimes don't care for as much is that I get to watch cartoons or tv shows with him. But I want to tell you what a children's cartoon taught me about being content.


One of my grandson's favorite shows is Ninjago and on this particular day, we found a Ninjago movie he'd never seen. He was so excited to watch it and I was supposed to watch it with him. I was scrolling on my phone and when my grandson caught me! He then decided to "catch me up" on what I'd missed.


Lloyd, one of the Ninjas in training, had been arguing with Master Wu, his mentor, because his friends had all have been given amazing powers. They each had an elemental power - water, fire, wind and ice, and they used these to help them fight the evil they encountered. Lloyd was mad because he didn't feel he had a power, so he wasn't "cool" or able to help fight evil like his friends! Master Wu explained to Lloyd that he did have a power and although it wasn't an elemental power, it was definitely something he should use. His power was that he got to be the Green Ninja. What in the world does that mean, his power was that he was now the Green Ninja? He was so upset that his power was a color; he wanted a super power like the others, something BIG that would show how strong and capable he was. How could he fight evil with a color? But what Lloyd didn't understand at the time was that, in the future, he, the Green Ninja, would be a key person in the fight against evil, by becoming their leader. He would be the one to lead them into the battles against evil and come out victorious!


Don’t we do this with our Master also? We are like Lloyd - complaining about what God has given us (or not given us).


  • Why can't I be a great teacher?

  • Why can't I be a bible scholar?

  • Why didn't I get my sister's compassion?

  • Why am I so "ordinary?"

  • Where's my super-power?


I think sometimes we are so focused on others' skills and gifts that we miss our own. God has given ALL of His children special talents. It is up to us to embrace those and to use them, all to glorify God. But sometimes that's not what we want to do. We want to do the BIG stuff, the FUN stuff, the stuff that may bring accolades and recognition. In Nicki Koziarz's book, "Your New Now," she says something that really has stuck with me. “We’re looking for fun, and God is looking for faithful.” It’s easy to do the fun things, isn’t it? We are in our comfort zone when God asks us to do something that is very familiar to us, to use what WE believe to be our best talents, for something that doesn't take a lot of stretching on our part.


Green Ninja Power

But what happens when God calls us to take a leap of faith, to use gifts that aren't glamorous or "in the front lines?" What happens when He wants to stretch us outside our comfort zone into what my pastor calls "the character zone?" He sometimes asks us to push past our fear into the unknown and He has already equipped us for whatever that may be. But let's be honest here - we aren't all going to be pastors. Not all of us can be bible scholars. Not all of us can teach. So the way He has equipped us may not look "BIG" or "cool"; it might look like something “normal,” something that could possibly be overlooked. Are we going to complain to our Master - or are we going to realize we have all the power we need for God's work?

I Corinthians 12:4-6(ESV) says: Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; there are varieties of service, but the same Lord: and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone.

Let’s be like Lloyd, the Green Ninjango. Let’s first recognize, then accept and be content with the gifts that God has given us. Let's then use those gifts to glorify God in whatever we do. Let's use the Power of the Holy Spirit inside of us and further God's kingdom!


Heavenly Father, you are the Almighty and you give great power to Your children. Today I pray over every person reading this blog. I ask for clarity, to help us to see what You have given us, accept, embrace and be content what You have given us, and use what You have given us - all to Your glory. Help us to keep our eyes focused on You. Help us to spend time in Your Word, knowing that it is the Truth, the only Truth! Help us be open to others in our lives whom You have sent to support us. Father, I ask that You take away any doubts, any fears, we may have, and fill us with confidence and boldness! Lord, I thank You so much for all Your blessings. I thank You for Your grace and Your patience. I thank You for Your love! In Your name I pray, Amen!


Until next time,

Vickie

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