To all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. - Matthew 25:29 (NRSV)
When my husband and I moved into our house, we noticed a wonderful garden next door filled with beautiful flowers and wholesome vegetables. Our neighbor, Herb, was a master gardener. But more than that, he was generous. 
Herb hung a bucket on our side of the fence that separated our back yards. As he quietly worked in his garden, Herb would fill our bucket with wonderful things. One day it might be tomatoes; the next day, zucchini. Another day it was cucumbers; and the day after, fresh beets. We never saw Herb filling our bucket, but the evidence of his presence was undeniable. One day as I emptied that bucket, I thought about what would happen if I forgot that it was there or perhaps became too lazy to empty it. The vegetables would rot and be wasted.Maybe God is like Herb . . . working quietly in the garden of our lives, filling our “buckets” with gifts and skills for us to use. Has God given you a gift that you are not using? When we use what is in our buckets, God can fill them up again.
Prayer Dear God, help us to discern and to fully use the talents, skills, and gifts you give us to bring you glory. Amen.
Prayer focus My neighbors in need
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,” -Ephesians 5:25-26
