"I'm Just Sayin" by Alan P. Scaglione

“Just honoring the Gift Giver by using the gift He gave!”

“I’m Just Sayin’”

by Alan P. Scaglione

So…did I mention that I wrote a novel in 2011?

I don’t think I did, but…I did!

And…first reviews for “One Unexpected Event” have been overwhelmingly positive.

Words like “riveting”, “intriguing”, “mysterious”…along with “a must read”, “couldn’t put it down”, and “where’s the sequel?”

Are all unsolicited comments from some of the first returns.

My favorite was “this is NOT a first novel—this is a great novel—looking forward to your next!”

Needless to say, as a first time novelist, I was pleasantly pleased, and I must admit, completely surprised.

For those of you out there who write, you know…you open yourself up, expose your heart and soul, leaving you vulnerable.

“What if they don’t think I can write?”, “what if they don’t like it?”, “what if they don’t think it’s any good?”

We often doubt our talents, our gifts…we question if we really have “what it takes?”
And when we do….We are disrespecting the gift giver who gives the gift!

The Word says, “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights…”(James 1:17)

It is God who gave you that gift—He is the one who deserves all the glory for what HE can do through YOU!

And yet—how many of us will SIT on that gift, doubting that we are any good, and…alas, never do anything with it, for fear…

Of rejection, of humiliation, of ridicule—all saying to God “I’m just not sure if the gift you gave me is good enough?”

Wow! That must hurt…God!

Ever give someone a gift, something you took time and invested effort in picking out for them, sure that you had chosen perfectly.

But…when you present it, when they open it, their words say “thank you”, but their actions show disappointment.

You didn’t give them what they wanted and the gift you gave was not appreciated!

Like when you gave them a treasured picture frame with a priceless picture to display—and you visit and see … it’s no where to be found!

Or you gave them a book that you thought they would really enjoy reading—just to see later that it has never been read and was placed on a shelf!

Believe it or not—that’s how God feels when He sees what we do OR don’t do… with the gifts He gave us!


The Word says “If we, being evil, give good gifts to our children, how much more does our Father in Heaven give to those He loves!”(Matt.7:11)

He chose unique gifts for each of us—not all verbal, not all front and center, not all leadership.

Some are written communication, ministry of helps to those in leadership, a “Martha ministry”.



No matter what the gift—it’s a gift from God!

And….He’s looking around wondering—“Why aren’t they using the gift, displaying the gift, blessing others with the gift- I gave THEM?”



So…why aren’t you… Using your gifts?



I know how it upsets me when I see my kids have not appreciated the money, time and effort I put into selecting and presenting a gift.

Have to wonder IF God feels the same way?

What IF He did? What would you say?

Would you really want to disappoint Him like that?

I know I wouldn’t—He just doesn’t deserve that kind of rejection, now does He?



I have known for years—my gift is communication. The old timers call it “the gift of gab!”

One of my students in Hamburg, Germany walked up to me after a two week class and said something I will take to my grave or the rapture:

“You draw pictures with your words!”

I have loved that statement – what an honor.



And I decided that…if this is the “gift” God gave me, I will honor HIM with it.

So…whether it’s writing a column twice a week or… my first novel..

I honor the gift giver by using the gift He gave!



How do you honor the gift giver?

It’s a new year—good time to decide to use the gift He gave you…for His Glory!



Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…

Brother “A”