When God gives us an assignment, he gives us what's needed to fulfil it. And, knowing what we're good at helps us figure out our calling. Winston Churchill said, 'To each there comes in his or her lifetime a special moment when they are tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to them and fitted to their talent. What a tragedy if that moment finds them unprepared or unqualified for that which could have been their finest hour.'

We can't always be what we want to be, but we can be everything God wants us to be. That's because he assigns us '...each according to his own ability' (Matthew 25:15 NKJV).

The apostle Paul says, 'Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good' (1 Corinthians 12:7 NIV). Some of the things others find boring will give us a buzz. That's not an excuse to only do what we love - we're all quite able to stack the chairs after the service! But let's stop apologising for the skills we don't have, discover the gifts God's given us and put them to work for his Kingdom.

So what now? What do you love doing and do consistently well? Is it music, or computers or helping with little kids? Write down these things. Dream a little with God about what you could do with these gifts. God gives us these dreams for a reason - make a plan to change the world using them.

Giving is a big part of being a Christian, and is expressed in many ways: regular tithing, donating to food banks, giving money to charities, giving time to volunteer, helping family and friends. Whatever form it takes, God calls us to give - there's no getting away from it.

But money's limited, right? And the schedule is hectic? But wait, there's more - we're called to give, and give cheerfully. Does that mean we smile as God uses the last of our money? Not our God. He's not interested in robbing us, nor does he have much use for his own pile of cash. He is very interested in us having the right attitude to money, though, and understanding that he can provide everything we need. God wants us to appreciate the value of what we give to others, to be happy to give practical help to worthy causes and those who need it, safe in the knowledge that we have a different kind of security and support in him.

So is God Heaven's investment banker? Do we 'deposit' our cash to poorer people here, and expect a cheque through the door from an angel next week? Not usually. Sometimes God gives us back what we gave, and more. He's extremely generous. But sometimes, he gives us something worth more to him: he moulds our character. Money not being our focus is his point.

So what now? Bet you could see this challenge coming: choose some way to give this week. Then watch out for God moving.

John tells of many things Jesus did as healer and teacher. Plus he adds: 'Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down...the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written' (John 21:25 NIV).

Our lives can get busy with work and obligations and likely some of our free time is spent worrying about the work and the obligations. We've probably heard of the term 'burnout': it's the stress that results from lack of balance between work and rest. When we get bogged down with what we're supposed to do and take on too much, we can feel like we're 'burning out'.

And, as always, the Bible offers help. We're told that Jesus would often go off alone to pray and to recharge. He even did it when people were looking or waiting for him (like Luke 4). He had his priorities right. He knew that it was more important to spend time with his Father than doing anything else. Praying, reading our Bible, worshipping alone and spending quiet time with God are essential to grow and maintain our spiritual and mental health.

So what now? Write down the things you're worried about in a journal. Close it. Now spend time with God: 10, 20, 30 minutes - however long you need. Ask God to help you recharge and find your right balance. Your to-do list can wait.

Let's talk about Jesus in the storm a bit more...

Let's give credit to the disciples in the boat with Jesus: they were freaked out, but they did ask Jesus for help. But then they were shocked when he actually calmed the storm. They said, 'Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey him' (Matthew 8:27 NKJV)? We need to expect our prayers to be answered, or we'll never be able to move past our fear. Jesus tells us so many times to 'not be afraid'. It's normal to be scared or worried about getting through (or not getting through) our issues, but if we ask God for help, we will get it. He promises us that.

We usually turn to God when we've exhausted our own resources and energy and are desperate. Then we pray, he answers, and we wonder why we didn't ask him to begin with. But then next time, hopefully, we remember to ask for his help a little earlier. When asking for God's help is our first instinct, suddenly the things that scared us won't scare us so much, because we know that God has our back.

God wants to help us in the storm - let's take him up on that.

So what now? Look at yesterday's 'So what now?' again. Do it again. And again. Let him help.

A violent storm rose up while Jesus and his disciples were in a boat - and Jesus was asleep. The disciples, understandably, were terrified and woke him up asking for help. Jesus, calm as anything, told the storm to stop. It stopped. Does anyone else think that Jesus is the coolest guy ever? Seriously: he wakes up to a storm, tells his friends to calm down, commands the weather, then probably goes back to his nap. He had demons to expel, paralysis to heal, dinners to eat (further on in Matthew), so it makes sense that he'd need sleep.

But the actual point is that Jesus wasn't fazed. He was calm and in control. The disciples panicked, thinking Jesus wasn't aware of the danger and that he couldn't save them. His response? 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid' (Matthew 8:26 NIV)? Let's be fair to the disciples: Jesus was asleep. They assumed that meant that he wasn't really with them. Jesus is telling us otherwise.

We all face storms, and can feel very alone in them. We may feel like God isn't there in our distress. Work, school, health or whatever issue is causing us worry - we can fall into the trap of thinking we're alone. But God is with us, even when we don't see it. As soon as the disciples asked for help, Jesus gave it. He's able, when he's asked.

So what now? Thank Jesus that he's in your 'storm', and that he'll give you what you need to get through it.

Many people are more anxious about the thought of old age than the idea of death. Many of us associate old age with being lonelier and being a less vital part of society. But what if instead, as Christians, the older we get, the more we've lived for God and lived for others, the more significant we become? In Psalm 92:14 (TLB), we read, 'Even when they are old, they still bear fruit. They are always healthy and fresh.' It contradicts the fear that says we'll stop being important, stop mattering and lose everything. It says that those who live for God increase in strength and energy and continue to have an impact on the world.

From God's perspective, the elderly are a vital, giving part of communities. They matter. The Bible says they declare, 'The Lord is just! He is my rock! There is no evil in him' (Psalm 92:15 NLT). They give strength and zeal where the world fears hopelessness and decay.

Do we want growing older to be about frantic fear or confident flourishing? Let's absorb everything God is and does now with our whole being, soak him in like a plant's roots and look forward to an incredible life.

So what now? Make it your purpose to build relationship with the 'older' people in your life. Learn to appreciate their wisdom, strength and support. And ask God to bless you as you age, that you'll bear fruit for his Kingdom until your last breath. With God, it really is 'all up from here'.