Category Archives: Spiritual Gifts

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

March 21, 2014

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Love & Works, Spiritual Gifts

Each in HIs Own Way

In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. [Romans 12:6a (NLT)]

Some of us are like Martha, busy doing for others, and some are like Gideon, reluctant servants. Some are like John the Baptist, loudly exhorting, and others are like Martha’s sister Mary, quietly listening and worshiping. Some of us are leaders, like Peter, and others are like Thomas, searchers for the truth. Some, like Paul, are dedicated evangelists and others, like Solomon, have great wisdom. Isaiah had the gift of prophesy and John had the gift of love.

Thank you, Lord, for the variety of gifts you’ve given to us, your children. May we never fail to use our gifts to your glory and may we always respect the way that other people serve you.

Just as our bodies have many special parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. [Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

March 7, 2014

Posted under

Church & Worship, Spiritual Gifts, Thanks & Praise

All Are Important in God’s House

But many who are the greatest now will be least important then, and those who seem least important now will be the greatest then. [Mark 10:31 (NLT)]

Thank you, Lord, for our priest  and pastors, deacons, elders and council members, worship leaders and musicians, readers and greeters. Many of those who serve in your church, however, are nearly invisible; yet, they are the ones who keep our parishes running. Thank you, Lord, for all of those behind-the-scene people who give so freely of their time and gifts. Thank you for the prayer warriors and sound people, the coffee makers and cookie bakers, the program folders and newsletter mailers. Thank you for those who decorate the church or prepare communion trays, shop for holiday food baskets or Christmas gifts for the needy, open their homes to small groups or church guests, and for those bring food to mourning families without ever being asked. Thank you for those who address and stuff envelopes, work on auctions or rummage sales, plan dinners and special events, organize the library or sheet music, count the offering, come early to turn on the heat, stay late to tidy the sanctuary, shovel the snow, mow the grass, clean the kitchen, teach the children, care for the babes in the nursery, go on mission trips, and organize the blood drives. May we all learn about love and service from their examples.

God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. [1 peter 4:10 (NLT)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 19, 2013

Posted under

Fruit of the Spirit, Obedience, Peace of God, Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Thanks & Praise

Let There Be Peace

And let the peace that comes from Christ rule your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. [Colossians 3:15 (NLT)]

The only way to let peace truly rule our hearts is to surrender to God and allow him to rule our lives. It is His presence in our lives that will give us peace in the midst of turmoil, sorrow, or stress.

Oh Lord, let your Holy Spirit rule my life so that your heavenly peace rules my heart. Only then will I, indeed, be thankful in all circumstances.

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

November 17, 2013

Posted under

God's Grace & Love, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Spiritual Gifts, Thanks & Praise

We Have All We Need

May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. [2 Peter 1:2 (NLT)]

We’ve all met spoiled children (and adults) who expect the world to cater to their every desire. Let’s admit it, those people aren’t very likeable! God doesn’t want spoiled children so He doesn’t give us everything we want either. He does, however, give us everything we need to live the life He wants for us. Are we missing any of the blessings He has sent our way? Are there assets He’s given that we haven’t even bothered to use? Could we be wasting any gifts he has given?

Open my eyes, O Lord, to see your gifts. Open my heart, O Lord, to accept them. Fill me with your Spirit, O Lord, to use them as you want them to be used.

By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. [2 Peter 1:3 (NLT)]

 

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

October 31, 2013

Posted under

Fruit of the Spirit, God's Plan, Spiritual Gifts, Trusting God

So We Can Bear Fruit

2013-10-31Then Jesus said, “I am the true vine, and my Father takes care of the vineyard. He removes every one of my branches that doesn’t produce fruit. He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit. [John 15:1-2 (GW)]

Pruning is good for plants: it encourages new growth; removes damaged, dead or diseased branches; shapes the plant; and encourages it to blossom and bear fruit. I’m not sure the plant appreciates it when the gardener snips off its branches. An author doesn’t enjoy it when an editor removes words or whole passages from his work. If a piece of wood could speak, it would probably complain as it is sanded; yet the carpenter sands it to remove the rough edges. Pruning, editing, and sanding are all done to make the final product better.

God prunes us by removing those things from our lives that hinder our growth and we rarely enjoy this pruning process. Like a good gardener, however, God shapes us so that we, too, will bear fruit, the fruit of the spirit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)

You didn’t choose me, but I chose you. I have appointed you to go, to produce fruit that will last, and to ask the Father in my name to give you whatever you ask for. [John 15:16 (GW)]

Standard

Posted by

Posted on

May 18, 2013

Posted under

Attitudes & Behavior, Spiritual Gifts

OUR BEAUTY

Do not let your beauty come from the outside. It should not be the way you comb your hair or the wearing of gold or the wearing of fine clothes. It should come from the heart. This is the kind that lasts. Your beauty should be a gentle and quiet spirit. In God’s sight this is of great worth and no amount of money can buy it. [1 Peter 3:3-4 (NLV)]

Dear Lord, we know that enhancing our spirits is far more important than adorning our bodies. Guide us so we spend more time in prayer and less time in front of the mirror. May our main concern be who we are on the inside and not what we appear to be on the outside.

If you feel your value lies in being merely decorative, I fear that someday you might find yourself believing that’s all that you really are. Time erodes all such beauty, but what it cannot diminish is the wonderful workings of your mind: Your humor, your kindness, and your moral courage. These are the things I cherish so in you. [Said by Mrs. March to her girls in Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women”]