Good day dear friends. Okay, our congratulations to the White Sox and prayers for the Astros. They did make it to the World Series and that was a first. On to basketball...
Our prayers of comfort for the family of Ted Lowman, brother of Al, who died in Houston. His service will be on Friday at 2 p.m. here at First UMC.
Our thanks and prayers for Dr. Jeffery Greenway and his ministry. We were richly blessed by his messages during the Sowell Lectures. May the Lord continue to bless him and his family and the seminary.
He spoke on our spiritual gifts and how this is the generation that could see a revival like no other generation or to put it in his words, "for the first time in 1,700 years." He spoke of his belief that the scriptural curtain was going to be moved back and allow us to see and understand things like no other generation. One of the texts for one of his messages came from 1 Corinthians 12. Here is that passage:
4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.
I loved Dr. Greenway's illustration of Christmas morning at his house. Jeff and Beth have three children and to stretch their Christmas experience they place just a few gifts under the tree and then leave notes on the tree with clues on how to find their other gifts. This makes Christmas morning last three to four hours. Once all are gathered, they view (and compare) gifts. Sometimes the counting of notes makes them wonder why one child got more notes than the other. The parents will explain they all got the same monetary amount in gifts, it just worked out differently in terms of the quantity of gifts.
God is the giver of all gifts. God has given you a special gift, maybe more. Do you know what it is and how to use it? It may not be one of the ones listed above, but it still is a valuable gift worthy to be used in God's work. Keep in mind God has given you and me these gifts for the common good. The key is the connection one has with God and how we seek to stay connected and stay effective for the work of God. Through daily prayer and Bible study one learns more and is strengthened more to do the things God would have us do.
Don't fall for the thinking that comes that tells you, "You have no gifts." You do. Don't fall for believing that your gift isn't as "good" as someone else's. It is. And certainly don't fall for believing that God can't use you, God can and will!
Discover your gift. Display your gift. Deliver with your gift!
PRAYER: God of all gifts, I thank you for the spiritual gift you have shared with me. I pray that today I would discover more fully what it is you can do with my life to bless Your people. Let me not be led down the path of doubt and temptation thinking I am of no value to you, because You have said otherwise. I love You and I seek to serve You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Have a great and blessed day!
e.v.
