Daily Thoughts and Encouragement for December 19, 2014.
Part 3: What's your gift?
Daily Thought: "Every believer has at least one spiritual gift"
Daily Reading: Romans 12:6-8
So you've gotten connected. You have started reading the bible and are into a small group or a study. Surely by now you have been asked to take up some kind of responsibility. Churches have a notorious tendency to stretch themselves too thin and then become desperate for volunteers. Its a sad truth. If you gain anything from todays message- I hope that it is the courage to say NO.
It can be hard to say no. Many times you are new to church, so a part of you feels bad for turning down a much needed hand. But know that in doing this- you are actually aiding the church in a much needed lesson: if no one in the church is putting into the program, it probably needs to go. Ask yourself- is it better to strain to pull off a halfway done program or to let it go and put your focus, time and energy into the things that you can do well? Taking the time to discover your gift, no matter what it may be, will not only be good for God and your church- but for you as well.
Find opportunities to serve. It is the next step in your growing faith process and extremely important to the mission of the church. The best thing to do is to start small- pitching in on a variety of small, single day projects and activities. Then you can allow yourself the chance to discover where your ministry talents are. Then, follow the nudge. Pray about your interests and the amount of time you are going to dedicate to your project, committee or program. Make sure to plan ahead and ensure that you are giving yourself enough time and not going overboard. Burnout is one of the top reasons that people leave church.
Take the time to discover and develop your spiritual gifts. You will be glad you did. It is one of the most important steps that you can take to deepen your journey with God. It is often in serving that we see Him tangibly working in our lives and in the lives of the people around us.
Prayer: Lord God, I pray for the opportunity to learn and experience the joy of serving others and my church. I pray for discernment in learning where my ministry gifts are- so that I can use them for your glory. Amen.
It can be hard to say no. Many times you are new to church, so a part of you feels bad for turning down a much needed hand. But know that in doing this- you are actually aiding the church in a much needed lesson: if no one in the church is putting into the program, it probably needs to go. Ask yourself- is it better to strain to pull off a halfway done program or to let it go and put your focus, time and energy into the things that you can do well? Taking the time to discover your gift, no matter what it may be, will not only be good for God and your church- but for you as well.
Find opportunities to serve. It is the next step in your growing faith process and extremely important to the mission of the church. The best thing to do is to start small- pitching in on a variety of small, single day projects and activities. Then you can allow yourself the chance to discover where your ministry talents are. Then, follow the nudge. Pray about your interests and the amount of time you are going to dedicate to your project, committee or program. Make sure to plan ahead and ensure that you are giving yourself enough time and not going overboard. Burnout is one of the top reasons that people leave church.
Take the time to discover and develop your spiritual gifts. You will be glad you did. It is one of the most important steps that you can take to deepen your journey with God. It is often in serving that we see Him tangibly working in our lives and in the lives of the people around us.
Prayer: Lord God, I pray for the opportunity to learn and experience the joy of serving others and my church. I pray for discernment in learning where my ministry gifts are- so that I can use them for your glory. Amen.
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