Challenge for the week

There is something that I want to encourage you with this week. I am sure that there are some things that each and every one of you are gifted with. We all have our own gifts and talents so don't try to tell me that you don't have any gifts or that you can't think of what yours are. 

At LifeWorks yesterday, Justin Maust stressed the importance of using your gifts to further the kingdom of God every single day. After a powerful worship experience yesterday, he got up on stage and explained how powerful it is when people use their gifts to glorify God and to further the kingdom. He used the worship team as an example. The worship team members have all been blessed with special talents and abilities when it comes to music and when they use those gifts and talents to lead the congregation in worship every Sunday it is so powerful. Singing worship songs at church is usually 20-30 minutes/week. How great of an impact does the 20-30 minutes have on your week? Or even think about the hour and half you spend at church on Sunday, you can impact so many people from just that short hour and a half. That is what happens when people use their gifts to glorify God. It furthers the kingdom. I know for me, in the past, when I was just a 'Sunday Christian,' hearing some worship music was all I needed to hear in order to experience Christ's love. That is something so small!

If you have a gift of encouragement, use that gift to encourage somebody this week. 

If you have the gift of service, serve somebody this week.

If you have the gift of teaching, teach somebody this week,

If you have the gift of giving, give this week.

If you have the gift of leadership, lead as God would.

If you have the gift of mercy, show someone mercy this week.

If you don't know what your spiritual gift is, think about something you are really good at. If you are really good at something you most likely are gifted in that area. 

So whatever your gift may be or whatever you are really good at, use that this week to serve God and to serve others. That is how the world will change. The world will change when we as Christians use our gifts to glorify God every day. It is amazing what can happen when you do that. 

For me, I think my gift is encouragement. Every day when I get a chance to blog or a chance to interact with someone, I try the very best I can to encourage them. I know that God is pleased when I do that. When I use my gift, I experience a certain feeling of fulfillment that I really cannot put into words. My prayer and hope for you is that you can experience that feeling of fulfillment that comes when you use your gifts and talents to glorify God and further the kingdom of heaven. 

So, this week. Are you going to accept the challenge of using your gifts? I hope that you do. 

I hope this week turns into a couple of weeks, then a month, then a couple of months then a year. I hope this becomes a habit for you. Once this becomes a habit for you, your life will change.