Spritual Gifts and Serving One Another: my revelation

1 Peter 4:10-11: ¹⁰ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms. ¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

 

So, I was reading this the other day and thinking a lot about it.  I know how to serve others with my gift of music: I teach it and am as patient and as loving as I can be with the students I have.  But what about my gift of writing?  How am I supposed to serve others with this wonderful hobby I’ve always had?  So I prayed about it.  I recently finished a book of Christian fiction, and I’m really excited about it.  I am going to try and get it published.  Is it just me who wants it to get published?  Or is it God’s will that the story that came from him is shared with others without me emailing it to them? (And therefore, sending updates when I finish them?)  My greatest desire is for him to work through words that I have written to advance his kingdom and teach others about himself.  I am so super excited when I hear someone telling me God is showing them something through a story I have written or through a blog I posted.  “Lord, give me an opportunity,” I prayed.  I didn’t really know what the opportunity would be.  I hoped that by some miracle and probably out of selfish want that someone who works for a publishing company would hear about my story and want to publish it right away.  But that’s lame and unrealistic.  Knowing God, things won’t be that easy.  But sometimes, he’ll surprise us.  The very next day, my mom asked if I would write a Lenten Devotional for church this year.  It was just a ransom thought she’d had.  Oh, my goodness.  An opportunity to serve with my writing?  Okay!  I told her about my prayer the night before, and she laughed.  God has been quite amazing.  I still want to get the book published, and I realize I still have some editing to do.  I’ve never had anything published before and feel like this story is finally worthy (unlike the mostly kid stuff I wrote before).  But what do I know?  And besides, I’ve already talked about this in a blog already.  (See previous)

To God be the glory forever and ever, amen.  How else can I serve people?  I have discovered I like encouraging people and letting them know I care and am praying for them.  I messaged a friend the other day and said I was thinking about her and praying for her, asking what I could pray specifically about.  I am a huge “words of affirmation” person, and that’s how I show love (5 Love Languages).  God gave us the gifts and talents we have to serve on another.  How great is that thought!  What gifts do you have, and how can you serve others with it?

Anna