Gifted

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. ~ 1 Corinthians 12:14-15


I was struck recently about the importance of people using the gifts God has given them. There are so many different gifts that God gives and each is important. Just as the verse above explains, there are some people that although they are gifted, feel that their gifting is inadequate somehow or not good enough. Often these people choose to hide the gifts they have received instead of stepping out in what they have. When we choose to do this we are depriving the body of a crucial element.

When a person has eyes, but does not see we call them blind and say they are disabled. If a person has ears, but does not hear, we say they are deaf and are disabled. When a member of the body withholds their function, the body of Christ is disabled.

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. ~ 1 Peter 4:10

Your gift should be used to glorify God. YOU are crucial to His body. When we hold back from using the gifts God has given us, we are not allowing His body to work as effectively as it should. Some people hide their gifts because they believe they aren’t good enough.

Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, “He did not make me?” Can the pot say of the potter, “He knows nothing?” ~ Isaiah 29:16b

God created you just as you are with a purpose in mind. The gifts He has given you are meant to praise His name and serve His people. Do not think that your gift is “not good enough.” In 1 Timothy 4, he is reminded not to neglect his gifts. 1 Corinthians 7:7 tells us that every many has his own gifts. 1 Corinthians 12 says several times that each of us is given different gifts. It says that if we were all given the same gift it would be like just having an eye. Although it could see, it wouldn’t be able to hear, speak, walk, touch, etc. Romans 11:29 tells us that His gift and His call are irrevocable. You have been given a gift and have been called to use that gift to serve Him. It cannot be changed or taken from you. It is yours. Use it to serve Him. Don’t hold back the body. We need you.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. ~ James 1:27

No Carry Ons

[Jesus] told them: “Take nothing for the journey – no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic.” ~ Luke 9:3


I have some friends that travel internationally quite often. They’ve told me a lot of creative ways to get around the weight limits for check-in luggage and how best to get everything to your destination without having to pay extra. One of them frequently wears multiple layers of clothes on the plane so it doesn’t add to the weight of the check-in and she doesn’t have to shove it into her tiny carry-on bag! The only problem with this plan is how uncomfortable she is once she’s on the plane. With all this extra clothing she is either really warm or has to shed a few layers and hold on to them. Either way it causes an inconvenience and hinders her ability to have a nice flight. It’s the same way with some of the things we try to carry with us in our relationship with God.

Jesus spoke about some very tangible things that would hinder them, such as a staff, bag, bread, money, and tunic, but it works just the same with emotional baggage – fear, timidity, anxiety, pride, etc. The more we try to take with us on the journey the more weighed down we become. The harder it is to walk down that terminal to your flgith. When the crowds press in or the time is short, the luggage gets heavier and heavier. Perhaps you are at a time in your life where things are just tough. You feel like you’re caught in the middle of storm. Maybe finances are dwindling, relationships are going sour, things just aren’t going like you would have planned. The more baggage you carry, the more you try to hold onto, the harder it is to run into His arms. By holding onto all of these things you keep yourself in a mindset that says you can make it all better on your own. You are refusing to allow God to step and set your free.

When you accept Christ as your Savior, He releases you from your old life. You are a new creation in Him (2 Corinthians 5:17)!

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. ~ Romans 12:2a

You don’t have to follow what the world around you is saying. Allow your mind to be renewed. God has a different plan for you than society does. When you step out in faith and release these things in your life (fear, timidity, finances, anxiety, etc.) you give Him the opportunity to step in and provide beyond what you could have imagined. It is hard sometimes to release these things when everything you have been taught by the world says you should not let go.  (This is a somewhat separate topic, but I feel like a lot people do this with unforgiveness.  If you are dealing with a past hurt that people around you say you have the right to hold a grudge or remain angry with this person, you need to release them.  Not forgiving them is only hurting you.  When you let go of that hurt, you allow God to step in and heal your broken heart.  It's hard to a heal the wound you hold open.)

Just a little further in the chapter we have the story of the five loaves and two fish (Luke 9:12-17). They were in a situation where they didn’t have anything with them to feed this huge crowd of people, but God provided a simple boxed lunch that Jesus blessed and used to feed everyone and still have leftovers. Many of us, myself included, feel we have to worry about things because that’s the only way we’ll receive what we need. We worry about finances because we think we have to figure out how to get enough money to take of ourselves. We worry about having enough food, clothing, shelter, etc. We serve a God who provides. When you give these cares to God He will provide beyond what you could have done on your own. By giving these things up we are telling God that we trust Him to see us through to the end. And, trust me, He does not disappoint!

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. ~ 1 Peter 5:7

Isaiah 32

Before my devotions this morning I was reflecting on my pastor's series on relationships. I was asking God to bring me wisdom in relationships. Asking that I wouldn't be confused. That I wouldn't have to question whether I was truly obeying Him or my own desires. He led me to Isaiah 32. It was so amazing that I wanted to share the passage with you and some of the thoughts He brought to mind as I read along:

1 See, a king will reign in righteousness

and rulers will rule with justice.
2 Each man will be like a shelter from the wind

and a refuge from the storm,

like streams of water in the desert

and the shadow of a great rock in a thirsty land.

God showed me there were two ways I could look at this. 1. Each and every man can offer this comfort and shelter. We can be what people need. 2. Every man will seem like a good one. They will seem to offer comfort and shelter. They will be a refuge. Continue reading to see about these men . . .

3 Then the eyes of those who see will no longer be closed,
and the ears of those who hear will listen.
4 The mind of the rash will know and understand,
and the stammering tongue will be fluent and clear.
5 No longer will the fool be called noble
nor the scoundrel be highly respected.
6 For the fool speaks folly,
his mind is busy with evil:
He practices ungodliness
and spreads error concerning the LORD;
the hungry he leaves empty
and from the thirsty he withholds water.
7 The scoundrel's methods are wicked,
he makes up evil schemes
to destroy the poor with lies,
even when the plea of the needy is just.
8 But the noble man makes noble plans,
and by noble deeds he stands.

Your eyes wil be closed no longer. You will be able to tell the scoundrel from the noble man. You will not get caught up with someone who will leave you hungry and thirsty because he is not the one for you!

9 You women who are so complacent,
rise up and listen to me;
you daughters who feel secure,
hear what I have to say!
10 In little more than a year
you who feel secure will tremble;
the grape harvest will fail,
and the harvest of fruit will not come.

Those who feel secure in relationships with scoundrels will "in little more than a year" tremble because the pleasant fields will fail. The happiness they have will begin to fade away as they start to recognize the scoundrel for who he is.

11 Tremble, you complacent women;
shudder, you daughters who feel secure!
Strip off your clothes,
put sackcloth around your waists.
12 Beat your breasts for the pleasant fields,
for the fruitful vines
13 and for the land of my people,
a land overgrown with thorns and briers—
yes, mourn for all houses of merriment
and for this city of revelry.
14 The fortress will be abandoned,
the noisy city deserted;
citadel and watchtower will become a wasteland forever,
the delight of donkeys, a pasture for flocks,

The house will be empty. The joy in that time will have past. But God's framework for relationships is FOREVER! Your joy is not intended to leave in this relationship . . .

15 till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,
and the desert becomes a fertile field,
and the fertile field seems like a forest.
16 Justice will dwell in the desert
and righteousness live in the fertile field.
17 The fruit of righteousness will be peace;
the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.

Wait for the Spirit to be poured out. It will bring a fertile field and will grant you quietness and confidence. When you wait for the Spirit and don't go off to find that "someone" on your own, you will be filled with quietness and confidence that will last FOREVER!

18 My people will live in peaceful dwelling places,
in secure homes,
in undisturbed places of rest.
19 Though hail flattens the forest
and the city is leveled completely,
20 how blessed you will be,
sowing your seed by every stream,
and letting your cattle and donkeys range free.

At this point I thought of marriage. This whole passage seems to move through a relationship and at this point it speaks of strong relationship. As storms and trials come against those around you who entered into relationship without waiting for the Spirit, you will be secure! Your house will be an "undisturbed place of rest!" Not only will you be at peace, but you will be able to "sow your seed by every stream!

Wait for the Lord and you will not fail!

Rebellious Teenager

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. ~ Hosea 11:1-2


I read this passage and immediately thought of a parent calling to their young child. Perhaps this child is riding their bike in the street and they start riding in circles, faster and faster. The parent knows this is dangerous and calls for the child to stop, but they start going faster because they think they know best. You know what happens next . . . they fall and scrape their knee. The parent calls not to keep them from having fun or to take away the pleasure that comes from riding in circles, but because they know more about what could happen and have genuine fear and concern for their child. This is how God called Israel, but Israel, like this child, began moving farther from Him because they thought they knew what was best.

It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. ~ Hosea 11:3-4

There have been many times when my parents have done things for me that I didn’t even realize. They gave me food to eat, made sure I had clean clothes to wear, and took care of me when I was sick. Things that, as children, we don’t recognize need to be done. That’s what God did for the Israelites and what He does for us. As our Father, He takes us by the arms to help us walk. Several months ago at a church service God gave me this wonderful image of a little toddler with her father. As she walked along on her own she swayed and fell. As soon as she fell her father held out his hands for her to take and walk. If you’ve ever seen a toddler walk, they do much better when holding someone’s hand. They are steadier and more confident in their stride. This is what God does for us! He takes us by the arms and teaches us to walk! He does all of this out of His love for us as His children! After all He’s done to help us, we sometimes push Him away, try to walk on our own. Even then, when we are acting as rebellious teenagers, He doesn’t turn His back on us and give us up as a “lost cause.”

How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, Israel? How can I treat you like Admah? How can I make you like Zeboiim? My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused. I will not carry out my fierce anger, nor will I turn and devastate Ephraim. For I am God and not man – the Holy One among you. ~ Hosea 11:8-9

Just as a parent may get frustrated or disappointed with their child for turning away from them and making decisions that will be bad for their future, I feel God has these same feelings towards us. When we turn away from Him and engage in activities or thoughts that will cause us harm and pain, He is disappointed, but more than that, He is sad for us. He is sad because He knows what could have been. Even in this, He will not turn His anger towards us. He loves us:

They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west. They will come trembling like birds from Egypt, like doves from Assyria. I will settle them in their homes,” declares the Lord. ~ Hosea 11:10-11

I think of the Prodigal son when I look at these verses. He took his inheritance, left home, wasted away everything he had, but in the end, knew that he could go home. He knew that even after everything, his father would give him a place to stay at least. He came expecting just to live as a servant in his father’s house, but his father restored him as his son, giving him all the blessings that went with that position. Even after we have turned from God, let go of His hand, and attempted to walk on our own, He is waiting for us to return home. After all this time of living for themselves alone, He reminds them He is there with His roar and they “come trembling.” I imagine the prodigal son was very scared to come home. He must have been very scared about what his father would do when he saw him. I would even imagine he may have been trembling slightly as he neared his home. But when he was hoping just to be allowed to stay with the servants, he was once again settled in his home!

You may have strayed from God. You may have forgotten that He was there to help whenever you needed Him. Today is a good day to return home! You don’t have to fear what your Father is going to say! He is going to open His arms wide for you!

“So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” ~ Luke 15:20

By Who's Strength?

Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” ~ Mark 10:27


How do you react when you come up against a difficult situation? Is your automatic reaction to panic and stress or to pray and seek God’s wisdom? As I was looking back over the story of Samuel and Saul that I mentioned in my last posting, I started to focus on the Israelite army and their reaction to the battle they were facing.

When the men of Israel saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed, they hid in caves and thickets, among the rocks, and in pits and cisterns. Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul remained at Gilgal, and all the troops with him were quaking with fear. ~ 1 Samuel 13:6-7

Often our response in hard times is to run and hide, “quaking with fear.” We look at what we’re up against and think, “There’s no way I can do this. It’s too big. The battle is just too much for me. I might as well give up now.” I’ll be perfectly honest. If you approach this situation with your strength alone, you might be right. But you were never intended to face this on your own. That was never the plan!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. ~ Joshua 1:9


If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. ~ Psalm 139:8-10

Your strength alone is not enough, but don’t worry! We serve a God with whom all things are possible! Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” (Mark 10:27) Look at David. You may think of David as the mighty king of Israel, but consider his life before he became king. I’m sure most of you have heard the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17:32-58). The Israelite army is once again up against the Philistines. The Philistines have offered to handle this battle in a less devastating way by sending their best fighter, Goliath, to fight a representative from the Israelite army to the death. Whoever wins will take possession of the other nation. Only one problem – Goliath was huge! Scripture says Goliath was over seven feet tall, wore a bronze helmet and bronze armor, carried a bronze javelin, and a spear! Basically, he was a difficult problem, a seemingly “impossible” situation. Every day for forty days Goliath came out and challenged someone to fight him and every day the Israelites stood in fear. Then along comes this young shepherd boy, the younger brother of some of the warriors. At seeing the situation, he volunteers to stand before this giant and fight. Everything in us says this fight is ridiculous. Looking with human eyes on this situation it seemed pretty easy to decide who would turn out the victor, right? But David had something on his side that the Philistine didn’t:

David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” ~ 1 Samuel 17:45

David knew he wasn’t stepping out in his own strength. He knew that this battle didn’t require what he had to offer, it required God working through him. He had faith that his King would bring him the victory! You don’t have to step up against this situation thinking you’re only working with the strength you can muster. You have untapped power in Christ! He is all the strength you will ever need! David’s faith and understanding of where his strength came from brought the Israelites victory and made him a mighty king.

Many people believe that when you become a Christian your life is supposed to be perfect. They think that all of your problems simply fade away. While it is true that God can take some of these struggles from you, it is far from becoming a perfect life. God didn’t promise the road would be smooth the whole way (John 10:10). But He did say He would never leave you, that you would never have to walk alone or fight a battle on your own strength. The next time you are facing an “impossible” situation, remember two things. First, NOTHING is impossible with God. And second, He has promised to NEVER leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6).

I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. ~ Psalm 121:1-2

Waiting not Waning

“You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.” ~ 1 Samuel 13:13


Have you ever been in a situation where you had to wait? How about a situation where you had to wait for someone else to do something that you felt you could do on your own faster and overall better? I get this feeling sometimes at the grocery store. Those times where I’ve finished paying and now I’m waiting for the bagger to put everything in. I watch as the toilet paper gets put with the ice cream and the eggs are set in the bottom of the bag while vegetables are piled in on top of them. In those times I really want to lean over and say, “I’ve got this. Don’t worry yourself with it.” I’m thinking, “I could have this done already and everything grouped so nicely according to where they go in my house. Would it be rude to ask them to step out of the way?”

In essence, Saul tells the bagger to move over in 1 Samuel 13. Just a couple chapters over in 1 Samuel 10 Saul is anointed as king over all of Israel. Listen to Samuel’s command to Saul:

“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” ~ 1 Samuel 10:8

Pretty clear instructions, right? Just wait seven days. This isn’t rocket science. But what does Saul do? We hear in 1 Samuel 13:3-5 that Jonathan attacks a Philistine outpost making Israel “a stench to the Philistines.” At this point the troops are rallied with Saul at Gilgal. When everyone gets there, the Israelites watch as this massive Philistine army comes in. They come rolling in with thousands of chariots and charioteers. Can you imagine what that must have looked like! It says the Israelite men “saw that their situation was critical and that their army was hard pressed.” They immediately begin hiding anywhere they can find a crevice where they fit!

Up until this point Saul has waited; he has obeyed. But listen:

He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel; but Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and Saul’s men began to scatter. So he said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” And Saul offered up the burnt offering. ~ 1 Samuel 13:8-9

He acted! He was told to wait until Samuel told him what to do, but when he started seeing his troops scatter, he lost faith. He looked at this huge Philistine army, saw his warriors literally shaking in their armor, and said, “It’s ok, God. I’ll take this one.” He started to believe that he knew better than God. Everything and everyone around him said Samuel was not going to get there on time and, as leader, he needed to step up and take over. That’s what his sight told him. But remember, “We live by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7) When things start looking impossible, that’s when God shows up in amazing ways! But Saul misses the opportunity.

Just as he finished making the offering, Samuel arrived, and Saul went out to greet him. ~ 1 Samuel 13:10

Samuel was on the way! He didn’t forget about Saul, he didn’t just leave Saul hanging. He was on the way! In fact, he was close enough that “just as he finished” Samuel was there. If he had held on just a little bit longer, imagine what God could have done! Instead, Saul goes out to meet Samuel, feeling pretty proud of himself for stepping up to the plate and acting as leader, just to hear Samuel . . .

“What have you done?” asked Samuel. . . . “You acted foolishly,” Samuel said. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you; if you had, he would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. But now your kingdom will not endure; the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart and appointed him leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” ~1 Samuel 13:11a, 13-14

First of all, keep in mind that only seven days have passed since Saul was appointed king. His first big command and he takes matters into his own hands. Because of trying to do it on his own, his kingdom will not endure. I can’t even begin to imagine what that must have felt like. Think about it. You’ve been king for a week. You’re faced with pretty imminent war, your troops are scared to death, the man that was going to ask for God’s favor hasn’t come so you step up, as you feel any king would, and offer the sacrifice yourself. As soon as you finish this man of God appears and says because of what you’ve done, your kingdom is over. What if he had waited a couple of hours, one hour, ten minutes! His life would have been drastically different!

There are so many things in our lives where God tells us to wait. I so often find myself waiting for a while and then as I start getting down to the end of my seventh day, when the sun is beginning to set, and I lose faith. I try to step in and take over. In almost every situation it doesn’t work out. Something better makes itself known that if I had waited just a little longer, things would have turned out wonderfully. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying waiting is easy. In fact, Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord!” In order to wait you have to be strong, you need to have faith. Take heart! The waiting is difficult, but it is totally worth it! When you wait for the Lord’s timing in your life He will establish your kingdom forever!

I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry! ~ Psalm 40:1

Spring Chickens and Old Dogs

Greet Andronicus and Junias, my relatives who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was. ~ Romans 16:7


As I was reading through the greetings Paul inserts into the last chapter of Romans, I found myself stuck on this verse. I was struck by how little it matters how long you’ve been in Christ. Paul’s own testimony shows that you can begin affecting people’s lives for Christ immediately after you’ve experienced His salvation. It says in Acts 9 that Paul was baptized immediately after his vision was restored. It says he spent “several days” with the disciples in Damascus and then began to preach “at once!”

But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. ~ Jeremiah 1:7-8

I’ve often heard this used in youth services where they are talking to a group of teenagers about how they can be effective and productive Christians. I believe, however, that this verse doesn’t just speak to biological age. It means the same thing for someone who is child in Christ, a new Christian (1 Peter 2:2-3).

Just as I’ve experienced the feeling that I can’t be effective until I know more, I’ve also felt that I’ve gotten to set in my ways to change now. The idea that if I were to grow stronger in my faith and become a wholly new creation, people would look at me funny. They wouldn’t understand. This can be an issue even for young Christians. A few of my friends, myself included, have shared how it can be difficult to return home after being away and growing in Christ. Our families and friends expect us to be who we were before we left, but many of us are not who we were. We find ourselves trying to fill the role we’ve been placed in and not expressing what He has done for us and how we are changed because of it.

Again I go to Paul as an example. He had more to fear from changing than I do and probably you as well. His conversion in Acts 9 is simply amazing. On his way to persecute Christians he came face to face with Christ and his life was changed forever. He turned around in a matter of perhaps a week or two from one who was sent out to murder Christians to one who went out to preach the gospel! He had spent his entire life persecuting Christians, but he changed. Just as we fear people will look at us strange, Paul faced that as well. In Acts 9:10-15 a disciple named Ananias is told by God to go heal Paul’s eyes. His first response is to remind God that Paul is the one sent to persecute them. Later in that chapter, verses 26-27, Paul tries to join the disciples, but they fear him. Barnabas brought him to the apostles and told them how Paul was converted on the road to Damascus and spoke boldly there in the name of the Lord.

Paul got a lot more looks and was in a more dangerous situation that most of us will face, but he changed anyways. He allowed Christ to work in and through his life to reach others. It is never too late for that! It is never too early or too late in your walk with Christ to allow Him to use you in new and amazing ways!

Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” ~ John 20:27