Several years ago I had the privilege of sitting around the table with 7 extraordinary, competent and passionate women. Each month we would gather to talk about life and families and church. We would dream about the role of the church and how to leverage its’ resources for the families in our community.

I distinctly remember one such meeting when I witnessed something incredibly powerful. Easter was coming and we wanted to have an impact in the community, so we came up with a crazy, far fetched, faith filled, out of the box idea. It was clear that around the table not one of us could do it on our own. It was too big, too expensive, too outrageous…. but God.

As we dreamed and prayed we took the idea and started figuring out the components that made up the big dream. Honestly, it was overwhelming. I watched the expression on the women’s faces as they took in the gravity of this hair brained idea. I was about to say “that was a fun thought, but maybe not this year,” when one brave soul said, “I can organize that part.”

And that got the ball rolling. The next thing I knew each one offered their gifts for the project and what seemed too big, too expensive, too outrageous and out of reach, was not only achievable it was God blessed.

It was a transformational moment for me.

Each person reacted to the same opportunity through the way God motivated them, using the gifts God blessed them with. It was amazing but it shouldn’t be at all surprising because that is how God designed it.

Each of us has talents and abilities we can use to bring glory and honour to God. We’ve also been given spiritual gifts “for the common good” (1 Corinthians 12:7). On Sunday we looked at Romans 12: 6-8 (also check out 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Peter 4) and talked about spiritual gifts like: prophecy, faith, giving, encouragement, wisdom, hospitality, and more. Each of us has at least one gift, and with it we can serve others and point them to God’s grace.

If you want to take a simple online test to help you identify your spiritual gifts based on Romans 12:6-8. Check out https://mintools.com/spiritual-gifts-test.htm

Friends, we are the body of Christ and we are not on this earth to consume but to contribute by impacting the lives of others with the gifts we’ve been given.

Are you using your spiritual gifts? Are you using what God gave ya?

“Each member should consider it a duty to use these gifts readily and cheerfully for the service and enrichment of the other members.” — Heidelberg Catechism, (Q&A 55)