First of all I wanted to thank you all, for the prayers and
the kind words of support that I received since my last post. I also wanted to
reassure all of you that I know it takes time to find my place, I obviously
wasn’t originally thrilled with the whole ‘takes time’ concept, but now I am
content in waiting. I am trusting in God completely to reveal His plans to me
in His timing, not matter what they might be.
After my last post I came across some other verses in my quite
time that have been a huge source of encouragement;
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,
but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and
in purity. Until I come devote yourself to the public reading of scripture,
to preach and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift…Be diligent in these
matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.
Watch your life and doctrine closely. Preserve in them because if you do you
will save both yourself and your hearers.” 1 Timothy 5:12-16
Regardless of your age, God can use you. Live so others can
see Christ in you.
Highly skilled and talented athletes lose their abilities if
their muscles aren’t toned by constant use. Likewise, we will lose our spiritual
gifts if we don’t put them to work. Out talents are improved by exercise, but
failing to use them causes them to waste way from lack of practice and
nourishment. Use the gifts you’ve been given regularly in serving God and
others. -Application
“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of
God which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us
a sprit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. So
don not be ashamed to testify about our lord or ashamed of me his prisoner. But
join with me in suffering for the gospel, but the power of God who has saved us
and called us to a holy life-not because of anything we have done but because
of his own purpose and grace.” 2 Timothy 1:6-9
“Therefore I urge you brothers, in view of God’s mercy to
offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual
act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and
approve what God’s will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the
grace given me I say to everyone of you: Do not think of yourself more highly
than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment in accordance
with the measure of faith God has given you. Jus as each of us has one body
with many members and these members do not all have the same function so in
Christ we who are many for one body and each member belongs to all the other we
have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a mans gift is
prophesying, tell him use it in proportion to his faith. If it severing let him
serve; if it is teach let him teach; if It is encouraging, let him encourage;
if it is contributing to the needs of others let him give generously; if it is
leadership let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it
cheerfully.” Romans 12:1-8
God wants us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, daily
laying aside our own desires to follow him, putting all our energy and resources
at his disposal and trusting him to guide us. Our role is to be faithful and to
seek ways to serve others with what Christ has given us. When you identify your
own gifts ask how you can use them to build up God’s family. At the same time realize
that your gifts can’t do the work of the church all alone. Be thankful for
people whose gifts are completely different from yours. Let your strength
balance their weaknesses and be grateful that their abilities make up for you differences.
Together you can build Christ’s church. –Application
After reading these verses and the applications God revealed
to me my next step at the orphanage. All that worrying and complaining and
nothing comes of it but once I put my complete trust in God and His timing that
is when He reveals to me what’s supposed to happen next. Funny how that worked
out huh? I don’t really want to say too much right now, I tend to jump the gun
and occasionally end up looking rather stupid as a result so…I’m going to leave
it at that. Annoying, I know, but even if you’re as noisy as I am I can assure
you will survive this waiting period.
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