Lately, I have been so overwhelmed with the needs of people all around me! I can’t figure out where to invest my time. I’m sure many of you have taken those spiritual gift tests. I’ve taken it several times over the years and Helps and Service are always my top two. I love to help others and not be the one in charge. I get overwhelmed with a big project before me but if someone can just get me started and show me the “vision” then I can run with it. I hate being the center of attention. I will acknowledge it’s partially because I am afraid of failing and I am not so fond of trying new things. Well, to be honest, I HATE trying new things! God has been teaching me that when I won’t try new things that He calls me to do because I’m afraid, that I’m saying He is not enough. If I’ve learned anything lately, it’s that He is enough and His grace is sufficient! Since January, He has asked me to love in a way I never have, forgive and keep forgiving as often as I am faced with hurt, extend grace, meet new people, attend a new church, join a new small group, trust Him to provide when the bank statement says “balance- $0!”…I could go on. He has so much work to do in me! I have not always been faithful to obey but He has been faithful to me! How I love Him for that! One of the coolest things God has done is lead us to our small group. I mentioned it I think in my last post. They are being used by God to breathe life into me and encourage me in my walk. Greg and I have spent a lot of time with our leaders, Jason and Jenny, and it’s as down to earth as you can get when we are together. We pull together left overs and just have the sweetest fellowship. God gave me the “crazy” idea to give our dining room table away since we already have a kitchen table. (I think the table went to help furnish an apartment for some ladies getting out of the Lovelady Center….how cool is that!!) So now when people come over, the kids are at the kitchen table and we sit in the living room…not exactly entertaining at it’s finest but talk about some good times! So, back to our leaders…Jason and Jenny have their own construction business and a side ministry they have is taking donations to give to the needy. Jenny invited me to come and help in their donation room sorting through countless bags of clothes and other items. That may sound like death to many of you, but since God has given me a love for helping others and being “behind the scenes,” this is perfect for me. I get such joy knowing they are going to people who need them and don’t care about brands and styles. I am thankful for this ministry God has asked me to be a part of and I’ll do it until He tells me to do something else. I’ve struggled thinking I need one big ministry where I use my spiritual gift. Greg was so patient and spent a good bit of time the other night trying to help me understand (I take awhile to “get it” sometimes!) that with the gift of helps, He wants me to help others in whatever way is put in front of me. Wow, how profound. How that looks will change all the time and that’s ok! A very dear friend shared a verse with me that I love and find myself thinking about a lot these days. It’s Isaiah 30:21, “Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.” So, what am I supposed to be doing? Listen for His voice and do whatever He asks me to do! As I was recently challenged in church, “be a doer of the Word and not just a hearer.” I’ll close with this, “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” (Eph. 3:20, 21) In light of the events that unfolded in our lives in January, it is only by God’s grace that I can say amen to that! I can echo David’s words in Psalm 23, “…my cup overflows.”

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