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As a youth, I decided to take piano lessons. I took lessons for eight years. When I started, I had an ear for music. I could listen to something and then be able to play it. My piano teacher discouraged me from doing this. She made me learn such things as theory, scales, and how many counts a particular note receives. Each time I went to her house to take a lesson, she would stop me when she knew I was playing something by ear and make me look at my music. Playing the piano began to lose its excitement. I didn't want to practice during the week. I hated counting music, and I didn't get the same enjoyment out of playing the piano. I guess the how of music got in the way of the wow of music for me. It is not my intention to minimize the how of music because being able to use theory enables an individual to play music without first hearing it. The same is true for the how of Christianity, but I think you also have to experience the wow of Christianity.
I believe it is the heart that controls the wow. In order to better understand this, I would like to look at the word HEART. The H stands for happiness and the fulfillment we feel when using our unique Spiritual Gifts to complete God's mission. This is where my theological word fun can be used. We have to recognize what it is that we enjoy doing or love doing the most. What gives us pleasure, what is our passion, and what we can be enthused or excited about doing? When you consider a ministry, this is paramount. Choose something that does not become drudgery. Choose what you feel God is calling you to do. That is why you have to listen to Him and follow His call. For indeed, we each have been given a gift to use, and He expects us to use it. The key to happiness is knowing "That the Lord is God. It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture." Psalm 100:3
We then need to EXERCISE our gifts or make a commitment to use them. We use them to build the Body of Christ by fulfilling his teachings. This enables us to be more Christ like and enriches our spiritual lives as well as the lives of others. "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. If you speak, you should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If you serve, you should do so with the strength God provided so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen." 1 Peter 4:10-11
Our ACTIONS represent the way we live our lives. Our actions are tangible expressions of God's love that allow others to see how powerful a transformed life can be. We need to acknowledge that certain things in our lives need to change so that we can begin living for Godly significance. We need to recognize that God does want to use us, and we must actively use our Spiritual Gifts. "Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy with the laying on of hands by the council of elders. Put these things into practice; devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress." 1 Timothy 4:14-15 Failure to use your gift isn't reflected just in you but everyone around you.
We have to be willing to take RISKS and make sacrifices when we use our Spiritual Gifts. Jesus never promised that serving Him would be easy. We often fear being hurt, ridiculed, or defeated when we step out our Comfort Zones. But we need to realize that it is not all about us. We need to learn the mind set of giving preference to others, forgetting our own selfish desires. Through God, you receive the strength and courage to move forward. For all things are possible through him. We are not in this alone. A risk is not really a risk if we trust in the Lord (Bruce Wilkinson). "Trust in the Lord with your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6
Finally, the lives of others can be TRANSFORMED through the use of our Spiritual Gifts. We, His disciples, fulfill His great commission "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
Why are you waiting? Why do you hesitate? In the scripture, God is always telling us not to be afraid of being good enough, not to be afraid of change, not to be afraid of losing control, and not to be afraid of sacrifice. Place your faith in Him and His strength. Don't focus on your ability. You don't have to be good enough because God is enough.
Susan Pleasants
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