Learn how to put your gifts into action with our free lesson “Living with Significance.”

 ^“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith;  if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach;  if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:6-8)

 I love seasons especially when they involve the apple orchard. I see orchard workers laboring in the orchard throughout the year. In cold of winter when nobody even wants to go outside, they are out pruning, a task vital to the production of fruit in the summer.  In the spring, the view of apple trees covered by blossoms is so beautiful. God has taught me many lessons watching the orchard throughout the year, especially about His gifts.

This past autumn, I got to do one of my favorite things – pick leftover apples from orchards around my house! While I was picking, I began to think of God and His kingdom. Now, you might be thinking, “why don’t the pickers pick all the apples from the tree?” Here’s the reason:  the apples left behind are either too small or visually unsellable. They didn’t meet the standards of the market, but they are still good to eat! 

Isn’t an apple to be eaten and not just looked at? I thought of the Kingdom of God, wondering how it would be if we were apples, and God has treated us like a picker in the orchard. Those big beautiful apples will be picked before any others and put on the shelf of successful ministries. But the small and odd shaped apples are left on the tree until they fall on the ground and rot.  Even though they were still edible, there was no one to pick them and taste their flavor. 

Have you ever wondered why some people get more ministry opportunities than you?  You believe God has gifted you with something, but you don’t exactly know your calling.  You might be in a ministry, but don’t feel like you are big enough, good enough or talented enough. You might be busy serving in your church but you feel forgotten because your ministry doesn’t seem as important as other people’s ministries. All of these questions, feelings and thoughts could end with the phrase “when I compare myself to others.”

Do you feel like an apple forgotten on the tree? Read Romans 12:6-8. You might feel so small and forgotten, but God certainly won’t forget about His creation. You are the apple of His eye! Remember, when He looks at you He says “Good!” You might feel like you are just “hanging on the tree” and not being used for His Kingdom, but you’ll never fall from His hand. He will never let you go! He will pick every apple from His Kingdom orchard, and there will be no leftovers!

Father, Show me the plans you have for me. Help me to see my gifts as you see them and be ready to act when you prompt me to.  Amen.

 Question: Are you feeling forgotten? Do you compare yourself to others? Ask God to show you where He wants to use you.

“[T]hrow that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30)

There was a filthy rich businessman with more money than he knew what to do with. One day he decided to leave – to travel the world. Before he left, he called three employees into his office and gave them each an envelope containing different amounts of money.

He spoke to them briefly saying, “I recognize you to all be highly skilled individuals. Use this money wisely. It’s not yours, but any returns you make on, you can keep. I’ll be back.” And with that, he was gone.

The first man made his first million within the quarter, and the second man within the first year. However, the man with the least amount entrusted to him went home, slipped the envelope under his mattress and did nothing.

Years passed and the rich man returned from his travels. They brought him their envelopes, slid them across the table: every bill accounted for. They even gave large portions of their profits to the rich man as a token of appreciation. But the last man was different.

His envelope lay thin with no extra money to account for.

“You’re fired. Man, you are not only timid but idle and lazy. I have no use for you! If I cannot trust you to be wise with this, I can’t trust you at all.”

This is a sobering story.

This is not a story about the stock market or where to invest your money. This is a parable that challenges us to use the gifts we have been given. The biblical account reveals a harsh punishment for those who are lazy, idle, and careless. The truth is that God has given everyone something to give back. We all have gifts and abilities that we are called to return to him. Essentially, they are on loan from God.

What are you doing with the gifts, talents, resources and opportunities God has given you?

God, forgive me for my idle behavior. Help me use my time wisely and my gifts effectively. Keep sloth far from me and give me zeal for your Kingdom. Holy Spirit, my helper, strengthen and energize me today. Amen.

Through the curtains my husband handed me a towel.  As I wrapped the fresh white towel around my shivering shoulders, deep warmth wrapped itself all around my thawing frame.  My husband had warmed the towel in the dryer!  I cannot describe how magical it felt.

The warmth of the towel seeped into my skin as my husband’s thoughtfulness saturated my soul.  I felt loved.  What a gift! It was a simple act of kindness that warmed my body and heart.

Now… before you start thinking that this kind of romance naturally occurs within the Born household, can I set the record straight?  This wasn’t my hubby’s own idea.  Nope.  He didn’t come up with this on his own. He got it from a book.  But… who cares? As I enshrouded my body with that warm towel, I didn’t give a hoot where the idea came from.  I was relishing in his implementation of the idea. That was the gift.

Have you got a Christmas gift for your spouse yet?  According to the guy on the radio, if you don’t have your gifts by now… it’s too late.  But I don’t believe him.  Come on, they’ve been playing Christmas music for months already.  The pressure tactics of consumerism are little over the top.

For Christmas this year, my husband and I are giving each other the gift of attending a marriage conference together.  Now, marriage conferences aren’t cheap, so we’ll be saving up for it. But I’m thinking it’ll be more like an investment. One of the greatest gifts you can give your spouse is the desire to learn new ways of saying “I love you” – whether the ideas come from a book, a marriage seminar or from your own creativity.  No matter what stage a marriage is at (and we’ve been through ebbs and flows of our own) there is always hope for a deeper and more meaningful relationship.

So with the warm towel in mind, think about giving a gift that will change your relationship.  Find out new ways to say I love you.  Pick up a marriage book.  Plan to attend a marriage seminar.  Go for coffee with a friend and share some ideas.  Choosing to learn new ways to love your spouse is a life-changing gift. Now that’s a real gift.

Take the next step:

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Originally posted on dorisdoumaborn.wordpress.com . Used with permission.

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23)

Suppose you could give a gift to Christ, what would it be? How could you possibly select a gift for the One who not only has everything, but who made everything?

The Wise Men did. They can be an example to us. In addition to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh, they gave the Savior some gifts we can give him today: their hope, their time, and their worship.

The wandering wise men gave Jesus their hope. When everyone else saw a night sky, this small band of men saw the light. The sight of the star sparked a desire in their hearts that send them packing. They went, seeking Jesus.

When night comes to your world, what do you see? The darkness or the stars? Hopelessness or hopefulness? Sometimes, just as he did so long ago, God uses the darkness to reveal his stars—“The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). Give God your hope for Christmas.

While you’re giving, give God your time. The wise men did. Before they gave God their presents, they gave their presence. It’s likely that these men traveled as long as two years before locating the prince of heaven.

Before that one incredible moment when they knelt before Jesus, the wise men spent many moments, months, perhaps years searching, in anticipation of that meeting. Just as the wise men devoted themselves to seeking the Savior, so can you: “You will seek him and find him when you seek him with all your heart” (Duet. 4:29).

And when they did find him, the wise men gave Jesus another gift: their worship. Men of wealth, influence, and intellect: what did they do when they saw Jesus? “…they fell down and worshiped him” (Matt. 2:11)

Worship. It’s a gift that extends to the giver as well. Through worship, we come to see God more clearly. God invites us, through worship, to see his face so he can change ours. In worship, we simply stand before God with a prepared and willing heart and let God do his work. And he does. He wipes away the tears. He mops away the perspiration. He softens our furrowed brows. He touches our cheeks. He changes our faces as we worship. The wise men sought the child of God, just as God seeks his children. “The Father is actively seeking such people to worship him” (John 4:23).

The gifts of hope, time, and worship. Three gifts the wise still give.

From One Incredible Moment: Celebrating the Majesty of the Manger
© (J Countryman, 2006) Max Lucado
Used by permission.

Question: How do you worship God? Although we may sing in church and read the Bible (both of which are good things) what ways beyond these can we worship God?

I do have trouble buying for my nieces and nephews.  I buy them books because I love books.  But they apparently don’t share my passion.  They value my gifts about as much as I would value an X-box game. One of my nephews announced this year – rather brazenly – that he’d rather just have cash.

Waldfogel’s news isn’t all bad. We actually do quite well on certain gifts. The closer we are to people, the better the gift giving becomes. Siblings value gifts at about 99% of their value, and spouses do even better, at about $1.02.

But even if we manage to buy good gifts, is that really the point of the season? According to most of the seasonal flyers that pass through our mail slots it certainly is. Shoppers’ Drug Mart, for instance, in their 36 page “Gifts Made Easy” flyer managed to talk about the “Top 10 Gifts They’ll Love” (though I’m sure my nieces and nephews wouldn’t like those either), and lots of things to “Rock your Holiday”, or things that “Twinkle Twinkle”.  Christmas is only mentioned 3 times.

If Christmas is only about gifts, then we are in trouble. It has become a big waste, whether we’re successful gift givers or not, because all we’re doing is breeding greed. I know it’s difficult when children are young and they desperately want the latest toy, but parenting is about identifying teaching opportunities, and I think this is one of them. Life is not about accumulating stuff. Life needs to be about giving, about making a difference, about family, and values, and faith, and love, or life becomes very empty indeed.

That’s why several years ago we started a new gift giving tradition with our children. We call it the “Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh” ritual, where they each get three gifts, and nothing more. The gold gift is something they WANT. The frankincense gift is something they NEED, like socks or pajamas.  And the myrrh gift is something to NURTURE their souls. It could be a journal, or a book, or a CD, or a movie. It’s something that reminds them of their purpose here on earth, or encourages them to think, to write, and to pray about what’s important. It’s always the biggest challenge to find such a thing, but it’s a challenge I’m up for, since it’s a reminder of the reason for the season. And I’m pretty sure, despite what the flyers might say, that reason should not be greed.

 “From him the whole body … grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”  Ephesians 4:16

A church needs more than just a pastor or a worship leader. Whether it’s a new church or one that’s been around for years, it takes all kinds of people to grow a church.

Are you good at math, organization, or working with children? How about sign painting? All of these abilities are needed. So what can you contribute to your church?

When Kay and I started Saddleback Church, we had one service with 15 people that grew to a core of 60 people by the end of the first year. These people weren’t preachers or teachers; they were just normal people doing different kinds of normal things. Thirty-one years later those people are still at the heart of our church. And if you ask any of them if the time and abilities they have contributed were worth it, they would tell you “yes”.

Serving the church is probably the most important and significant thing you will do in your life, because the church will outlast everything. Your job and hobbies will not go into eternity. Even nations and governments will not go into eternity. The church, the family of God, is the only thing that’s going to last forever.

The Bible says, “When you meet together, one person has a song, and another has a teaching. Another has a new truth from God. Another speaks in a different language …. The purpose of all these things should be to help the church grow ….” (1 Corinthians 14:26, NCV). Everybody should bring what they are good at to the table, because no one person is good at everything.

You have God-given gifts and abilities that the church needs. Whether it’s your home church that you’ve attended for years or a new church plant that’s just getting started, what will your contribution be?

Question: How would you like to serve in your local church or other Christian community?

“It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers.” Ephesians 4:11

As I strolled by a group of shops, a sign caught my attention. It read: “We don’t have it all, but together we have it all.” I thought of how that applies to our church. God has given some the abilities and gifts to do that others cannot do, but to everyone He has given something. None of us have it all, but together ministering and worshiping in concert, together we have it all.

Paul spelled it out in writing to the church at Ephesus. In this passage Paul lists the five kinds of ministries or gifts which have been given by Christ to His Church with first three of these being itinerant ministers – apostles, prophets and evangelists – who were preaching wherever they found an opportunity, while pastors and teachers were attached to some congregation or location. One can only conjecture that perhaps prophets preached to believers and evangelists to unbelievers, while apostles addressed either.

Then Paul explains how Christ sets about to attain the goal of filling all things by giving His body gifted men to foster and further growth. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. These gifted men constitute what we shall call “support gifts.” These four gifts relate to the whole body of Christ, much as the major body systems relate to the physical body.

Just as the physical body needs each organ in order to function, so too does the church need every gift to carry forth its ministry. None of us have all the gifts, but every one of us has at least one gift that God has uniquely given to each of us specifically to carry out that specific task he has for us in His church.

Have you examined yourself and asked what gifts God has given to you? Have you sought to find where your gifts can best be used in your local church and in the church worldwide? What has God equipped you to do? He has created you for a ministry as He has all of us.

Together we are collectively His church. Each of us has a unique role to play just like a symphony and when we are all functioning together there is harmony. Remember, none of us have it all, but together we have it all.

“Thank the Lord for all the glorious things He does; proclaim them to the nations. Sing His praises and tell everyone about His miracles” (Psalm 105:1,2)

How long has it been since you have taken time to meditate upon and list all the glorious things the Lord has done for you and how long has it been since you have shared them with your family, your neighbors or even strangers? Of course, your list may differ from that of your neighbors or of fellow believers in your local church or from mine. But among those glorious things that He has done are: He has, by His Holy Spirit, drawn us all to Himself; He has created within our hearts a hunger for His love; and through faith in Christ we have become His children; our sins have been forgiven and we now have the joy of living every moment of every day in vital union and fellowship with Him – all this with the certainty that we shall spend eternity with Him.

Mere human words could never express the gratitude that wells up within one’s heart at the thought of God’s great gifts. The word “alleluia” is universal and is spoken in all languages as an expression of praise to God and no word is more appropriate.

My personal list of blessings also includes a godly, praying mother who lived her Christianity and dedicated me to Christ before I was born, and followed me – as she did all her other children – with her daily prayers; a wonderful father who, I had the privilege of introducing to Christ after I became a Christian and seeing him begin to experience that peace which comes from knowing Christ; a Godly wife who loves the Lord Jesus Christ and shares my commitment to serve Him as our Lord and Master whatever the cost, wherever He leads us.

I thank Him for sons who love Him, and who have committed their lives to serving Him wherever He leads; a daughter-in-law who shares the love and conviction of her husband; a marvelous staff of thousands of Godly men and women who seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness; and hundreds of thousands of co-laborers who undergird me and this ministry.

The glorious things that He has done are without number. Yes, we must sing His praises and tell everyone about His miracles. We must proclaim the glorious things he has done to all the nations!

Bible Reading: Psalm 113

Today’s Action Point: Today I will meditate upon the glorious things God has done for me and I will sing His praises and tell everyone about His miracles. I will give my prayer and financial support to helping proclaim His greatness to all the nations of the earth.

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