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Well, Christmas has come and gone, and all of the gifts have been opened, some have been returned, some re-gifted… but the good gifts are loved and are being used. So while we’re on the subject of gifts, let me encourage you to “Go and use your gifts!” However, I’m not talking about Christmas gifts here. I’m talking about the very gifts that God has given you. Every single one of us has something to offer, that can glorify God. Whether it’s the gift of encouragement, the gift of finances, the gift of wisdom, or hospitality, or cooking, or creativity, or preaching, or listening, the list goes on and on. We’ve all been uniquely gifted, and these gifts were meant to help other people, to make up the Church, and to bring glory to God!

Ann Voskamp, in her book The Greatest Gift says, “You’ve got to use the life you’ve been given to give others life. You’ve got gifts that weren’t given to line your life with; they were given to be a lifeline to others- or lose your life. It comes like an echo from God: if your gifts don’t give relief, you don’t get real life.”

As the post-holidays / back-to-normal pattern of life takes over, and we focus on our work and our own lives, some of our gifts are put on the shelf or used for our own good. But now is the time to reopen those gifts and offer them up for God’s use. One way to see how you’re using your gifts, is by asking the person closest to you what gifts they see in you, and how they see you using your gifts for others and ultimately, for God.  Here’s an idea:

On a piece of paper, answer the following questions:

What gifts do you have?

How are your gifts bringing glory to God right now?

How can you use your gifts to help others?

How can you use your gifts in your home church?

This week, ask God how to show you ways to use your gifts for Him.

“Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength, which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to who belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”  1 Peter 4:9-11