Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Triumphant Victorious Reminders
Inspired by the Holy Spirit
By: Teresa Criswell

"The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control: againsth there is no law."
~ Galatians 5:22 ~

The gifts that God has given to us, are we sharing them as we show evidence of the fruit of the spirit? Or do I dare say as I did a few years ago, "Well, that's not my gift, so I can't do that." That may strike a chord with some...it did me a few years ago when I was needing to volunteer for my child's sunday school class. The children's pastor said, "Every parent is asked to help volunteer in their child's sunday school class every 6 weeks." I was flabbergasted as I said in a slight derogatory tone, "O no, I'm not called to teach children." Please know I laugh as I write this, I sure had some pride going on in me....you think?

What is even more ironic? I had just taken a "Spiritual Gifts Test" for the church. I'm not knocking those "tests", however, we must be careful with that because we limit what God wants to do through us for HIS glory. For me, as I took that test, my strengths were pastor, evangelist and intercessor. So I was summed up in 3 words spiritually...naively I was able to justify why I could not help in certain areas of ministry throughout the church.

Now, from this small testimony I tell you it was no sooner than when I made my comment to the pastor, he lovingly said, "Well, it may not be a gift you flow in as other gifts that you may operate in more freely, but it doesn't mean you still can't help." Immediately and thankfully the Holy Spirit in God's goodness led me to repentance and I was embarassed to say the least and I eventually did volunteer, and guess what? There were things inside of me that revealed God's gifts pouring out to teach the children and in turn taught me as well. It was so awesome!!!!

I have realized when God has led me to "new" ventures of my life where I could not rely on my own abilities, that is when the rivers of living water truly flowed through me in ways I never thought possible. It far exceeded the things I was trained in by man, manuals, books, etc.

Finally, let's not put God in the box of what He can do with us, because we "feel" or "think" we don't have the ability or the "gift" to do so.

I tell you the truth, when I was in school and you can ask my patient parents; school altogether was not my strength, especially in Writing and English. I came close every year to getting a D in school especially with Writing. Yet, as an adult on March 6, 2003, as I TRULY surrendered my life to the Lord, one of the first things God had me do was WRITE. I remember being bewildered. WRITE? I don't write. Yet six years, over 20 journals and one book later, whether I thought so or not, it was declared over me (I have to believe) before I was even born that God declared over my life,"Teresa, you are a writer, an encourager and you will live a life of joy, but you must rely on ME."

Believe me, the things that God may be calling you to do are probably so far fetched, but guess what? Like a conspiracy theorist...you just gotta believe it! Pray to God for clarity and to know how to go about it...and watch your obedience change many lives. You may never know the impact, but God does.

God bless you as you reveal God's gifts to the world you live in!

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