Christmas season brings out all the thoughts of gifts, and all the stress. Maybe this is why I have often thought that using my spiritual gifts should involve stress and hard work. Sometimes it definitely does. My family’s time on the mission field was characterized by illness and goodbyes. But there were also many moments of joy in getting to share what I love to do with others, and using seemingly less spiritual activities as a means to talk about my relationship with Christ.

One of my favorite moments was when I was asked to color some Sunday school materials for the local Wycliffe Bible translator team. I sat at my coffee table with my coffee cup, under a ceiling fan, watching Little Women and coloring, and I was doing ministry!

Another moment was when some high school gals visited and said they wanted to learn English. They weren’t interested in learning from any of the books I had, and they weren’t interested in cooking. We had to have something to talk about, and as I frantically searched my mind, one of them noticed my cross-stitch project I had put aside when they rang the door bell.

“Can you teach us to do this?”

I emailed some supporters who love to craft, and they mailed me some dish towels with space to cross-stitch, and the craft/English club began.

They picked up the idea quickly, and I talked about anything and everything with these young women. I still pray for those seeds that were planted while we stitched, and I treasure the dish towel one of them gave me before she left for college.

My 3rd story of God unexpectedly using a gift came at Easter while we were in language school. My amazing in-laws had sent a package of all the usual Easter goodies, including egg dying kits and plastic eggs filled with candy. We invited all the young adults in the neighborhood who had befriended us in a quest to learn English also, and we did all the goofy Easter things with them. Towards the end, one finally asked, “What’s with all the eggs?”

We had a moment while they were listening to talk about new life in Christ. I pray for those planted seeds as well.

All this to say, don’t let satan convince you that serving is too hard or you have no skills to offer. Just ask God to use you. You might be surprised at how God has equipped you when you didn’t even realize it.

Hebrews 13:20-21 NIV
[20] Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, [21] equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.