Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 11
Thursday


CALLED

READ:
Romans 12:3-8
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Having then gifts
differing according to
the grace that is given
to us, let us use them.
__Romans 12:6
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In September 2001, Lisa Jefferson had an unexpected opportunity to be used by God. Her now well-known 15-minute conversation with a passenger on United Flight 93 forever changed the direction of her life. In her book CALLED, she emphasizes that her listening skills and her ability to take charge and stay calm in a crisis were used to encourage fellow believer Todd Beamer in the last moments of his life.

She didn't ask to be used that way. But God saw a woman who was available and matched her with someone who was in need. Lisa now shares her story with whomever she can to encourage believers to always be ready to serve.

Not only has God given us natural abilities, He also equips every believer with spiritual gifts for the purpose of ministry. God doesn't use the unwilling__He won't force us to serve Him. His part is to equip us (Eph. 4:11-13) and empower and prepare us for service. Our part is to be faithful and available and aware of opportunities to use our gifts (Rom 12:6).

When you feel impelled to help fill a need, when you are inwardly driven to serve__listen to those thoughts. You don't want to miss God's call. __Cindy Hess Kasper
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````````````````````In gladness I go forth each day```````````````
````````````````````Expectantly to serve and claim```````````````
```````````````````The happiness that service gives```````````````
`````````````When freely rendered in God's name. __Anon.`````````
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God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary work.

****************Today's Bible Reading __ Romans 12:3-8**********

3 For I say, through the
grace given to me, to
everyone who is among
you, not to think of himself
more highly than he ought
to think, but to think
soberly, as God has dealt to
each one a measure of faith.

4 For as we have many
members in one body, but
all the members do not have
the same function, 5 so we,
being many, are one body
in Christ, and individually
members of one another.

6 Having then gifts differing
according to the grace that
is given to us, let us use
them: if prophesy, let us
prophesy in prpoportion to
our faith; 7 or ministry, let
us use it in our ministering;
he who teaches, in teaching;

8 he who exhorts, in
exhortation; he who gives,
with liberality; he who
leads, with diligence; he
who shows mercy, with
cheerfulness.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The "measure of faith" (Rom. 12:3) is the inlet that allows God's
power to flow into the use of all spiritual gifts. Waiting on tables
with the gift of helps, instructing believers with the gift of teaching,
or helping the needy with the gift of mercy all require faith to be
effective. "For whatever is not from faith is sin" (Rom. 14:23).
__Dennis Fisher