Spiritual Gifts
I help with the youth group in my Church as one of the 7th grade girls’ leaders, and the other night we were discussing the church being made up of different parts like a body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-21. When we got into our small groups and it was just me, my partner and the girls we discussed what the different parts of the church they are, could be, or wanted to be, and the spiritual gifts that they possess. I couldn’t help but notice that these awesome talented, beautiful and sweet girls were struggling to come up with things that they were good at and what they use to serve God on a daily basis. So with some further discussion we got onto the topic of ways that we can use our spiritual gifts to help and encourage those around us, even if we don’t really know what they are.
The Strength to Fly
“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:29-31
Finding God in All the World
I went on a mission’s trip to Haiti not too long ago. It was an experience that changed my life. It’s amazing what a handful of children and a third world country can do to your heart.
Haiti was an incredible experience. It opened my eyes to the way that God moves, and the cultures that he has created. Living here in the U.S. and then going to Haiti, it’s easy to think that when you get there you’re going to be full of pity for the people that you meet. But I found that after I had been in Haiti for a week I was almost filled with jealousy for them. Haitians are beautiful people, and the children and adults at the House of Blessings, which is the orphanage that I stayed in, had more of an understanding of how God moves and works than I had ever grasped. By the end of the week I could see how the slight simplicity of their lives left them without as much stress and worry as we have here in the U.S. Stress is so strongly enforced in our culture as a normal thing.
Along with having my eyes opened with the priorities of the Haitians, God opened my eyes to his global and universal love as well. It’s easy to know that God loves everyone on every inch of the planet, but it’s not as easy to understand the power and magnificent of his love. One of the members of another team that was down in Haiti at the same time as us were told me that, “People often go into a third world country expecting to bring God to the country. But when they get there, they find that God is already there and working.” We don’t have to bring him anywhere. While we were at the Haitian church that Sunday it struck me that while they were worshipping in Haiti, my church in the United States was worshipping as well along with countless others. And although we all speak different languages, and worship in different ways, God can hear every voice that is lifted to him, and pays attention to all of his children.
I hoped in going to Haiti that I would be able to help them, little did I know that the Haitians, especially the children in the orphanage would be the ones to teach me. They taught me about love and selflessness, and showed me how a simpler life is not necessarily a bad thing, and that it can give you a chance to really get to know God. I hope that I was able to help the beautiful Haitians as much as those beautiful Haitians were able to help me.
Prince Charming
Sitting in my bedroom when I was just a little girl, I used to dream of finding my Prince Charming; a royal young lad that was made just for me. As I grew up, I saw guys walk through that were extremely charming, but everything short of a chivalrous prince like the princes in my dreams.