Showstoppers

So I’ve started my ordination training! I’m really excited about it all and trying to get my head into new ways of doing things. I am going to be learning about the history of the Bible, over 3000 years ago in some places.Today was my first day at my new placement and we heard about spiritual gifts. I’m thinking about this at the moment, as I have been investigating prophesy, as I get pictures from God. The message though was more about appreciating the gifts God’s specifically given you and not wrapping them up and putting them away because they weren’t on your original “wishlist”, or mourning the gifts you’ve never had. If God’s given them to you, then it’s probably for a reason.Even if they don’t seem relevant or interesting now, then at some point you will probably need to dust them off and get to like them again. Also by focusing on the gaps in your life, you put extra pressure on yourself and your self-esteem, spiritual life or relationships.

Having  a change in routine I have to say is really refreshing and if there is any small part of your life you can try doing differently this autumn I’d really recommend it- whether it’s trying a new style of clothing, going  to  different place on holiday, or taking the bike instead of the car to work, walking instead of cycling, or fasting instead of feasting. The options are pretty endless. My son is hooked on mine-craft, and I definitely won’t have much luck getting him to play something else, but I might suggest it!

Using a mine-craft analogy though,  it’s about glorifying the tiny bit of diamond ore, God has put in you, and making that shine, rather than waiting until you have more diamonds to make something major like a sword, as God can polish up the small stuff and the seemingly worthless bits, as well as the “show-stoppers”.

Meeting all the other people on my course, it seemed like we were all so different, and will all have different things to share with each other as well as learning from the lecturers.None of us probably see ourselves as show-stoppers, but in God’s hands we can be.

Paul who wrote many of the letters and chapters of the New Testament paid for his travels by making tents, and this was only possible because the native land he grew up in, was famous for it’s goats hair, which was used then for tent making. So God’s purpose was worked out for centuries of Christians to inherit, supported by the trade in goats hair tents at the time Paul was writing! Without the Romans the message Paul was sharing would also have been impossible to pass on, as they introduced a network of formal trading route which aided communication.

The only thing we have to do is show up, and not shrink away from using the gifts we are given, and we can also be bold in asking for spiritual gifts

“God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues^[d]? Do all interpret? ³¹ Now eagerly desire the greater gifts and yet I will show you the most excellent way.” 1 Corinthians 12 v28-31