Now that Christmas 2009 is a memory, let's rethink the gifts that are yet to be unwrapped--your spiritual gifts. They come wrapped in uncertainty, and it takes faith to unwrap them. You have felt it, that, "I'm not sure I can do this," feeling.  

 



Most often we spend so much time looking at the wrapping, we never get around to enjoying the gift. So you ask, "How much faith does it take to unwrap what God has given?" All you've got, and more.

 

Many of God's gifts are handed out as we need them, but some have been stored away in dark corners. Since we've not discovered them in the past, we are unaware they are in our possession. So, we invest our time asking God for a sign when HE has already given us what we need; it's already inside us. 

 

You may have gone to church all your life and never opened a gift. 



 

So, trust HIM and rip past the uncertainty. Grab your God given gift and get with it (1 Corinthians 14:29-31). Discover the joy in speaking the words God gives you, serving in the community where you live, teaching the truths God has revealed to you, encouraging the disheartened and broken, giving what HE has given, seeing hope in the jaws of despair, and serving others when least expected.

 



That's just the beginning. The gifts of God's Spirit were not meant to be a comprehensive list...the list goes on. God is still giving, whether you believe it our not. You already have gifts from HIM that you've never opened. 

 

I believe 2010 will be the year of "the gifts." So, be prepared for "times of unwrapping."

 

Back then we called him Brother Weldon. He was the preacher across town, and he was the first "man of God" that I actually listened to.

 



Most of the time when the preacher got up I counted "uhs," sometimes I wrote notes or counted Bible verses, and a few times I tried to make Russell laugh (that was pretty easy), but when Brother Weldon visited, or when he was speaking at camp or at a youth rally, I listened. I could understand him. He told stories and talked with a real voice about real life.



 

Oh, and I had a crush on his daughter.

 



In my senior year of high school, Brother Weldon was asked to be one of the speakers at an area-wide youth rally, and I was asked to lead singing and make a short talk. It was a great day. We actually filled our church building for the first time ever. Teenagers were there from all over the Bay Area.



 

After it was over, we were cleaning and Brother Weldon asked if he could talk with me out back. As we walked, we discussed the events of the day. I felt honored that he was talking to me.

 



"I saw something in you today, Ronnie," he said.

 



"What?" I replied.

 



"I saw the future. I saw the person you are going to be. Have you ever thought about being a preacher?" 

 

"Absolutely not," I said. "Preachers move too much; somebody is always mad at them, and they don't have much fun."

 



"Ronnie, you have a gift. God has great plans for you."



 

That was it. The conversation was over, but I have never forgotten the words. At the time I thought he was crazy, but now I realize he had the gift of prophecy...God had given him insight about my life that I needed to hear. And, he had the faith to share that insight.



 

Has God given you insight into the lives of other people? It's a gift that is meant to be given...do you have the faith to do it? Ask HIM, he will give you the faith you need. 

 

Put everything down. Take a few moments and think about the people you know. What do you believe God wants to do in their lives? What do they need to hear? What difference could it make in their lives if you told them what you sense? 

 

Ask God to put you at the right place at the right time with the words HE has given you. Now tell me, what do you do with your uncertainty? 

 

What gifts are still buried in the shadows?