On a Christian forum today, I noticed a post. The poster asked if there was a difference between contentment and happiness.
I have learned there is a difference between these two terms.
Happiness is dependent on the externals in our lives. Do we have the nicest clothes? Do we have the latest model car? Are our relatives nice to us? Did we get the gift we wanted for our birthday?
Contentment doesn't depend on the externals of our lives. Several people I know have the responsibility of caring for a disabled family member. One lady went through Cancer treatments this winter and spring. Some people have questions--yet to be answered-- about circumstances in their lives. But, if they were asked, they would all say they are content.
Contentment comes through a relationship with the Lord.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Gifts Given By God
God bestows certain traits, attributes and talents to be exercised by us. These gifts are given
to us by the Lord to further the advancement of His Kingdom.
In the Kingdom, each gift is considered important but none more than the others. In Paul's letters, he identifies at least 19 attributes deemed necessary in order for God's Kingdom to grow.
The Lord gives to each believer certain gifts, according to His wishes and His grace.
After taking a Spiritual Gift Survey, I found out there are some working gifts—those attributes that are very evident in our lives. I also discovered each person has waiting gifts—attributes we possess but are not very strong. There are also some areas of gifts called roles—things in which we are not strong but we do them, anyway.
There is such a thing as a person having a variety of gifts. I believe this is called a 'gift mix'.
God presents His children with these gifts. We, as those children, are to exercise them. When we refrain from exercising the gifts God gave us, we do so at our own peril.
to us by the Lord to further the advancement of His Kingdom.
In the Kingdom, each gift is considered important but none more than the others. In Paul's letters, he identifies at least 19 attributes deemed necessary in order for God's Kingdom to grow.
The Lord gives to each believer certain gifts, according to His wishes and His grace.
After taking a Spiritual Gift Survey, I found out there are some working gifts—those attributes that are very evident in our lives. I also discovered each person has waiting gifts—attributes we possess but are not very strong. There are also some areas of gifts called roles—things in which we are not strong but we do them, anyway.
There is such a thing as a person having a variety of gifts. I believe this is called a 'gift mix'.
God presents His children with these gifts. We, as those children, are to exercise them. When we refrain from exercising the gifts God gave us, we do so at our own peril.
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