There are quite a number of benefits to working in the gifts of the Spirit that God has given us. First and foremost, these gifts allow God to work in us and through us for the building up of His…
One Gift or Another
The Bible tells us that there are many gifts but one Spirit; many different workings, but the same God at work in each of us (1 Corinthians 12:6). Because the Spirit distributes the gifts (Romans 12:4), it’s not surprising that…
A Variety of Gifts
When I go for a hike, it’s fun to see the variety of scenery along the way. There are usually trees (unless I’m in the desert), but not all of the trees are alike. Then I cross a stream, and…
A Summary of the Gifts of the Spirit
I’ve been talking frequently lately about the gifts of the Spirit. These are giftings and abilities given to us by God to be used for His glory and to build up the people around us. As Paul says in Romans…
Do You Win Well?
Some years ago (ok, quite a few years ago), my younger brother and I took our driver’s tests on the same day. Through the workings of the system more than because of our driving capabilities, I received my license that…
God as Fire
Every once in a while when we’re out camping, everything works out right and we’ll have a campfire. It doesn’t happen very often because 1) there are usually fire bans, 2) we frequently aren’t in a place where a fire…
We Don’t Serve a Fatalistic God
Recently, I’ve met some people who believe that God knows everything that will happen. They talk about how God knows what we’ll choose, what we’ll do, and how we’ll do it. He also already knows what He is going to…
The Gift of Faith vs. the Gift of Prophesy
When we think about spiritual gifts, we tend to think of them as different and individual: The gift of leadership is different than the gift of teaching, the gift of decerning of spirits is different than the gift of hospitality,…
The Grand Canyon and Experiencing God
I heard a preacher recently who talked about visiting the Grand Canyon. His wife really wanted to visit the park, so they drove several hours out of their way to be able to see it. They arrived at the first…
40 Things My Parents Taught Me
In just a few days, my parents will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary!! They’re as much in love if not more so than when I was young. In fact, they still go hiking together almost every day… a luxury they…