So imagine my surprise when FAITH came out as my top spiritual gift. Not Leadership or Administration, which are always my top two, but FAITH. It wasn’t until many months later, after I came to Nashville with no job, no place to live, and no one here I knew that I realized God had been working in my life for a while before I even knew I’d be moving to strengthen my faith so that when He called me to move to Nashville, I would be more than willing to take that leap of faith and come here. As someone with a top gift of Administration, pre-planning and preparing for every possible contingency is extremely high on my priority list (and I hate change, which is part of my ISTJ personality). Even though this wasn’t necessarily a call to a specific area of service (though when I think about all the ways in which I’ve served, all the people I’ve met/taught since I’ve been here, maybe it was a call to service in Nashville, where I never would have thought to come on my own), it was definitely God’s calling on my life to do something completely out of character for me.

That’s why when people ask me what brought me to Nashville, the only answer I can give is, “God.”

Never, in the fourteen years since then, has faith ever again come up as one of my top spiritual gifts. (Though I kind of wonder if maybe last year, in the couple of months before I was laid off and made the decision to go freelance, if I’d taken a SG survey then if it might have spiked again.)

I firmly believe that God has a very sarcastic sense of humor . . . and gives us strengths and callings in certain areas in which we are sure to need those gifts we DON’T have so that there’s nothing we can do BUT depend on Him to meet those callings.

I also think that God stretches us outside of our comfort zones as well. If we only serve in those areas were it’s easy, or our natural inclination, where we can do it with our own strengths… then how is God glorified through our weakness?

“I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me”

and

“‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

I totally agree that we need to serve God with the abilities that he’s given us, and serve him joyfully, but don’t discount the things that you don’t do as well. Those are the places that GOD can be glorified even more, let us lessen and HIM be lifted higher.

Moses is an awesome example of this!

So glad you’re finding a church that fits you! I’ll be praying that God will lead you and send you to the exact church He wants you to be in.

One important lesson I learned though from W. Glyn Evans, author of Daily with the King, is that it is important to be mission minded. On the way to your mission, you may pass ministries by, as there are so many that one can participate in. And that’s ok. Sometimes we are called to participate in what is right before us, but overall we should be discerning and prayerful about what we choose to do. God’ has gifted us all and I think if we are receptive to his direction our gifts can be exercised as a spiritual act of worship to him. Taking a spiritual gifts inventory is helpful. And I when I “feel” led to do something I wait for his confirmation through the affirmation of others.

Writing certainly opens up much opportunity to minister to others. I consider that my mission, and my mission field.

But most of all I think it is a matter of the heart and learning to love our neighbor – those to whom we come in contact with. Those are divine connections. Some seasons it has been as simple as ministering only to my family when we were going through a difficult time and allow the blessing of being ministered to by others. Other times it has been developing relationships. It isn’t always something on a to do list.

I’m glad you are finding a church that you like, Kaye. It’s a big step. It’s also a tough time in a sense as you find your nitch and others learn about your gifts. Be blessed!