Do You Know What Your Gifts Are?

“Pictured is a Mexican Talavera Wall Cross which is hand made and hand painted by the talented pottery craftsman. Only natural clays are used, rather than chemically treated and dyed clays and the handcrafting process takes three to four months. The process is risky because a piece can break at any point. 

The Cross represents the bright, warm, lively, vitality of One’s Faith and Love as represented in Mexican culture.” - Glenn Wong

We are delighted this week to have Glenn share with us a presentation about his missionary work in Mexico.

As you prepare for worship, I invite you to consider this passage from Isaiah:  

 

Isaiah 42.1-4 MSG

“Take a good look at my servant.

    I’m backing him to the hilt.

He’s the one I chose,

    and I couldn’t be more pleased with him.

I’ve bathed him with my Spirit, my life.

    He’ll set everything right among the nations.

He won’t call attention to what he does

    with loud speeches or gaudy parades.

He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt

    and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant,

    but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.

He won’t tire out and quit. He won’t be stopped

    until he’s finished his work—to set things right on earth.

Far-flung ocean islands

    wait expectantly for his teaching.”

If I consider the fruits of the spirit named in Paul's letter to the Galatians, I would say that Glenn, by God's grace, has been given the gift of love. We have seen him show love here in Vancouver in the Homeless Outreach Project and we will learn about his work in Mexico this Sunday. 

He won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt

    and he won’t disregard the small and insignificant,

    but he’ll steadily and firmly set things right.

Sounds like love to me! 

I'm sure Glenn has other gifts too…what are your gifts?

In celebration and wonder,

Susan

May the wellsprings of compassion flow deep within you, until you can taste the tears

of your brothers and sisters.  (2 Cor 1:3-7) - Joyce Rupp

Galatians 5:22-23

NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

MSG

But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.