Everybody Loves A Gift

Christmas was just over a month ago, our tree is down and the decorations have been put away since the first of the year.  All the gifts that didn’t fit have been returned and the others are being used.

When I think of Christmas, or anytime we give gifts, I often wonder if the recipient is using the gift.  It is no fun giving a gift that is unwanted or not needed, because it won’t be used.  

The Spirit of God gives us gifts.  Our scripture passage today says that the gifts are given, “for the common good”, or as the New Living Translations says, “so we can help each other.”  We do not get every gift.  The Spirit of God determines which ones he gives and to whom.  The important thing for us to do is USE THE GIFT we have been given.

If you are trusted with the gift of prophesy and don’t share the word God has given you, you won’t help the person God sent you too.  If you can interpret tongues yet keep silent, the message God wanted shared will not be revealed.

When it comes to the gifts of the Spirit, God is a great gift giver.  He will give you the exact right gift.  He does not make mistakes.  Use your gift or gifts.  Don’t be afraid of them.  Use your wisdom or knowledge for his good.  Heal people he sends you to heal.  If you can perform miracles, do it for His glory.

We tend to see the works of the Holy Spirit as taboo in North America, but remember God has not changed. The same God we read about in the pages of scripture is the one we serve today!  So, pretend it’s Christmas morning.  Unwrap your gift and start using it.

Read today's passage here.  1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Sweet Dreams

Genesis 40:5-7

^... each of the two men—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were being held in prison—had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

 When Joseph came to them the next morning, he saw that they were dejected.  So he asked Pharaoh’s officials who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?”

“We both had dreams,” they answered, “but there is no one to interpret them.”

Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Are your dreams ever so frightening you wake up from them filled with anxiety you cannot shake off? Sometimes I have dreams which seem real; as though I experienced a glimpse into the future. A short time after waking, I forget what they were about; but still, the anxious feelings remain.

The Lord often used dreams to help His people move forward, or to turn them in a different direction. Dreams are mentioned in the Old Testament many times. Often, God spoke into the hearts of those he loved, while they were asleep. Perhaps they were more open to hearing Him then.

It is said we all dream, but we don't always remember them. Those we do recall in the morning don't make much sense. Often our dreams are fanciful; anything but real, yet they can haunt our waking hours.

There are also dreams we want to repeat. After loosing a loved one we might see them, interact with them one more time. These dreams give peace and comfort. When we awaken we are disappointed it was only a dream, but there still remains the comfort of having 'heard' their voice one more time.

Joseph understood dreams and had the gift of interpretation. We was able to tell the two officials what their meanings were. One man was happy with the results, the other - not so much. 

It is important we realize that dreams aren't reality.  They might reflect something that has happened, or they could manifest those things we fear, but they aren't real. As the words to the Disney song go, "Dreams are a wish your heart makes, when you're fast asleep." I'm good with that meaning.

Genesis 40:5-15