Chats with Cala

          Imagine God has just given you a gift certificate. God leaves the amount blank and it is unlimited--no time limit and no amount limit. We can ask for as much as we want according to God’s will--that is if it is something God knows will be good for us. For Christmas, small children will sometimes ask for 4 wheelers and guns and things much too old for them. Those gifts would not be good for them; they would be injured playing with them. Everything we ask for may not be good for us. But God answers our prayers with good things.
           Have you ever given a gift certificate to someone? Each of us has specific and different God-given gifts that enable us to minister to others. 1 Corinthians 14:12 says, “Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.”
           Let’s look at some women in the Bible who used their gifts and talents for the Lord. There is Abigail in the Old Testament. She gave food from her pantry to feed a hungry army that King David was leading home from battle. Dorcas in the New Testament sewed clothing for widows and poor children. Martha cooked for Jesus. Priscilla and Lydia opened their homes for Bible studies which led to churches being started in their homes.
           We may be not be rich and able to give costly gifts, but that doesn’t matter. We have some gifts and talents that God gave us that we can and should put to good use. You might want to make a certificate with a blank for you to fill out and give to someone then sign your name. You might write in 1 Sunday dinner, then invite your unchurched neighbor to church and give her this certificate for a meal afterward. Or you could write in 1 house cleaning and give it to someone in the church who is going to have surgery. Or you could write in 1 evening of Bible study and give it to a new Christian to help her understand how to study the Bible. You could write in 1 evening of baby sitting or 1 dozen cookies or use whatever gift or talent God has given you just to show Christian love to someone. One year I made up little gift certificates with: A Hug—whenever needed and gave to all the ladies at our annual Christmas banquet. Have fun making your own gift certificates, but don’t forget about your limitless gift certificate from God.