The Rev. Dr. Patricia Ramsden          First Presbyterian

         If you have ever asked yourself:  Is this all there is?  Or why do I feel like there’s something missing in my life? then this sermon is for you  because today we want to explore what God tells us about the gifts we have been given, for each one of us has been given a very distinct gift to use in our lives --- each one of us has a special talent. 

         Now you may be saying to yourself, “Yeah, right.  I don’t have a gift.  I can’t sing.  I’d rather die than be a liturgist and I’m even too scared to run the copier in the church office because I’m afraid I’ll mess something up.  Trust me on this one. I definitely am not gifted or talented or special in any particular way.  There’s absolutely nothing I can do.”  You’re the kind of person who when someone compliments them says, “Oh, that’s nothing special.  Anyone can do that.” 

         Sorry, but that’s just not true.  God created you special and unique.  You do have a gift, a talent, that helps make up the wonder that is you.

         Perhaps it’s time that you stopped looking at the job description you’ve written for your life and look instead at God’s.  Peter is a case in point.  Peter thought of himself as just a fisherman --- and anyone can be a fisherman or so he said.  But God saw his heart, and changed Peter’s life script saying, “No.  You may catch fish right now, but I created you to be a fisher of men, capturing their hearts for me.”  You see, the verse in I Samuel is true, “The Lord doesn’t look at the things we look at.  We look at outward appearances, but God looks at the heart.”  Look into your heart.

Now maybe you’re asking why you should take the time and trouble to identify your gift.  Why can’t you just continue to stumble along the way you always have?  Well, there are several reasons.

         First, you can’t be good at everything, but you can be good – even exceptional – at one thing.         We hate that.  Too often we fall into the trap of thinking that we should be able to do it all and downgrade ourselves for not having every talent and gift --- or at least not the one gift we lust after. 

         I’m like that.  You may have noticed for instance that I can’t sing.  Oh sometimes I can manage to carry a tune if Sara is singing along leading the way, but for the most part I can’t do it and I really regret that --- particularly when I am with a group of pastors who sing beautifully. 

“Why can’t I do that”, I think, and then I begin to judge myself saying I’m not as good as I ought to be.  I begin to be critical and focused in on what I can’t do instead of what I can do. 

         Identifying your spiritual gifts allows you to focus on what you do well, and gives you the freedom to ignore that critical voice inside your head.  Now, don’t misunderstand me.  You may need to work hard at developing your gifts and skills, but it is work that will energize you instead of draining you. 

Which leads me into reason number two:  You can’t do it all.  I know, I know, some of us are trying, but the reality is that it’s just not possible.  We need each other.   We need to support each other and fill in the cracks.  We need to identify our gifts so we can make better use of our time.

         Identifying your spiritual gifts will help you be able to discern when you should say “yes I can do this” and when you should say “no I can’t.  I really just can’t.”

I’m notoriously bad at this – but I’m learning because once you know what is most important to you and where God has gifted you, you can say no to tasks and jobs that will only drain you of energy. 

Right now I have a sign taped right above my phone in the office that has a series of questions I need to ask when someone calls to add to my to do list.  They go like this:

Why am I saying yes to this person?  Am I just trying to please them?

Is it realistic to say yes?

If I say yes, what will it cost me?

How will this affect my relationship with God and those who are most important to me?

Slowly but surely I’m learning that no is not a four letter word.  But there is also another side to this:  God gave you your gift for a reason --- so you can and will use it.  Sometimes you need to step out of your comfort zone and say “yes” to something you’d never dream you could do, but God knows you can. 

When that happens, you will find yourself fulfilled in a new way.  Identifying your gifts and then using those gifts will add more fun, more meaning, and more inner peace to your life.  You will find yourself enjoying life more and you will become more centered.  Seeking your spiritual gifts is a way of shifting your life style so it’s more aligned with your needs and values. 

         You may be volunteering the same amount of time  --- you may even volunteer more time – but you will feel qualitatively different about the time you spend as it energizes and feeds your spirit.  Discerning your giftedness helps you find your place in the body of Christ.  It will also let you know that you are enough just the way you are with the gift God has given you. You will stop chasing someone else’s gifts or dreams and begin to live out of your own.

         So how do you go about identifying your gift?          

         Well, there are a variety of surveys and questionnaires available out there on the web or in books, and I’ll be glad to connect you with those if you’re interested in them, but there are also a few basic questions that will help get you started. 

·      Do you love what you are doing most of the time?

·      Does it satisfy your soul?

·      Are you living out of your positive traits and finding the negatives less predominant? 

Think back on those times when you have had just the right words to say or the right answer to a problem.  Think back to the times when you knew God was near.  What were you doing in those moments?  When have you been most satisfied?  Are there any patterns to these thoughts and feelings? 

Ask God to help you discern what your gift, your passion is.  I promise God will answer you.  He may answer through a still, quiet voice running through your thoughts or He may choose to speak to you through others, but if you ask an answer will surely come. 

         So when should you begin?  You should begin now, even as we stand to affirm our faith, stand and make a new commitment to God and to yourself that you will seek your gift and use it. We need you.  God needs you.  Say yes to Him.