Recently my church took a quiz on Spiritual Gifts that gave a number for 16 areas of spiritual gifts. I don’t personally like taking these kinds of tests. I tend to focus on finding validation for my weakness and dismiss or minimize my strengths. I took it because I am a team player and it’s good for me to continue working on being open minded to various perspectives, even if it is from an internet quiz!

The purpose of the test is so we can recognize the various gifts among our members and how those gifts can be used to glorify God.

Because my tendency is to see what is wrong with me vs what is right, God finds various ways for me to remember that he created me and that I am good. Taking this quiz was another way he not only reminded me to focus on my strengths but also to appreciate others strengths and the outcome of us all using our gifts together.

There are things I do that come naturally and fill my heart when I am in that space. And there are other things I do that take a little more effort, and that’s okay.

After this realization, I sent a text to a friend who knows my constant struggle for self-acceptance. Her response was not one that I expected, at most I expected a “thank you for sharing” with a heart emoji, which would not be unusual as we share with each other our life lessons on a constant basis. .

She replied: “Oh my gosh. God!!!” Thank you so much for sharing. My faith is built up. Love your insights about “equality” in the body. Yes! Let it BLOOM!... I just looked at that Corithian scripture again. What you shared could be developed into a blog post. It’s really so good.”

So, I don’t know how to develop this into a blog post and I don’t want to invest the time in doing that. What does come naturally is to share the text I shared with her with others. Maybe someone can develop it into a blog post and I would be so encouraged to read it if you do, so please share it with me.

Text I send to my friend Tamara:

Good morning. So I am feeling pretty convicted. I did the Spiritual gift assessment twice. Got the same results pretty much. I realized I looked at the scores as high and low. Instead, I can do these other gifts if needed and I have natural strengths.

God helped me see that none of the gifts had 0. They all had numbers, which is amazing. I realized that before, when I heard someone else's scores, I looked at how others are better than me.

Growing up I was expected (or got the memo) that I needed to be perfect. My parents led me to believing that I had the gift of perfection (we as parents can do that sometimes - believing we are sincerely helping our children) but one day I didn’t want that gift anymore, I just wanted to be normal. I saw how they changed when I “gave” their gift back. I have felt imperfect ever since.

This morning I see I am neither perfect nor imperfect. I simply am designed by God. He has distributed all the Spiritual gifts we need to serve him in such a way that no one has too much and no one has too little. And putting us together we can really show his glory,

Wow! I googled the scripture on gathering much or little and 2 Corinthians 8:14-15.
The goal is equality!

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. That's why no gift has a 0 and I can thrive in things that come easy. The goal is equality!

P.S I ordered and paid for a poster that I didn’t receive. Upon contacting the buyer she apologized she didn’t know what happened and offered to give me a free one. One day the posters arrived. The one I ordered and one she gave me to make amends. When my boys saw the free one they said: “this is nice” There was a tone I could not comprehend; as if they could see something I didn’t. This morning I got it. I will send a photo of the small poster that has been sitting in the tube that it was mailed in. I framed the one I ordered but kept that one in the tube. I can’t wait to go downstairs and look at it!
I will love to see your gifts results and I will love to share mine.
Love you! God is good!