We have all been given a gift...

God’s various gifts are handed out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. 

God’s various ministries are carried out everywhere; but they all originate in God’s Spirit. 

God’s various expressions of power are in action everywhere; 

but God himself is behind it all. 

Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: 

Everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits. 

All kinds of things are handed out by the Spirit, and to all kinds of people! 

The variety is wonderful:

wise counsel

clear understanding

simple trust

healing the sick

miraculous acts

proclamation

distinguishing between spirits

tongues

interpretation of tongues.

All these gifts have a common origin, 

but are handed out one by one by the one Spirit of God. 

He decides who gets what, and when.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 (the Message)

For many years I thought maybe God passed me over in the gifts category. I mean, I don’t have an obvious gift like teaching or music or mercy or hospitality or healing or tongues. When I read over the lists of gifts in the Bible, I just found myself lacking. When Chuck entered the ministry I began to pray about this big time. I kept thinking, “How can a pastor’s wife NOT have a spiritual gift?”

Around this same time, I began working as a clerk in our small town library. I loved the quiet work, it fit me very well & I very much enjoyed the people. My boss, our branch manager, was one of the most warm & friendly people I’ve ever met. I found myself inexplicably drawn to her & we spent many hours talking as we cataloged, processed & checked out books. She was an agnostic & while she didn’t share my faith, she was very curious about it. As our friendship grew, we began to talk about more spiritual things. I began to ask her to come to church with me, she always declined. 

One morning at work, I shared a story of a ladies event I had attended at church, where an older woman played her accordion for worship time. As the woman stood up to play, I must have had a funny look on my face because she asked, “Lisa Pelkey. Do you even know what this instrument is?” “Yes”, I replied, “I just can’t believe you are going to play it.” 

My boss & I had a good laugh over this & then she said, “Oh my sweet little Lisa, if you played the accordion, I’d come to church.” 

After work, I couldn’t shake what she had said. 

So…

I found myself driving out to the accordion player’s home, where not only did she so graciously loan me her accordion but she committed to give me lessons till I could learn a song to play in church. 

Did I mention before that I’m not really musical? That not I’m not very coordinated?  & I am not a fan of being up front? 

God has an incredible sense of humor.

The accordion is a complicated beast. You have to multi-task. Play the keyboard. Push & pull the bellows. & play the chord buttons. 

Let me just say that this was one of the most difficult things I have ever done.

It took me a couple of months of lessons & whole lot of practice to get down the tune to Mary Had a Little Lamb. 

Finally when I felt like I had it down good enough to where I might not die of embarrassment, I volunteered to play during our Christmas Eve Service. My dear friend Tracy agreed to read a Christmas poem to tie the two together & my boss agreed to come. 

Christmas Eve came & I stood up to play. Strangely, despite the ridiculous contraption strapped to my chest & the anticipation of what I was about to do, my heart was full of peace. 

I’d love to tell you that it came off perfectly & that my boss rushed to the alter to give her life to Jesus. But truth be told, I messed up once & had to start over. But in the beauty of that moment… the sanctuary bathed in candlelight… my boss smiling up at me… the accordion squeaking… I discovered something. I did have a gift to give. The gift of a willing heart. & despite my fear or insecurity over a self-perceived ‘lack of giftedness’ God could & would use me, if only I allowed Him to. 

Afterwards, as we bundled up into our coats & prepared to head home for our family Christmas, an older gentleman took hold of my arm. 

“You have a gift,”  he whispered. “I don’t know what it is. But you have it.”

I smiled. 

He was right. 

We have all been given a gift.  

We have only to open our hearts to receive it. 

Yes, this is me play the accordion. No, it is not a good picture but it is proof that Jesus can do anything & use anyone.

Mary Had a Little Lamb

(Christmas version)

Mary had a little Lamb,
He was born on Christmas day.
She laid him in a manger bed
To sleep upon the hay.

Angels filled the night-time sky
And they began to sing.
Shepherds heard them all proclaim
The birthday of a King.

Wise men saw a blazing star
Up in the sky that night.
They followed it until they found
The King of love and light.

Mary had a little Lamb,
But He wasn't hers, you know,
He was the very Son of God,
The One who loves us so.

The Father of this little Lamb
Loved the world so much
That He sent his only Son to earth
So we could feel His touch.

He came to give us joy and peace
And take away our sin.
So when He knocks on your heart's door,

Be sure to let Him in.

Why do I love this precious Lamb?
What can the reason be?
The answer is quite plain to see,
It's because He first loved me!

~ Author Unknown