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Listen to this devotional: |
Listen while you read: "Ivory Palaces"1
(Lyrics) |
When one of the pastors in my church invited me to share my gift of writing with members of our congregation in February, I was a little nervous at first, because there were many people in my congregation who were not aware of my gift of writing. I was a little intimidated and insecure about standing up and speaking in front of our congregation, even in front of the folks who were not strangers to me. Some of them were very dear friends who had been kind and gracious to me over the 27 years that I have been attending the church, and others were people I know from greeting only with a smile. But when I presented my short speech to share God's grace, I felt strong and confident about telling everyone the good news about my gift from God.
You see, I have an invisible disability. I am slightly dyslexic. When I am reading certain words or numbers on a page, I am sometimes confused by the order of the letters or digits. While I am looking directly at them, they are rearranged to look similar to other words or numbers. But God, in His infinite mercy, had a plan for me to write. The gift of writing may not be everyone's gift, but everyone is blessed with a gift, or gifts — known or unknown. God can use these gifts that He has given to us. We just have to pray for wisdom and guidance to find our calling.
1 Peter 4:10 – Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (NIV)
Being compassionate, empathetic, kind, loving, and giving are gifts, too.
Do you know what gifts you have to share with others? If it is not writing, then it is something else that God is waiting for you to use. Perhaps, He is waiting to bless you — and others — through using your gifts.
Ask God to show you not only what your gift is, but how you can use it to bless others.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Redeemer, thank You for all Your mercy, grace, and guidance. Grant us wisdom to make a difference with the gifts that we receive from You. Lead us in the right direction and help us to achieve our mission for Your glory. We ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
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About the author:
Yvonne Myers <yvonneemyers@gmail.com>
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Thank You.
Thanks for sharing again.
What a good one to make ones think.
May it be so, Yvonne. Thanks for sharing.
Love for people – love people into the Kingdom of God.
AMEN! AMEN! and AMEN!!!
Thanks be to God for your Gifts and courage.
Thank you for a good word today and for sharing your gift with others.
Blessings.
May God continue to use you and bless you as you use your gift of writing to serve Him and bless others!
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today. To God be the glory! Blessings.
Thank you, Yvonne, for blessing us with the gift God has given you and may you continue your write.
Thank you, Yvonne, for sharing your testimony to encourage us to not let problems interfere with using our gifts to God’s glory.
Thanks for sharing this challenge and for going ahead in spite of it!
Blessings on your gifting,
(BC Canada)
Thanks, Yvonne, for sharing your gift of writing with us through the devotionals. You certainly do have that special gift! Our Lord certainly delivers unique gifts to each individual and it is important that we give Him thanks and use our gifts in positive ways. Blessings for sharing your beautiful gift and your appreciation of our loving Lord.
You blessed me today because even in the winter of my life the Lord also gave me the gift of writing. He gave me new eyes to see and ears to hear words in my heart that he wanted me to write. My heart is made whole as my fingers fly over my keyboard producing short devotions. His word never to return void. Thanks for writing. I’m so happy to share this wonderful gift with you, my sister.
Good morning, Yvonne,
Thank you for your writings! You describe me when you mention letters and numbers.
God is so good, He helps us in every way. I am in the process of printing a Children’s book that God literally dictated to me a few years back.
God bless you and have a great week.
Good morning, Yvonne,
I remember at a Bible study I was involved in, we were to think about what gifts God has given us and then how we could use them. Before that I had not really given it much of my attention. It was an interesting process to work through what I felt God had given me. Thanks for always being willing to share your gift of writing to inspire others to mature in their faith. Blessings.
Thank you, Yvonne, for these encouraging words!
Dyslexia is an enormous stumbling block for me, too – as is paralexia, which is the very reason I do not volunteer as lay reader in our congregation. Reading aloud, and alone, to my cat is my go-to therapy.
As Holy scripture encourages, I have found other joy-filled ministries as Christ’s witness.
I made up a poem about Dyslexia years ago.
(Alabama USA)
Yvonne, thank you for sharing your experience…my prayer is it will prompt others to use their gifts and not “hide them under a bushel.” The hymn, “Ivory Palaces,” which was paired with your devotional today is totally a blast from my past…like over 60 years ago!
I learned this hymn at Pioneer Camp, from memory, but I only remember the first and last verses now! It put a smile on my face, as so many memories came flooding back in. Keep on keeping on my dear friend, sharing your gift with everyone! To God be all the glory. Blessings.
Hi Yvonne,
There is no doubt that you do have the gift of writing. I was so pleased to read what you had to say about your dyslexia and the way God has used it for His glory.
I too have dyslexia from early childhood which undiagnosed made me feel dumb and backward in school. I kept it hidden until well into my later years and, like you, recognize how God has used a silent disability to become an ability to be a Pastor for over 50 years. Praise His Name! I still mix up numbers and letters but never when preaching.
Again, thank you for your devotional and please keep writing.
God bless you.