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Post by Poetricia (G.A.P.) on Jun 16, 2008 8:08:48 GMT -5
Singles in Christ,
What are your spiritual gifts, talents and abilities?
How are you using them during this season of singleness to bless your church and community?
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Post by Poetricia (G.A.P.) on Jun 16, 2008 11:56:01 GMT -5
Edited Okay, four hours later and nothing.  I'll share what God has blessed me to be doing at this season in my single life while I'm waiting for him to bless me with that 'mand' of God. lol In my church I'm the Director of the Creative and Performing Arts Ministry, a Sunday School Teacher for the Teen Class and a Women's Ministries Supporter. In the Community, I'm the founder and instructor of Poetry Support Groups in schools, shelters and community centers in the Philly and Camden area and the host of a Local Christian Radio Show. Come on y'all let's share !!!!! Pulleeeeezzzzzzeeeeeee......................... |
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Post by Rachel2 on Jun 16, 2008 12:33:00 GMT -5
Hold on GAP....I just logged in, don't count all of us out ;D
I studied for 4 years at a bible college and I am a licensed Evangelist. I am President of the Single's Ministry at my church. I host an online broadcast entitled The Voice of Hope. I minister especially to women who have been abused or have an addiction.
I do Crisis Intervention, I work in the Food Pantry (which is run by the Missions Department of my church) every Tuesday. I also minister at a nursing home once a month and help to distribute over 20,000 toys at Christmas time. And I am finishing my degree in an accelerated program to become a licensed Social Worker....Whew!!!
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Post by Poetricia (G.A.P.) on Jun 16, 2008 13:13:40 GMT -5
thank you so much for replying
i would love to hear what others are doing with their gifts talents and abilities to further the kingdom of god while in their season of singleness
come on y'all, testify!!!
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jun 16, 2008 13:21:08 GMT -5
Singles in Christ, What are your spiritual gifts, talents and abilities? prophetic, administration, teaching/preaching. I am involved in a ministry which serves youth and women. We teach & minister healing in the areas of: sexual/physical/emotional abuse sexual addiction same sex attraction abortion abstinence education internet safety teen pregnancy We also have seminars/workshops and conferences in the following areas: healthy marriage parent awareness (instruction parents on how to become the primary educator in the lives of their youth.) wise choices dating STDs/STIs I didn't respond earlier because I didn't see this until just now.  |
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jun 17, 2008 6:58:16 GMT -5
GAP
I have been thinking of this thread since I replied and I want to thank you for starting it. I have more to add and I pray that this can/will be a fruitful discussion.
I start work in about 2 minutes so I can't add anymore right now - but I will.
Have a Blessed Day!
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Post by Poetricia (G.A.P.) on Jun 17, 2008 7:53:57 GMT -5
Thanks, you guys for responding. Y'all are doing it!!!! Praise God!!! What examples of ministry while you wait. This has really been pressing on my mind lately. I know for a fact that once we turn our focus to God and his will with respect to the gifts talents and abilities he's given us to further his kingdom, we will find our season of singleness is not only bearable, but full of joy and excitement and peace. That's what I found and I want others to find it too................
You know how we hear sometimes from sisters in Christ that "I wasn't even thinking about marriage and along he came" and "I was so busy doing my thing I had put marriage on the back burner of my mind and that's when God blessed me" ?
One thing Michelle McKinney Hammond said was that once she hit this desparation level concerning a particular person she was praying about being her husband and God spoke Hebrew 10:36 to her. "Ye have need of patience that after ye have done the will of God then ye shall receive the promise - and he that shall come will come and will not tarry" She said she understood in context that was speaking of Christ, but that God impressed that on her about her life and his will for her life. She said up til then she thought 'it's time for me to get married - what else is there?" She said 'Well, I fould out what else there is!"
I too, have found out what else there is! Of course, let me say once again, I do still desire to be married. It is still a real and true desire of my heart. But so is being published. So is being debt free. So is being THIN AGAIN (smile) LOL!!! I couldn't resist that one.
Come on ladies, I wanna hear from True, Vin, Kitty, and others who are single and waiting. What are you doing with your God given gifts to further God's kingdom?
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jun 17, 2008 9:10:01 GMT -5
I too, have found out what else there is! Of course, let me say once again, I do still desire to be married. It is still a real and true desire of my heart. But so is being published. So is being debt free. So is being THIN AGAIN (smile) LOL!!! I couldn't resist that one. This really stuck out to me, sis! I also have desires for things other than marriage - which is why I went back to school for one. I also worked dilgently @ paying off my debt and other than my monthly bills (rent, phone, lights etc.) I am debt free and was able to become that way in as little as six months! God is truly AWESOME! I find that it is important to make sure you are walking out the will of God for your life BEFORE you start praying in a husband - otherwise your focus is completely wrong. If I don't ever get married, I am satisfied with knowing that I am in God's will and that I am doing what I am called to do to further His Kingdom! I also find that while you are serving the Lord, you are also buidling those characteristics and qualities that should be foudn in a wife. You will begin to bear fruit because serving and love goes hand and hand. It is while you are ministering/serving that you find out what is within and you allow the Holy Spirit to work out whatever needs to be worked out. |
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Post by vindicated on Jun 17, 2008 10:01:50 GMT -5
Okay G, since you gone call folks out!  I'm not active in ministry at my church right now and haven't been for the past two years or so. First I had thyroidectomy which stopped my singing in the choir and praise team. I still have about 2/3's of my voice though and I help out on Monday nights for our prayer service. But my voice is no longer strong enough for the choir or praise team. I do know that God did that on purpose! Right now my focus is on my two books and watching God bring them together. I''ve also gotten rid of the clutter in some corners in my house which was major for me because of what it represented. And I did some decorating and rearranging which made it look a lot nicer. And I'm working on my weight and overall health. (bout to go for my 2 mile walk now) yawl pray my scrent. my body feels like it is trying to fight back but the fat gotta GO! That's about it for me. I used to be way more involved but the Lord has gotten me in a place where I'm no where near as active and I'm okay with it. It's a season of preparation for me and a season of learning to trust Him more. It's all good. |
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Post by true on Jun 17, 2008 10:21:29 GMT -5
(Swinging my arms and fist Poetricia (G.A.P.)) You done called me out now Gap lol Well where do I start. 1. I am on the clean up crew one Sunday out of the month 2. I also do all the stuff that no one wants to do like set up stuff and clean up stuff whenever anything is going on at the church. 3. I volunteer to go to other parts of the state to help with the cleaning up of elderly folks yards and painting their homes with my church 4. I volunteer to put together programs at church when needed. For the most part I do volunteer work at my church. Do not try to give me a permanent assignment, I will rebel lol 5. I know my gifts are prophetic, evangelism, relationships, etc... |
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Post by Poetricia (G.A.P.) on Jun 17, 2008 11:04:53 GMT -5
Thanks ladies, I know y'all ain't sittin on your laurels! smile. I appreciate your input. I find that it is important to make sure you are walking out the will of God for your life BEFORE you start praying in a husband - otherwise your focus is completely wrong. If I don't ever get married, I am satisfied with knowing that I am in God's will and that I am doing what I am called to do to further His Kingdom! Wow, that is beautiful. Simple, direct, honest, and stated with clarity and truth. Thank you. I've been teaching single and single parenting workshops since the late 90's. I cannot tell you the number of times I've opened with "Why did God save you?", went around the room and was astonished with some of the answers. To be married. To be a helpmeet. To be fruitful and multiply. TO BLESS ME! These women range in age from 18 to 50 are mostly African American, and were anywhere from a babe in Christ to seasoned mature women in God and yet in every session there's always one or two (or three) who feel that their PURPOSE for being SAVED was what they can get from the Lord. True, some of it is the fault of others in the Kingdom feeding them the "why aren't you married yet, god told me that you and min, deac, bishop, or bro so n so are meant to be" and their own misconception that God is simply Santa Clause waiting to give us all the presents on our list. And what I hear God saying is: WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY? We were saved to SERVE. We were saved to WORSHIP Him. TO BLESS HIM. To bless him with our mouths, our gifts, our lives. Jesus himself said, My meat is to do the will of him who sent me. Jesus said nevertheless not my will thy will be done. There is so much freedom waiting for women (and men) in Christ when we grab hold of God's vision for our life as it pertains to furthering his kingdom and not just furthering our own wants and needs and desires and visions and dreams and goals and plans and what we think God is saying and who we think is the one. He who loses his life shall find it, he who deny's himself, takes up his cross and follows Christ is a disciple and once again for the record I am not saying I don't and one shouldn't desire to be married. I do and know you do too, but until then, let's be about our father's business. And that is more than just preparing for marriage, waiting for the one, praying for the one, dreaming for the one, etc... that is actively seeking to increase the body of Christ NOW. I feel like I done preached a message y'all. I really do. Whew! I hear the song "As I minister to you, oh, I minister to myself................" Whooooo, Thank you Lord!! |
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jun 17, 2008 11:21:48 GMT -5
Immo be back!
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jun 17, 2008 12:09:03 GMT -5
1 Corinthians 7: 34 There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband. 35 And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. [KJV - emphasis mine]
This has been one of my favorite scriptures for some time now and I find that it has proven itself over and over again (mainly the underlined sentences). The problem is that some single women, instead of caring for the things of the Lord, they are already caring for a husband that is not there yet. I am in no way saying that if one desires to be married that they should not seek the Lord and find His will in the matter, but what I am saying is that should not be our every prayer, our every journal entry and our every thought.
For many, God will already have you in ministry and your husband will come along. For some, God may have you involved in something else. My point is that you will already be in the midst of "doing" while you are "waiting" for your mate. GAP, I believe that the reason why you received the answers that you did to your question, "why did God save you?" was because for some that is how they see things. For them, life doesn't even begin until the "Mr." comes along. For some, they feel that they will not be "whole" until their "better half" comes along. This is not how the Lord would have it. Sure, I believe that there will be some things in which your spouse will minister healing but you have to already know who you are; you have to understand that the only One that makes you whole is the Lord Himself. Okay, I believe I am going off on a tangent.
I was dating this guy not too long ago (I recently dumped him - February) who had a problem with the fact that I became a lisenced minister before he did. I told him that it is not about him but what God would have me to do during this time. The Lord has me in the midst of the promise - He never told me to not walk in my calling until my mate comes along. That would be absurd! See the problem is some are waiting for the promise when God is saying the Promise is here! Now walk in it!
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jun 17, 2008 14:55:30 GMT -5
You know what, GAP,
One reason why I don't attend singles conferences because the one's that I did attend or viewed a video of - did not speak in this fasion. They only spoke of how to become a wife, how to prepare for a husband, 12 steps for this and 12 steps for that. NONE of them spoke about being single and how to walk in the fulness of that FIRST!
I have watched or attendend conferences held by locals and those of international speakers (Juanita Bynum and Michelle McKinney Hammond). I will say that with Michelle, she did speak a bit on being single and all that entails.
Okay, again I am just thinking of things here and there - hope I am not taking away from your thread.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Jun 18, 2008 5:07:48 GMT -5
One more thing..............
Another reason why people are so focused on husbands/marriages etc. is because they have no idea what they are called to do, they don't know what their spiritual gifts are.
Been there, done that. If this was 9 years ago, I would not have been able to answer your question either. I would have told you that I was saved to serve God but would not have known how that applied to me personally. Therefore, to answer your question about furthering God's Kingdom, I may not have known what you meant by that.
It is a serious issue that I come across more and more. As I speak with young ladies and some older and I ask "what are you called to do", they look at me cross-eyed. Sure, they begin to name what they are doing but they have no clue as to what the Lord has for them to do. They have no vision and no sense of purpose. And without a vision, a people parish. They cast off all restraint and therefore will do any and everything. There is nothing that will cause them to set boundaries because they have no clue why the boundary should be there.
In other words, because I know my giftings and calling, there are certain things that I can no longer do. I am focused on it. If you look at my check book, you will see my passion and know where I am headed. I have vision and I am walking in purpose.
Okay GAP...lol, I will stop posting and give you time to respond but you really stirred something up by asking these questions!
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