Gifts of the Spirit

From today's reading: "Now there are varieties of gifts. . . of services. . . of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." 1Corinthians 12:4-7 We are all given gifts and abilities by the Lord and they are intended to be used to help other people. The gifts are things like wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, discernment, tongues and interpretations. Other places in the Bible list things like teaching, exhorting, giving. . . The gifts even include things like cooking, and writing notes, and encouraging others; anything that builds up the body of Christ and helps to equip the believers for ministry - and makes life a little better for eveyone, believers and non-believers alike. Only when you use your gift in these ways will you experience the fruits of the spirit which are given for your own enjoyment - things like love, peace, and true joy in the Lord.