Read 1 Corinthians 12:4-7

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

-1 Corinthians 12:7 (NRSV)

THE patient asked me to sing a hymn that I did not know by heart. Nevertheless, I started singing the few words that did come to me, and when I stumbled, the patient joined in. Together we finished — each contributing a bit of a song that lifted us up and carried us in a spirit of joy.

The blessing of this experience grew as I saw its broad message for my life: The “hymns” that I can sing by myself are not always the hymns that I need to sing. Sometimes stretching to do what we are not comfortable doing reveals the power of community, the partnership of faith. When the patient and I joined together in the hymn, we remembered our connection to each other, to the hymn writer, and to God.

Sometimes we feel as if success or failure is all up to us. But part of faith is stepping out when we don’t see the final destination, trusting the community to contribute what the next moment needs. We are not self-sufficient; we are designed to rely on one another, to create together what we cannot create individually. When we offer what we can, however small or unfinished, help will come; and we will discover a new and deeper love and appreciation of God and our neighbors.

Jonathan Scott (Connecticut, USA)

via Upper Room | Devotional.

Well then, does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? – (Galatians 3:5 NRSV Bible)

In an old Guideposts magazine, there was the story of Elizabeth English and her husband Herman who owned an appliance store. They also sold toys. In the Christmas of 1946, they had sold about all of their toys. Elizabeth had been uneasy about leaving the store that Christmas Eve because one package on lay-a-way had not been picked up. So Elizabeth and Herman stayed open as long as they could. No one came.

The next day, Christmas day, Elizabeth could not get into the Christmas spirit. Strangely, she began to get the urge to go to the store that morning. After an hour, Elizabeth gave up fighting the urge and told Herman she was going down to the store. As she got to the store, she noticed two small boys standing in front of the store. The little fellows got very excited when they saw Elizabeth coming. They were almost frozen.

The older boy explained to Elizabeth that his younger brother didn’t get anything for Christmas, and so they came to get Jimmy some skates. He then pulled out three dollars. Sadly, Elizabeth knew she had sold just about all of her toys.

But she happened to glance at the lone package on the lay-a-way shelf.

She walked over and ripped off the wrapping to find that it contained a pair of child’s skates! Jimmy reached for them and tried them on. They fit perfectly. When the boys tried to pay Elizabeth for the skates, she told them to use their money to buy some gloves. The boys grinned in amazement at the free gift of roller skates.

Elizabeth asked the boys, “How did you know I would come?” The older boy answered, “I knew you would come. I asked Jesus to send you.” Now, Elizabeth was in the Christmas spirit.

Just like the miracle these boys experienced, can you imagine the excitement and spirit that must have over come Mary as she began to grasp the miracle that was happening to her.

How about the miracles that God has preformed in your life?

via Today’s Devotion.

“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

John 7:38-39 (NKJV)

Those who come to Jesus believing will not thirst again.  In fact, Jesus says that out of our heart will flow rivers of living water.  We will become a fountain of blessing for others…new life.

Not by our strength, for we do not carry this life in us, but by the Holy Spirit.  As we yield ourselves to Christ, His life flows through us by the Holy Spirit, blessing those around us.

Be a fountain today.  Lay aside self, and let the love of Jesus reign in your heart.  Then, watch as this “living water” blesses the world around you!