Hey Are you using your gift? We have just come through Christmas and I'll bet you opened all the gifts that were for for you,as it would be silly to take  a present from another and not open it to find out what it was! The same is true spiritually, since Jesus came,suffered, and died, the Holy Spirit was sent to earth to indwell believers(Acts 2). Along with the Holy Spirit came at least 1 gift,and often multiple gifts given to each believer to help grow the body Christ and expand His Kingdom! ...forgive the analogy but it's like Jesus  was the first Santa Claus  giving out spiritual treasures of abilities to benefit the church and bring glory to God! Perhaps that's what St. Nicholas had in mind when he started this whole gift giving thing!

                            " as each one has received a special gift,employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" -1 Pet.4:10   

     So are you using your gift? Or is it staying wrapped up? Many gifts lie dormant in the church, people are just too buzy with other stuff,content to let the paid staff do everthing, or unaware that they have a gift(s) and suppossed to use it!.. Jesus wants everybody in the game and  involved working together for the common cause of Christ, as it builds, faith, unity, and growth!  Don't just come and sit there in the pew!! Because unless we use our gifts we won't grow!

  So whadda say find out what your gifts are this year! Make that a new years resolution! Do a study on them,(Rom. 12,I Cor.14) then try something you'd think you'd  like to do,teach a sunday school class,lead a small group,counseling,worship team,create a hospitality ministry, missions, and so on..cause when you do, others will benefit and grow,you will be filled with joy,walking  closer with  the Lord,and God will get the glory..so tear off that paper and open the GIFT!!