During this trying time - with people are isolated and nervous, perhaps even scared of what is to come - Marion Medical Mission (MMM) thought their supporters might enjoy remembering past miracles and connecting with others to pray for everyone affected by the virus, both here and around the world. They are sending a short devotion each Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning, continuing until quarantine restrictions are lifted. These devotions have been written by volunteers and staff members about their experiences with MMM; each is uplifting, positive and beautifuly written. We think these devotions are timeless and may provide comfort and connection for those who read them and pray with them. If you'd like to be on added to that list, email MMM HERE
Sharing the love of Jesus by providing safe, clean, sustainable sources of drinking water to the extreme poor in sub-Saharan Africa, Marion Medical Mission is one of our mission partners at Grace Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas, and we STRONGLY encourage you to read these devotions to learn more about - and pray for! - their mission.
Recognizing Our Gifts
Jane Swanson
Volunteer-Carbondale, Illinois
"Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." I Peter 4:10
Traveling to Africa with Marion Medical Mission requires each of us to step outside of our comfort zones. It's easy to lose sight of what our gifts are, or whether the gifts that we feel secure in using at home have any relevance in a new setting. And we may need to set aside our own gifts - our skills and talents - in order to work effectively within a team and to welcome the gifts of others. If we have the gift of leadership, we might need to be followers. If we have the gift of eloquent speech, we might need to listen more carefully. At times the gifts offered by others may appear unexpectedly.
During my last trip with MMM, I struggled up one overwhelmingly steep hill on the way to a well, only to discover that there was another hill yet to come. I knew I couldn't make it. So I signaled to one of the African staff that I was going to stop in a village and wait for them to install the well and pick me up on the return trip. He found me a chair, made sure I had water, and ran away to catch up with the team. So I sat in that village for 40 minutes, at the top of a hill in a refreshing breeze. An elderly woman came and sat on the ground next to me and chatted for five minutes in a language I didn't understand, and then went back to her work. Several other people stopped by to acknowledge my presence, but otherwise I rested, grateful for the sense of comfort and security I felt in the middle of nowhere.
My "gifts" - raising money, traveling to Africa, driving the truck, dedicating wells - were dwarfed by the simple gift offered by the Africans in that village - the gift of hospitality, of kindness, and a shady place to rest. These are "mundane acts...simple, unobtrusive charity " (Oxford Bible Commentary, 2001) that are the true gifts that we have received from God, and of which all of us are stewards.
Application Question: How can I use my gifts today to serve others? How can I recognize and appreciate the gifts that others offer?
Prayer: Gracious God, we give you thanks for the gifts that you have bestowed upon each of us. Help us to fully recognize these gifts so that we might use them to serve you and your people.
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