Comments on: I Know Some Servants … http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm equipping believers for ministry Sun, 20 May 2012 19:26:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: MinTools http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2688 MinTools Tue, 15 May 2012 12:59:14 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=2278#comment-2688 You are welcome, Lois. True fulfillment in life comes first by knowing Jesus and finding Him to be our all in all and then by living according to God's design for our lives in the strength God provides. When either of these are not realities in our lives, we can be most miserable and make those around us miserable. When they are in place, we can have a peace and contentment and a real sense of purpose. And, we can be a true blessing to others. You are welcome, Lois. True fulfillment in life comes first by knowing Jesus and finding Him to be our all in all and then by living according to God’s design for our lives in the strength God provides. When either of these are not realities in our lives, we can be most miserable and make those around us miserable. When they are in place, we can have a peace and contentment and a real sense of purpose. And, we can be a true blessing to others.

]]> By: Lois http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2687 Lois Tue, 15 May 2012 10:33:44 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=2278#comment-2687 Greetings, My name is Lois... I just discovered today that I have the gift of mercy. I didn't even know that mercy was a gift. I always wondered why the people around me were those that seemed to be hurting in one area or another. My mum told me that I needed to pray to God to give me godly friends and that she didn't like the kind of people I spent time with. This made me feel like there was something wrong with me. I started distancing myself from anyone that was hurting or confused, but this didn't attract the 'godly friends' that I was looking for. After a while I began to get irritated and angry at everything and everyone. It really got so bad that I started talking back to my parents, shouting when things aren't done right. Then one day, my sister told me that a cousin of ours was having a certain challenge and that she would like me to talk with her. After our discussion, I felt like a new person- as though a serious need had been met in my life, and from then on whenever I would listen to someone or encourage them or just be there for them when things aren't going so well, I experience the same fresh feeling(like I belong and that I'm useful). Now that I've defined this spiriual gift, the next step is to use it in the area of my heart's desire, and in a way that best expresses my personality and experiences. It's going to be an adventurous journey, and one that I'm willing to take. I will not disappoint destiny in Jesus' name. Amen! Thank you MiniTools for your help. It has started something great for me. May God continually bless you with all you need to reach more and more individuals; thereby fulfilling your own destiny. Greetings,
My name is Lois… I just discovered today that I have the gift of mercy. I didn’t even know that mercy was a gift. I always wondered why the people around me were those that seemed to be hurting in one area or another. My mum told me that I needed to pray to God to give me godly friends and that she didn’t like the kind of people I spent time with. This made me feel like there was something wrong with me. I started distancing myself from anyone that was hurting or confused, but this didn’t attract the ‘godly friends’ that I was looking for. After a while I began to get irritated and angry at everything and everyone. It really got so bad that I started talking back to my parents, shouting when things aren’t done right. Then one day, my sister told me that a cousin of ours was having a certain challenge and that she would like me to talk with her. After our discussion, I felt like a new person- as though a serious need had been met in my life, and from then on whenever I would listen to someone or encourage them or just be there for them when things aren’t going so well, I experience the same fresh feeling(like I belong and that I’m useful). Now that I’ve defined this spiriual gift, the next step is to use it in the area of my heart’s desire, and in a way that best expresses my personality and experiences. It’s going to be an adventurous journey, and one that I’m willing to take. I will not disappoint destiny in Jesus’ name. Amen! Thank you MiniTools for your help. It has started something great for me. May God continually bless you with all you need to reach more and more individuals; thereby fulfilling your own destiny.

]]> By: MinTools http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2518 MinTools Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:10:49 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=2278#comment-2518 You are so very welcome, Judi. I am glad my response clarified some things for you. God is good! You are so very welcome, Judi. I am glad my response clarified some things for you. God is good!

]]> By: Judi http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2517 Judi Tue, 06 Dec 2011 18:01:24 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=2278#comment-2517 Thank you so much. That was very helpful, especially because growing up I did experience a lot of emotinal pain and that could explain the empathy. Also, your comment about exhorters ministering with words turned the light on as I love to write notes or poems or take someone to lunch to try to encourage them and they often say I encouraged them with my words. God has such a wonderful way of gifting us to minister to each other and share with others what He has taught us along the way. Thank you again for your special part in the family of God! :) Thank you so much. That was very helpful, especially because growing up I did experience a lot of emotinal pain and that could explain the empathy. Also, your comment about exhorters ministering with words turned the light on as I love to write notes or poems or take someone to lunch to try to encourage them and they often say I encouraged them with my words. God has such a wonderful way of gifting us to minister to each other and share with others what He has taught us along the way. Thank you again for your special part in the family of God! :)

]]> By: MinTools http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2516 MinTools Tue, 06 Dec 2011 16:33:49 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=2278#comment-2516 Hello, Judi. Let me first say that mercy and prophecy, though seemingly on opposite sides of the spectrum, are not an impossible pairing of gifts. Remember that Jesus came full of both grace and truth. Those with the gift of prophecy and not mercy must learn to be more Christ-like in "speaking the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15). How you described yourself could have multiple explanations. Since I don't know you, I can't say which fits you. 1) You could have a personality that is more responsive to people and gifting that is more exhorter/prophet or vice versa. 2) When we have multiple gifts, they are not necessarily in equal measure. Perhaps others see the exhorter/prophet side more because it is stronger within you. You could sense the gift of mercy because it is there but others aren't seeing it as much because it is not as strong of a gift within you as prophecy. 3) If you have the gift of mercy, perhaps it hasn't been developed within you as much as the other gifts. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to "fan into flame" the gift within him. Perhaps, if you do have the gift of mercy, it needs to be fanned into flame more so it becomes more evident to others. 4) Sometimes a "pull" towards people hurting could be more of our heart's passion than gifting. God could have laid it on your heart to steer you in ministry and/or to bring balance to your gifting. Or, it could stem from your own life experiences/background or of those close to you. 5) What you are sensing as the spiritual gift of mercy could be exhortation. A person with the gift of exhortation could also be pulled toward hurting people. The difference is usually in the way you minister to hurting people. Someone with the gift of exhortation will come alongside of people with words (spoken or written) to encourage them whereas someone with the gift of mercy will moreso do deeds of kindness to help alleviate people's emotional or physical distress. Hello, Judi. Let me first say that mercy and prophecy, though seemingly on opposite sides of the spectrum, are not an impossible pairing of gifts. Remember that Jesus came full of both grace and truth. Those with the gift of prophecy and not mercy must learn to be more Christ-like in “speaking the truth in love” (Eph. 4:15).

How you described yourself could have multiple explanations. Since I don’t know you, I can’t say which fits you.

1) You could have a personality that is more responsive to people and gifting that is more exhorter/prophet or vice versa.
2) When we have multiple gifts, they are not necessarily in equal measure. Perhaps others see the exhorter/prophet side more because it is stronger within you. You could sense the gift of mercy because it is there but others aren’t seeing it as much because it is not as strong of a gift within you as prophecy.
3) If you have the gift of mercy, perhaps it hasn’t been developed within you as much as the other gifts. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to “fan into flame” the gift within him. Perhaps, if you do have the gift of mercy, it needs to be fanned into flame more so it becomes more evident to others.
4) Sometimes a “pull” towards people hurting could be more of our heart’s passion than gifting. God could have laid it on your heart to steer you in ministry and/or to bring balance to your gifting. Or, it could stem from your own life experiences/background or of those close to you.
5) What you are sensing as the spiritual gift of mercy could be exhortation. A person with the gift of exhortation could also be pulled toward hurting people. The difference is usually in the way you minister to hurting people. Someone with the gift of exhortation will come alongside of people with words (spoken or written) to encourage them whereas someone with the gift of mercy will moreso do deeds of kindness to help alleviate people’s emotional or physical distress.

]]> By: Judi http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2515 Judi Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:16:59 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=2278#comment-2515 Hello, I'm a little bit confused. I believe my main gift is exhortation but I have always felt that I had the gift of mercy but others would say that I didn't. The reason I thought that was because I have this strong emotional "pull" towards people who are hurting and desire to encourage them and love them and I am very motivated to try and help them through their pain (especially emotional pain). The reason people didn't think I had that gift is because I also lean toward prophet and speak the truth boldly. Is it possible to be strong and bold with truth like the prophet as well as compassionate and merciful like one with the gift of mercy or am I just missing that I'm describing an exhorter/prophet? Thank you for your ministry! :) Hello,
I’m a little bit confused. I believe my main gift is exhortation but I have always felt that I had the gift of mercy but others would say that I didn’t. The reason I thought that was because I have this strong emotional “pull” towards people who are hurting and desire to encourage them and love them and I am very motivated to try and help them through their pain (especially emotional pain). The reason people didn’t think I had that gift is because I also lean toward prophet and speak the truth boldly. Is it possible to be strong and bold with truth like the prophet as well as compassionate and merciful like one with the gift of mercy or am I just missing that I’m describing an exhorter/prophet? Thank you for your ministry! :)

]]> By: MinTools http://mintools.com/blog/gift-of-mercy.htm/comment-page-1#comment-2448 MinTools Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:09:09 +0000 http://mintools.com/blog/?p=2278#comment-2448 Ewa, God's Word seems to clearly indicate that every believer of Jesus has at least one spiritual gift. (1 Cor. 12:4-7) The way you described yourself does sound like the spiritual gift of mercy. In addition to some examples of its use above, you can find suggested uses by clicking on the following link: <a href="http://mintools.com/ministries.htm#benevolence" rel="nofollow">Benevolence/Caring Ministry</a> If you click on the links on that page, you will find additional training articles and resource pages that relate to ministry suited to people with the gift of mercy. You will never be able to meet all of the needs around you. Even Jesus didn't meet each and every need when He lived on this earth. You need to yield to the Spirit, asking God to show you which needs He would have you meet. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." When you are faithfully exercising your gift in His wisdom and power, you can be at peace knowing that you did what He wanted you to do. Ewa, God’s Word seems to clearly indicate that every believer of Jesus has at least one spiritual gift. (1 Cor. 12:4-7) The way you described yourself does sound like the spiritual gift of mercy. In addition to some examples of its use above, you can find suggested uses by clicking on the following link: Benevolence/Caring Ministry If you click on the links on that page, you will find additional training articles and resource pages that relate to ministry suited to people with the gift of mercy.

You will never be able to meet all of the needs around you. Even Jesus didn’t meet each and every need when He lived on this earth. You need to yield to the Spirit, asking God to show you which needs He would have you meet. As Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” When you are faithfully exercising your gift in His wisdom and power, you can be at peace knowing that you did what He wanted you to do.

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