The Rest of Your Story 23: What are your skills?

To start from part one, click here.

Skill: A strength expressed in a specific way that builds up others and benefits the Kingdom.

Now that you know your strengths, what do you do with them? Chances are, you're already doing something. Strengths are made to be expressed. We call those expressions skills.

Skills can get overlooked. Besides being made fun of in Napoleon Dynamite (okay, that was pretty hilarious), they can sometimes seem not-as-spiritual.

For example, you might wonder, "How does something like cooking help the Kingdom?" (Besides potlucks,which are the best sort of goodness this side of heaven.)

In the DaySpring creative area, this verse stayed on the wall for many years...

I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts. Exodus 31:3

This verse reveals that God's hand is in our skills, in the ordinary things we do. And they matter. A lot. We don't all have the same skills. For example, the "all kinds of crafts" part doesn't quite fit me. (I am not allowed to use hot glue guns for reasons that shall remain unsaid.) 

To help us figure out our skills, I've got another list. Take a look...

Download Skills List

Skills Circles can be a fun way to connect strengths with skills. Draw a circle and write a strength in the middle. Then draw small circles around the edge and write related skills in them. Here's a personal example...

 
 
The size of the circle is related to how much we express that strength through the skill. For example, I write a lot more than I speak.

Have fun with this! Doodle, put these in your journal, write them on napkins next time you're stuck on a plane. This isn't meant to be a big project, just a little tool.

We usually express the same core strength in many different ways. That reveals a lot about who we are and what God has called us to do in our story.

Watch out world, we've got skills and we're not afraid to use them.

(Except for the hot glue gun. I'm still not going there. You fabulously talented crafty people handle that one for me, okay?)

Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 

* Does it feel strange to talk about your skills? Read Part 21.

Are you doing the 10 Minute Catch Up Plan? Comment below then finish here.

________________________________________________________________________________

TODAY'S QUESTION: What are some of your skills?

Every comment during the challenge = an entry for $50 to DaySpring.com, including the (in)courage shop!

Are you a blogger? Every Friday we'll have a "Rest of Your Story" round-up! 

Subscribe by Email - It's FREE!

Share |

Comments

[pam elkin]

Let me think...

I would say that I have the skill of being able to talk to people -strangers- and listen. I get to do that in my job as a nurse. I find myself blessed to be able to talk to people for about 45 minutes and often feel a bond between us. It is amazing what God can do and allow in such a brief time. As a nurse, when you are talking about the person's health, and illness, the subjects of Our Lord and His wonderful love and miracles often come into the conversation. The patient often leaves me with a special blessing and I hope at times I do the same for them.

It is such a wonderful thing to stop and think about something good that you do with your life. It often becomes too easy to think on what is wrong, what is sad, and lose the joy. I have been so guilty of that lately.

I have always found it easy to talk with people, make friends, get along with people. I have never really thought of it as being a skill or a gift.

I stop and think about the skills that God has given me and pray that I use them to His glory! What a wonderful, joyful feeling.

I need to stay away from the glue gun, too. I do not have a lot of hands on skills. Thank you for making me think about my skills. I will think about this some more.

God is so good.Blessings to you, Holley.Pam

[Becky]

Dear Holley,

When I first read your question, I thought this would be difficult. But, I can see that I can answer. You wrote, "Chances are, you're already doing something" and I suppose I am.

One of my strengths is creativity. God is allowing me to use it for Him and have fun with it even though I wasn't college material and able to study anything creative. I am a church secretary and have the skill of writing and designing our church newsletters. Congregational members come to me with articles for the newsletter and, even though they are supposed to have them written out for me, more than half the time, they'll just give me the information and tell me, "You just write it however you want. You do it so much better than I can." I do sometimes wonder if, however, they really mean that or whether they're just lazy. Haha! Another skill I have is putting together our church's website. It's not a gorgeous fancy one. Being "tech-y" is NOT one of my skills. It has impressed my congregation, however, and I had fun doing it. Another skill is designing posters and flyers for our congregation. It's something I love to do and that congregational members will ask me to do for them instead of doing it themselves. I don't mind. :) My skill with the smallest circle is writing. I do love to write and, primarily, I write just for me in my journal. But, a few times, God has inspired me in my writing and I've written songs (lyrics only) that my church used. The first time God gave me a song, it blew me away. I knew it had to come from Him as I had never done anything like that before and it came so fast. It hasn't happened often and it hasn't happened in a long time. I really miss that. But, I love writing anyway just for me.

Thank you, Holley! And blessings!

[Donna]

Skills were given to you just like strengths were given to you. And God works out the two to compliment each other. I am a pretty crafty person, (I can use a glue gun Holley :)) and I have used that skill by making baby blankets for every child I know that is born. This past year I gave away about 25. I also make Scripture prints with my New Every Morning verses and quotes on them and frame them. I sell them and give them away as gifts. They encourage others (one of my strengths is encouragement.) I love to write letters to friends to encourage them as well. Just a note or a homemade card. I make friends and family homemade personalized birthday cards. I love to cook and am very much involved in our church's meals ministry. When people are sick or just have a baby we make meals for the families. And I do love to organize things and have technology skills. Last year I ran a flower sale to raise money for our Swaziland Relief Fund. This year I hope to organize a concert. I thank God for all these skills and how they are complimenting His plan for my life right now. I run a bed and breakfast and these organizational skills and cooking and technology skills are invaluable in this ministry venture. And we do consider the B&B a ministry...helping weary travelers find a place of rest. Just the every day keeping house is a skill and I thank Him for putting the desire in my heart to use these skills for His glory.

[Maura]

Some of my skills are writing, creating, cooking, appreciating, and listening. I think GOD is calling me to use my skills out in the world more. I just don't know how.

[KN]

After looking at the strengths list I see some of the same items I've circled on the skills list. My big one I believe is key for me is encouraging or supporting, and I'm believing my skill in music can be the outward way of showing these items. I also had analyzing or problem solving which I use at my workplace doing "techie" troubleshooting, maintaining, etc. I'm trying to see helping my co-workers and community members that come to my workplace (public library) as a ministry in that I'm helping them, and thus encouragement also can be a way to show this. I'm now interested to see how I can focus more on this, and how it can benefit those around me. I see sharing as another one, and that can be in time with others (listening) or even with my "treasures" or financial gifts to help organizations I believe are sharing God's love.

[Rebecca L. King]

I did the circle thing. That was interesting. I noticed that all big circles connected. I guess I never realized how this looks on paper. Hehe! My big skill circles are leadership, teaching, encouraging, hospitality, personal relations, and writing. Because of my big circles I have many little ones. I think I’m being used for more things than I thought. I found this to be very interesting. My husband asked who Holly was and I said an inspirational writer/gona be a counselor. His response was (Maxwell smart was a greeting card writer) I said cool I didn’t know that! You learn something new every day.

[Sheila W.]

Well, definitely not cleaning! Lol. Definitely, creating, encouraging, and supporting through the expressions of writing, quilting, listening, and empathy. Blessings to you, Holley and all.

[Holley Gerth]

Your strengths gave me such a great glimpse of your hearts. And now your skills are giving me such a great glimpse of your hands, what you do in everyday life. I love finding out more about the wonderful women God has made you! (:

The comment link was broken earlier but I fixed it so I'm really sorry if it didn't work for you at first! Thank you for your perseverance!

I'm still at the Blissdom conference in Nashville and I head home tomorrow. Thanks again for your prayers! I've really felt them with me!

[Sandi]

Some of my strenghts are helping, protecting, nuturing, and yes cleaning and cooking too.

[Peggy Schafer]

Acting is a skill I have that includes organizing and planning as I direct. I write in response by sending cards, or writing scripts. One uses my creative me and other my encouraging nature.