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Post by waldenwriter on Jul 10, 2009 1:28:03 GMT -5
I just finished a 3-week class on spiritual gifts at my church. We took spiritual gifts tests, and my top three gifts were Knowledge, Missionary, and Service. We discussed tonight what one could do with the various gifts, including possible ministries at the church we could be involved in.
But I felt a little disappointed. Other people in the class had gifts like faith, intercession, hospitality, and mercy where it seemed easy to determine places at the church where they could serve. But for me, when I pressed the teacher about ministries where I could use Knowledge (my #1 gift) he was very vague, saying that the gift was about gathering facts and using the example of me gathering knowledge for him about special diets for golden retrievers.
Service also is pretty broad, since you could do service pretty much anywhere. The only one I felt I got some specifics for was Missionary, but the only thing mentioned for that was a 15-week class on missions that the church is offering in the fall. I checked it out a few moments ago. Not only is it rather expensive, but I know it won't work out with me going to regular school in the fall.
I am a little puzzled why Service and Missionary tend to score high for me on the few spiritual gifts tests I've taken. While I am willing to do things people ask me to do and to meet needs I see need to be met (like bagging for a checker at work when I see they don't have a bagger), I don't really like doing service projects (like when I would help out at the homeless shelter my mom worked at). The teacher also said you have to be flexible for the Service gift, and do well with change. But I do horrible with change. As for Missionary, I do enjoy learning about other languages and cultures, but I'm terrible socially and I've never led anyone to Christ. So in a way these two gifts seem conflicting.
The teacher is planning on following up with us to talk about the class and next steps, so maybe I'll get some answers then.
Any advice though?
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Post by morganlbusse on Jul 10, 2009 11:11:34 GMT -5
Hey Walden! I'm not sure how your teacher taught the class, but here is something that we use: Its called S.H.A.P.E. Spiritual Gift Heart Abilities Personality Experience I like this perspective better because it includes all facets of you who are, not just your spiritual gift. Here are the definitions for the above: Spiritual Gift- The gift God has given you to serve others Heart- what you're passionate about (children, cooking, landscaping, shopping, senior citizens, really its anything you enjoy in life...) Abilities- What you do well (basketball, writing, accounting, organizing) Personality- Are you a quiet person? Outgoing? Leader type? Experiences- Do you come from a divorced family? Played NFL? Lived in China for 12 years? All of the above form the person God has uniquely made you. Many people have the same spiritual gift, but how God made them, what they've been through in life, and what they love will make how they use their gift different from one another. So how can you use Knowledge? Perhaps by teaching a class, assisting a teacher by gathering information, writing an article, or simply sharing information you find out with others (I usually associate spiritual gifts with how you assist and serve in your church, not necessarily how you serve in the community, but I guess it can be both). Serving? There are so many ways you can serve. What do you love? Children? Then you can serve in Sunday school by being a helper. Love doing crafts? Help out at your church's VBS during craft time. Missions? You don't have to leave home to do missions. What people group has God given you a heart for (now God has called us to minister to all people, but sometimes God gives us a certain group that our heart longs to reach...). A friend of mine absolutely loves senior citizens, she is amazing with them. I love junior high. Perhaps its children, young adults, empty-nesters (my in-laws teach a home study for empty-nesters, those who no longer have children at home). Anyway, if you haven't figured out from this post, one of my passions is helping people discover who God has uniquely made them, then giving them wings to soar out and be who God has made them to be
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Post by dizzyjam on Jul 10, 2009 22:36:13 GMT -5
morwena,
Good point about not having to leave home for missions. If you hadn't said it, I would have. So therefore, I second the motion!
So, Waldenwriter, if you have the gift of missions, you don't have to worry about necessarily leaving where you live to use it. Hope that helps.
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lexkx
Full Member
How nice to know that if you go down the hole, Dad will fish you out.
Posts: 125
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Post by lexkx on Jul 11, 2009 7:53:12 GMT -5
One thing I've learned about spiritual gifts over the years is that we may have them, but God provides the outlet for them. Gifts He has given you enable you to fulfill a unique role in His body. They don't require you to sell all your possessions and move to Africa, but they do require you to put yourself entirely at His disposal. Anything He has planned for you, you will not be able to acomplish it without Him. A spiritual gift used for an earthly use won't be thrown away, but it's there for a heavenly purpose. And since the ways of heaven are mysterious, there is no reason to expect an earthly service to make the best use of God's intentions. Personal example. One of my spiritual gifts is also knowledge, yet I am not a teacher. I can speak in public and share this knowledge, but I'm neither gifted nor called when it comes to imparting information. I am, however, frequently called to counsel people. I haven't studied counseling, don't have a job in it, the Lord just arranges these encounters and presses my heart to make good use of the knowledge He provides me. I have learned not to go looking for counseling opportunities or put myself in a position of claiming knowledge I don't have. God, it turns out, has a good handle on my usefulness and makes sure that the one person who can be ministered to though knowledge hears what he needs to. I Corinthians 13:8 says "Love never fails. But where are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away." Gifts are given, but they are to be used in and by love. Every gift you have is for a unique, specific purpose while you are here on earth. But knowing those gifts does not give you the key to their purpose. Only knowing the Giver will do that.
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Post by waldenwriter on Jul 12, 2009 0:37:35 GMT -5
Hey Walden! I'm not sure how your teacher taught the class, but here is something that we use: Its called S.H.A.P.E. Spiritual Gift Heart Abilities Personality Experience I like this perspective better because it includes all facets of you who are, not just your spiritual gift. Here are the definitions for the above: Spiritual Gift- The gift God has given you to serve others Heart- what you're passionate about (children, cooking, landscaping, shopping, senior citizens, really its anything you enjoy in life...) Abilities- What you do well (basketball, writing, accounting, organizing) Personality- Are you a quiet person? Outgoing? Leader type? Experiences- Do you come from a divorced family? Played NFL? Lived in China for 12 years? All of the above form the person God has uniquely made you. Many people have the same spiritual gift, but how God made them, what they've been through in life, and what they love will make how they use their gift different from one another. That is a really cool system, morwena! It's true, our spiritual gifts are just one part of us. At the second class meeting the teacher mentioned that spiritual gifts shouldn't be confused with natural talents, the Fruit of the Spirit, and Christian positions (like a pastor position). Let's see what those would be for me, your SHAPE things... S would be the gifts I listed in my first post. H would be reading, telling stories, research for knowledge's sake A would be writing, detail-oriented tasks (I have a ridiculously hypersensitive attention to detail), picking up languages. P - I am very introverted and do badly in social situations, but I sometimes can be very talkative. I tend to be rather cynical and sometimes too negative. I've been told at work multiple times that I don't smile enough. I like consistency and having a routine, but I dislike both change and monotony. I also dislike being idle. I can maintain my cool under stress up to a point, but if there's too much stress in one situation or if too many stressful things are happening in my life at the same time, I tend to get upset. My bad habits are complaining, being negative, and picking my nails (the last of these my mother can't stand). Oh, and as you can see, I have difficulty thinking of good points about my personality. E I come from a Christian family with parents who are still married (they just had their 27th wedding anniversary yesterday, actually). I grew up going to Christian school and church, life was pretty ho-hum. I had 5 deaths in the family between 1999 and 2008 (all four grandparents and an uncle) as well as a failed close friendship with a boy that probably would've been more if he wasn't already attached when I met him. I was in junior college for 5 years, just transferred to university finally last fall. Sometime in that long college time I was the victim of a car accident where I was hit as a pedestrian (granted, it was partially my fault; I was jaywalking to get to a bus stop, thought I was safe, was just about to step up onto the curb by the bus stop, and didn't see the car coming around the corner). I had only minor injuries though. Oh and I've also served on two juries since I started college. Sorry, I'm just pulling straws here. So how can you use Knowledge? Perhaps by teaching a class, assisting a teacher by gathering information, writing an article, or simply sharing information you find out with others (I usually associate spiritual gifts with how you assist and serve in your church, not necessarily how you serve in the community, but I guess it can be both). I suppose it could be both too, like how service sometimes takes place for a church but outside of the actual church building. That's a thought, assisting a teacher. I wonder if my church has any positions like that. Serving? There are so many ways you can serve. What do you love? Children? Then you can serve in Sunday school by being a helper. Love doing crafts? Help out at your church's VBS during craft time. I actually worked in my church's preschool Sunday School program from May 2000 to sometime in 2005. I worked with the 3-year-olds for a while, then for the last several months or so of that time I worked in Pre-K (ages 4 and 5). It was sort of from mixed motives; I did want to help out in church, mainly because I felt I was obligated to help out somewhere in order to look like a decent Christian; but working in that class also helped me gain the 30 hours of community service a year that I had to do for school. I got burned out though, although I can't quite remember the reason. I do recall that somewhere during that time my parents started going to another church while I stayed at our old church, so they'd have to drop me off so I could go serve during the 10:35 service. Maybe I felt it was an inconvenience or something. I'm not sure. I also served on the Ambiance team for my college group for awhile, which involved putting tablecloths on tables and stuff like that (to create "ambiance," hence the team name). I think I was on Greeting Team for a short time too. I'm not sure where I would serve. I did like working with the kids, although I wouldn't want to work with babies since I don't know how to change a diaper. (That's something that never came up when I babysat). I don't think I'd want to work with any age higher than elementary school level. Missions? You don't have to leave home to do missions. What people group has God given you a heart for (now God has called us to minister to all people, but sometimes God gives us a certain group that our heart longs to reach...). A friend of mine absolutely loves senior citizens, she is amazing with them. I love junior high. Perhaps its children, young adults, empty-nesters (my in-laws teach a home study for empty-nesters, those who no longer have children at home). That reminds me of a story I read about Robin Jones Gunn, the lady who wrote the awesome Christy Miller and Sierra Jensen series I enjoyed so much when I was younger. She felt she was called to missions, so she applied for mission work, but she couldn't find any openings. But now, thanks to some teenage girls in a tent who encouraged her to write something for them to read, she's a full-time author and has realized that God provided her with a mission field without having to go to Africa to wash laundry (one of the jobs she said she was willing to do when she applied for laundry work). I don't know if my writing would end up that way, but it's a possibility. Although it would be good if I could find a group I could help in person, like you suggest. Anyway, if you haven't figured out from this post, one of my passions is helping people discover who God has uniquely made them, then giving them wings to soar out and be who God has made them to be I can see that! Personal example. One of my spiritual gifts is also knowledge, yet I am not a teacher. I can speak in public and share this knowledge, but I'm neither gifted nor called when it comes to imparting information. Same here, I'm not a teacher. I do well explaining things to people, but last semester's course on teaching writing made me realize I didn't have a talent for teaching. (Even though that class was the first time I'd ever done lesson plans, I only got a good grade on the first of the three ones we had to do; the second one didn't get a good grade and had a somewhat embarassing comment from the teacher that most public schools don't have libraries, and the third one was so far off the mark I had to redo it to even get a grade!) I have done well in public speaking in the past, winning 2nd place in my division in Original Oratory at the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI) Senior High Speech Meet. I do have an ongoing problem with eye contact though while giving speeches though (it always gets noted by teachers). ~~~ Thanks everyone for the advice so far.
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Post by metalikhan on Jul 12, 2009 12:53:05 GMT -5
Spiritual gifts are given so that we may serve God's kingdom and bring glory to Him. Operating in those gifts doesn't automatically mean serving in some position in our individual churches. We are to be salt and light for the world. Some of us do indeed serve in our churches, but many of us serve God's kingdom outside the building's organization. We can't let ourselves think we aren't serving if we aren't involved with a particular ministry — if we do, we limit the usefulness of the gifts He gave us. If we say, I'm using my spiritual gifts 9:30-12:30 Sunday a.m. and 6:30-9:00 Wednesday p.m., what happens with the rest of the week? Our gifts aren't on a time-clock.
Worse, if we say we are functioning within our gifts but our lives do not reflect the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-26), how much do we damage the message of Christ's love and redemption for the world? I can think of too many times when I've seen others serving in a ministry act just as rude, arrogant, almost hateful when in public (such as a restaurant or store) when they don't think anyone who knows them is around. I've been behind cars speeding, cutting off other drivers, tailgating and honking at others driving the speed limit, only to follow them into the church parking lot where the drivers get out of their cars and put on the pious face. I was clipped by a van decorated with fish symbols and WWJD stickers speeding in a grocery parking lot; I couldn't step out of the way fast enough. I've heard women in stores after church ranting at their children for not keeping up with the mothers' long strides, nearly screaming didn't the kid learn anything in Sunday School and God would be mad because they're so slow. This is the very kind of thing 1Cor 13 addresses. Gifts cannot, must not, be in opposition to spiritual fruits, to love.
I agree with morwena and lexkx — God will open the way for how He wants you to use His gifts. If you try to shove your way into some service He doesn't have in His plans for you, it will become apparent that you're doing so in your own strength, not in God's. That doesn't mean you can't try different ways of serving — you may find your niche in the trying — but don't think you're a failure if it doesn't work. When you find the sweet spot where God wants you to serve with the gifts He gave you, His provision and strength will sustain you.
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Post by metalikhan on Jul 12, 2009 13:59:12 GMT -5
BTW, the drivers I mentioned -- their antic driving didn't get them to church one bit faster. They were always in sight and I caught up with them at every stoplight. Sooo -- what purpose did the venom serve? Did the gifts they used once they got to church offset the way they treated others -- believers and unbelievers alike -- on their way to church?
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Post by metalikhan on Jul 13, 2009 12:14:33 GMT -5
It's been so quiet here I can't help but wonder if my last posts offended. My only intent was to warn that we must all guard against allowing pursuit and use of spiritual gifts to supersede spiritual fruits. God's eyes are on us 24/7, not just when we use our gifts. If I caused offense, I sincerely apologize.
Waldenwriter, when you find the area where God wants you to serve with His gifts, you will find it's like a holy fire in your heart. You may become weary but you will not burn out — He will refresh you. You will be joyful to make personal sacrifices for that service and you will not count the cost — He will supply what you need.
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Post by Christian Soldier on Jul 13, 2009 14:07:43 GMT -5
Hmm... I certainly find no offense in your words, MK. Personally, I serve where called and trust God to give me the gifts I need to serve there.
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lexkx
Full Member
How nice to know that if you go down the hole, Dad will fish you out.
Posts: 125
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Post by lexkx on Jul 13, 2009 15:30:13 GMT -5
Metalikhan, some of us had "downed internet" for a day or two. One of the craziest things (to me) I've seen is a common belief among churches as a whole and individual Christians that knowing your spiritual gifts equals plugging you happily into church service. Some gifts in Scripture, like generosity, mercy, or apostleship, don't fit neatly into cookie-cutter roles like VBS teacher or worship leader. Even weirder (or worse, depending on your point of view), the idea that people with gifts of service aren't as qualified to lead as people with the gift of teaching. Humans love to find ways to classify each other, and spiritual gifts provide a nice, sanctimonious opportunity for us to give each other stickers. Speaking for myself, every gift I've ever felt blessed with by God has driven me further into His arms first. Applying those gifts to the body becomes a secondary blessing as and when I get to share His love poured out on me to others. Taking someone else's list of gifts and deciding where they are best suited to work seems to take God out of the equation. Spiritual gifts are given by the Spirit, right? I heard a writer speak once about her relationship with her church. She went to her pastor in tears because she had been so busy with family, legal drama, and writing deadlines that she had failed to volunteer to help serve in any capacity in her church for several months. The pastor wisely handed her a tissue and reminded her that she wrote books about Christ. It was a unique and valid ministry that served where helping hands could not. Last I heard, God isn't very good at cookie-cutter people. I was under the impression that He makes individual people to serve Him in their individual ways. Some parts of our service to God stay the same throughout our lives, some change. Why should the capacity in which our spiritual gifts stay the same when we are changing all the time?
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Post by Christian Soldier on Jul 14, 2009 13:26:24 GMT -5
I agree with you, lexkx. Let me clarify that, while not necessary to qualify a person's gifts, it does help a person to get to know him or her - self. Sometimes it takes some soul searching to figure where you're intended to be within your church, but one should never let the gifts, or lack there of, from doing what He wants you to do. Believe me, I know on that one.
I was called to serve in the Army... if you met me on the street, you wouldn't think of me as a soldier. Indeed, I hardly consider myself one. My gifts and personality traits don't suit the military at all well. However, I followed as instructed and discovered something amazing: when God is in control, stuff happens.
Here I am, surprised to even still be in the military at all, and finding myself thriving. All because Jesus is controlling my life. He gave me the strength to do as He instructed, to follow, and to lead.
The moral of my particular story is this: limit not our God, nor ourselves.
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Post by morganlbusse on Jul 15, 2009 10:40:30 GMT -5
No offense MK on your comments, I've also had a downed internet connection!
You are right on the spot about love: what good is it to serve God, church, people, when our hearts are not right? Something I live by is have I just acted in a way towards this person that I can now turn around and share the gospel with them? Or would I have to turn away in shame because I just acted rude, used hot words, or acted in such a way that would bring Christ down?
Walden, I was reading your personality (P) and you sound like a "C" from the DISC personality testing. I would definitely recommend taking that test; it helped me understand who I am, where my strengths and weaknesses are, and how I would most likely react to other people. My husband and I use this test with couples we do pre-marital counseling with to help them see where problems could be in their marriage and how they think differently (and why thinking differently isn't necessarily wrong!).
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Post by newburydave on Jul 15, 2009 14:16:57 GMT -5
Bretheren and Sisters;
One thing to remember is that Paul's treatment of Spiritual Gifts in 1 Cor. was by way of rebuke for the way that so many of the members of the Corinthian church had fallen into unchristian conduct and attitudes and were trying to excuse it by claiming to be "gifted" (ie. Charismatic). Paul's exposition on Christlike Love in the 13th chapter puts things into the right perspective.
Without Christlike love (as described in ch. 13) no religious activity is worth anything to God's kingdom. It's like the seed in the bramble thicket, it produces no fruit of eternal value.
One thing that the Lord impressed me early on about gifts was that they were all supernatural ability given to disciples by the Holy Ghost to fill a need or perform a task in the kingdom work "that no natural ability of man could accomplish". A spiritual gift is our practical union with Christ to overcome some more of the works of the devil and redeem more of this world from evil and error.
I fear that looking a a spiritual gift as something that we possess is a faulty way of thinking. Every spiritual gift is another manifestation of the Life of Christ in our soul creating an outlet of service through us to further His redemptive work. It is some more of the "greater works" that we as his church body will do in his name.
Jesus makes the occasion and the gift is manifest in the doing. My experience is that looking back when the Lord has worked through me is a profound attitude of "how did I do that". In this I know that a Spiritual Gift has been active. It is never something I plan on beforehand. The only beforehand hint that I have of such an incident is the Lord's hand on me laying a burden of responsiblity to accomplish something for Him.
My two cents.
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Post by torainfor on Jul 17, 2009 18:45:30 GMT -5
Good point, NBD. Gifts are often the areas in which we feel the most blessed when we practice them. Probably because we're allowing the Spirit to work through us and, therefore, we are closer to Him.
My gifts are service, knowledge, and giving, so I know where you're coming from, walden. One thing I try to do is find where my gift fits into a situation. My friend doesn't particularly like nursery duty, but she does it because it serves the director. I'm on the worship team because I love music, but I also enjoy serving by setting up and tearing down the set and by singing alto, because I know what it's like to stand there, not able to hit any of the notes everyone else is singing.
Two people can do the same task for different reasons. One night, a friend and I were at another friend's watching her kids while she went to the ER. We decided to clean her kitchen--one of us showing love through service, the other through compassion.
Knowledge is a huge gift for a Christian writer (and thanks for all the "I'm a knowledge, not a teacher" out there--I feel validated!) because you'll have that passion to get it right. Fewer things could be more important when you're dealing with spiritual application.
What were you asked to do at the homeless shelter? I bet stocking shelves and sorting clothes would be easier for you than looking into faces and dishing out meals. That's really two different bents, isn't it? I am the one in the kitchen at my own parties because doing dishes is more natural than talking to my friends.
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Post by waldenwriter on Jul 19, 2009 0:12:20 GMT -5
Knowledge is a huge gift for a Christian writer (and thanks for all the "I'm a knowledge, not a teacher" out there--I feel validated!) because you'll have that passion to get it right. Fewer things could be more important when you're dealing with spiritual application. That is true, I do have that passion. You should see my research notes so far for this novel...each note is marked with its page number, and the notes from each research book begin with a MLA-style bibliographical entry. Either I'm neurotic, or I've written WAY too many research papers (probably a bit of both). I'm also one of those "neurotic notetakers" in church and at school. What were you asked to do at the homeless shelter? I bet stocking shelves and sorting clothes would be easier for you than looking into faces and dishing out meals. That's really two different bents, isn't it? I am the one in the kitchen at my own parties because doing dishes is more natural than talking to my friends. Usually I had to serve the meals to people. Before and after that there was usually nothing for me to do. I am more of a stocking and sorting sort of person, I guess. I've been back on the floor at work as a floor General Merchandise Clerk recently (I was in the bakery, then was a floor GMC for a bit, then went back to bakery, then to floor GMC, and now it looks like I'm going to be helping in the deli, at least for this coming week) and the main job of this position is to face stuff. One whole side of the store - basically containing all non-food items (except for the liquor section and the last aisle, which has soda and water) - is our responsibility. The only annoying thing is that there are usually two or three GMC's - sometimes even four - working at the same time, all trying to do the same stuff. So sometimes I have trouble finding something to do. One of the craziest things (to me) I've seen is a common belief among churches as a whole and individual Christians that knowing your spiritual gifts equals plugging you happily into church service. Some gifts in Scripture, like generosity, mercy, or apostleship, don't fit neatly into cookie-cutter roles like VBS teacher or worship leader. Even weirder (or worse, depending on your point of view), the idea that people with gifts of service aren't as qualified to lead as people with the gift of teaching. Humans love to find ways to classify each other, and spiritual gifts provide a nice, sanctimonious opportunity for us to give each other stickers. Giving each other stickers...that reminds me of Max Lucado's book You are Special (which I love, by the way) where the Wemmicks were always giving each other stickers. It does seem odd that people would view servants as not as qualified to lead. I was doing my Bible reading today and read a passage in Matthew where Jesus says that whoever desires to be great in God's kingdom must become a servant. I'd think that says a lot about what God thinks of service. I heard a writer speak once about her relationship with her church. She went to her pastor in tears because she had been so busy with family, legal drama, and writing deadlines that she had failed to volunteer to help serve in any capacity in her church for several months. The pastor wisely handed her a tissue and reminded her that she wrote books about Christ. It was a unique and valid ministry that served where helping hands could not. Again, that reminds me of the story about Robin Jones Gunn that I mentioned earlier - she wanted to do missions, and now writing is her mission. Ultimately, I do want to use this talent for God - that's always been my intent. In fact, I have agonized over novel content that didn't seem to fit in the "Christian mold" simply because of this intent. I hope to leave a Christian legacy with my books. I watched a documentary yesterday on J.K. Rowling that aired on ABC. At the end of it, the documentary's filmmaker, James Runcie, asks her how she would like to be remembered, and she answers: "As someone who did the best she could with the talent she had." I love that answer. It might not relate directly to spiritual gifts, but I think it somehow relates to how I feel.
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