S.H.A.P.E.

Sometimes life is a lot like a puzzle. Confusing, frustrating and rewarding all at the same time!!! In every area and aspect of our life we struggle to find our fit and for most people church isn't much different.

We all want to fit in … To be liked or valued! Trying to find our place in this world called church …

Over the next few days, I trust that you will find some of the tools that you need to help you find your place in this giant puzzle …

MONDAY - SPIRITUAL GIFTS
I Corinthians 12:4-6

Spiritual Gifts are abilities given by God to believers in order to strengthen the Body of Christ!
Paul was pretty clear about these gifts. In fact, chapters 12 through 14 present in great detail how the gifts are to operate. That’s right, even chapter 13, the “Love Chapter” is all about spiritual gifts and how they are to be administrated. Through LOVE!

It is often hard to recognize your own gifts because your gifts are unique to you! Paul says, “there are diversities” and “differences of administration”. This means that not everyone will have the same gift, and even if they do, they will be displayed in different ways. Your Spiritual Gifts will be influenced by your personality and will be a reflection of who God is in you.

It is important that we are aware that our gifts do not come from our own natural abilities … They are given by God to each believer. Every believer has at least one Spiritual Gift, and it is important to use them for the kingdom! A good friend of mine said, “To the degree that we fail to exercise our spiritual gifts we cripple our church, and we as a body suffer.”
… Poignant words!!!

TUESDAY - HEART
II Timothy 1:6-7

One of my favorite passages finds Paul writing to his Spiritual Son. He is reminding Timothy to “fan into the flame” the gift of God. He is telling Timothy not to let the flames of passion dim! He is encouraging Timothy to remember what set him ablaze spiritually to begin with …

What about you, what are you passionate about? That thing that when it comes to your attention it ignites inside of you with tears or with anger. What gets your feathers ruffled?
God doesn't call you to the things that you are passionate about, he makes you passionate about the things that you are called to! Henri Frederic Amiel said, “Without passion man is a mere latent force and possibility, like the flint which awaits the shock of the iron before it can give forth its spark.”

David was passionate about God. In facts Acts says David was a man after God’s heart. Author Ray Hughes says this, “David gave his heart to God and that left him without one. Then her went after God’s heart to replace his own.”

I urge you to give God your heart completely, leaving just an empty place … Then see what He fills it with!

WEDNESDAY - ABILITY
I Peter 4:8-11

There is a lot to be said about our abilities … God is an amazing God, and I believe that he designed an amazing creation! And that he gave us each that abilities that we need to make it through this world.

I know that for most, when we look at ourselves we see all of the challenges. We see what we consider to be our faults … And that is fine as long as we can keep things in perspective. Remember that God gave you opportunities all through your life to learn. All the time that you were gaining knowledge, God was planning what he could use that knowledge for.

While it is true that not all of your abilities are going to be connected to your Spiritual Gifts, your abilities are still a part of your calling! God will use you … Every part of you! Your skills and even your faults for His glory if you will only allow Him to take control.

“Deep within man dwell those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish him, that he never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize his life if aroused and put into action.” -Orison Swett Marden

Isn’t it time to awake that sleeping giant within you named ABILITY?!?

THURSDAY - PERSONALITY
Matthew 10:30 &
II Timothy 1:9

God is so consumed by you that he knows every part of you … In fact, each hair on our head has an identity to God. That is how well he knows us because of his love! He knows us because He created us, and is constantly recreating us afresh and anew!

He has even created our personalities, as hard as that is for some us to imagine ... He made me this way! And then to top that, he called this flawed person “according to His purpose.”

In fact, our giftedness fits who we are! God made you to be exactly who you are and then called you to be more than you can imagine! I know that you see your weaknesses as glaring and your strengths as hidden, but you need to learn to see you the way that God sees you!

“God has made us what we are. He has created us in Christ Jesus to live lives filled with good works that he has prepared for us to do.”
- Ephesians 2:10 GW

FRIDAY - EXPERIENCE
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

A man was walking down the street one day and feel into a hole. He tried with all that the had to get out of the hole, but the walls appeared to be to steep for him to make it.

He saw a priest walking by and said, “Father, can you help me, I’ve fallen into this hole and cannot get out.” So the priest made the sign of The Cross spoke a blessing and walked on …
Soon the man saw a doctor walking by and said, “Doctor, can you help me, I’ve fallen into this hole and cannot get out.” So, the doctor pulled out his pad, wrote a prescription and threw it down in the hole and walked on …

The third person to walk by was a friend … He called up to his friend for help, and his friend jumped in the hole. The man said, “You idiot, now we are both stuck down here!” To which the friend replied, “But I’ve been here before and I know the way out.”

There is a reason and a season for everything that we go through … And while at the time we get frustrated, discouraged and even angry we must realize that God is shaping even our personality to be exactly what He needs it to be! So, JUST BE IT!!!