..::*+ Small Talk +*::..
Tough time ahead. Be ready. Pray faithfully.
Qi Hao, you can do it! =)
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Day 31: Understanding your shape
We are the only one who has the same character in ourselves. This is the unique of all of us, created by God. Let’s continue on the SHAPE.
SHAPE: Applying your abilities
Abilities are the natural talents we were born with. A fact is that God gives us various abilities: Some can play good piano (hu hu, don’t dare to be specific – a lot, no? :P), some can give powerful and strong preaches (Steffen, Joash…), some have natural athletic abilities and very outstanding in sports, some are good in studies… and the list goes on.
All of our abilities come from God.
Since they are all from God, they are as important and as “spiritual” as your spiritual gifts. Just that the abilities were given to you at birth.
The common excuse that many give for not serving is “I just don’t have any abilities to offer”. This is not true. We are all given abilities and they are all stored inside you – you need to find them out!
A brain can store 100 trillion facts; a mind can handle 15,000 decisions per second; nose can smell up to 10,000 different odors; your touch can detect an item 1/25000th of an inch thick; your tongue can taste one part of quinine in 2 million parts of water. Just as amazing as God is, you yourself hold incredible abilities that are given by God.
Every ability can be used for God’s glory.
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31
In the Bible we see various people of various abilities being used by God for His glory.
There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service.
1 Corinthians 12:6 Today’s English Version
God has prepared in His church where our specialties can shine and we can make a difference. So find that place. If we have business ability to earn a lot, realize your ability came from God and give Him the credit. Use your business to serve a need of others and to share your faith with unbelievers. Return at least a tithe (10%) of the profit to God as an act of worship. Make your goal to be kingdom builder rather than wealth builder.
What I’m able to do, God wants me to do.
You are the only person on earth who can use your abilities.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life
No one else can take over your place, because we are all uniquely created by God. Examine what we are good at, and what we are weak at. Only this way we can discover God’s will for our lives. In other words, God will not ask you to do what you have no talent for. God won’t ask you to be a singer if He did not give you the ability to produce wonderful tune. Likewise in studies, if it is not God’s given ability, you won’t be getting scholarship to study abroad. It really motivated me a lot. Well, the thing I am trying to discover now is badminton. I wonder what God wants me to do with it, for His glory. Maybe it is a testimony that God is real and He answers prayers, like in MGSS Badminton Competition? But I will wait for Him patiently. He never comes late.
Whatever you are good at, you should be doing for your church!
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life
SHAPE: Using your personality
Studies show that DNA can unite more than 102,400,000,000. Therefore, there never has been, and never will be, anybody exactly like you.
God made introverts and extroverts. He made people who love routine and those who love variety. He made some people “thinkers” and others “feelers”. Some people work best when given an individual assignment while others work better with team.
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life
But these are not bad things. We need all kinds of personalities to balance the church and give it flavor. Therefore, your personality will affect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities. When you are forced to ministry which is out of character, it creates tension and discomfort, more energy while less productivity. That’s why, mimicking someone else’s ministry never works. You have your own self to be, that God wants you to be. When you minister in a manner consistent with the personality God gave you, you experience fulfillment, satisfaction, and fruitfulness.
SHAPE: Employing your experiences
Our experiences in the past shaped us, no? And mostly they are not something that we can control. There are six kinds of experiences suggested by Rick Warren:
1. Family experiences: What did you learn growing up in your family?
2. Educational experiences: What were your favorite subjects in school?
3. Vocational experiences: What jobs have you been most effective in and enjoyed the most?
4. Spiritual experiences: What have been your most meaningful times with God?
5. Ministry experiences: How have you served God in the past?
6. Painful experiences: What problems, hurts, thorns, and trials have you learned from?
The sixth is the one that God mostly used. In fact, your greatest ministry will most likely come out of your greatest hurt.
Who could better help an alcoholic recover than someone who fought that demon and found freedom?
Rick Warren – The Purpose Driven Life
The parable is clear, and God lets us go through painful experiences to equip us for ministry to others.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
We must, therefore, be willing to share all these painful experiences. If we keep covering them up, you are not admitting your faults, failures, and fears. People always more encouraged when we share how God has changed and helped us in weaknesses.
Experience is not what happens to you. It is what you do with what happens to you.
Aldous Huxley
Use your experience, especially your pain, to help others.
Vincent
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