A friend of mine and I were talking recently about blogging and how I have tried blogging about different things, like personal stuff or spiritual stuff, or books that I liked. She used the term 'finding your voice'. That phrase has stuck with me for weeks and as I sat down to blog this morning, I had a few thoughts about how versatile phrase it is.
A voice is something that comes from within. It is the result of what is put into you, a conglomeration of experiences, thoughts, conversations, education, wisdom, etc. It is something you share. It's something natural and everyone needs an outlet to express themselves.
Regarding blogging, I think my voice prefers commenting on books and sharing remarkable insights I've read. I like to sprinkle in personal stuff for variety's sake or connecting with my readers on a personal levels sake, but I really feel I'm pouring my best when I share books and tie the theme to personal experiences.
In ministry, a voice is the result of what God has done in your life. It is the way you express grace, mercy, joy, compassion, wisdom, knowledge, and all the spiritual gifts God has given you. As you allow God to pour into you via prayer, reading the Bible, meeting with other believers, etc., you have built up a reservoir that must spill forth into the lives of others. How you share your voice will most likely change over time. For me, I had a season of pouring into single moms, then a season of teaching, then a season of leading leaders, now my season is blogging.
In the physical, my voice is health. Today I ran. My body's voice cried out, "No!" (just kidding). My legs felt like tree trunks but the louder voice said, "Keep going." I think for the first time I did better than my dog. "Yeah!"
It the mental, my voice encourages others to read more. The brain is a muscle, use it or lose it. I've been so encouraged, so challenged, so redeemed, so confirmed, so set straight that I crave spiritual books.
Where's your voice? Is it blogging? Is it discipling others? For all that is poured into you, where do you let it leak out? Who is benefiting from it? Are you hogging it, becoming a spiritual glutton? Or are you healthy, freely giving what you have freely received? Blessings this beautiful Friday!
Showing posts with label Spiritual Gifts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spiritual Gifts. Show all posts
Friday, May 30, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Potential
One of the things I've loved doing over the years is finding the potential in others. I used to teach a class created by Saddleback Church called Discovering Your Ministry. It took people through a self-discovery process. In 90 minutes and about an hour's homework time, people discovered their spiritual gifts, passions, skills, personality type, and catalogued their experiences. Then I had the privilege of meeting with them and walking them through finding out how all these things worked together to make them unique. God has a purpose for everyone, and helping them discover what that purpose was or at least where they would fit in ministry was a great joy.
But you don't need a class, or forms, or even an interview to find out your potential or someone else's (though it helps). All you really need is some time to reflect on these areas and ask God to reveal his purpose for you. In discovering someone else's, spend time with them. Ask them questions. Dig deep and it will come to the surface.
I remember going through this process myself the first time. I had the class and the interview. I was placed in the 3-4 year olds room. Unfortunately, this was a 3 month commitment that was extremely stressful for me. I wasn't created to baby-sit other people's children. It wasn't a good fit. I prayed and prayed about what God wanted me to do. I looked at all the areas God had poured into me. Then it came. Single Mom Brigade. Over and over these words came into my head as I traveled to and from work. God showed me how I had grown as a single mom and that I should pass that knowledge on to other single moms who were struggling. After a few months of God bugging me about this, I talked to one of our Pastors and he gave me the green light to start the ministry. He didn't like the word Brigade so I came up with Heart to Heart. Though I haven't led the ministry for four years, it is going strong. I still have a heart for single moms and can see how God allowed that experience and ministry to mold who I am today. He also made something good out of what the enemy intended for evil.
Do you see the potential in others? Look past the awkwardness, the mistakes, the immaturity, the selfishness, and the pride. These will go away or at least lessen with time as they grow spiritually. See what God has given them to work with and encourage them in that direction. Give them opportunities to serve and make mistakes. Yes, make mistakes. That's how we all learn. God is okay with mistakes, we're human after all. Use mistakes as learning opportunities. They're needed for the process. God bless you today and always.
But you don't need a class, or forms, or even an interview to find out your potential or someone else's (though it helps). All you really need is some time to reflect on these areas and ask God to reveal his purpose for you. In discovering someone else's, spend time with them. Ask them questions. Dig deep and it will come to the surface.
I remember going through this process myself the first time. I had the class and the interview. I was placed in the 3-4 year olds room. Unfortunately, this was a 3 month commitment that was extremely stressful for me. I wasn't created to baby-sit other people's children. It wasn't a good fit. I prayed and prayed about what God wanted me to do. I looked at all the areas God had poured into me. Then it came. Single Mom Brigade. Over and over these words came into my head as I traveled to and from work. God showed me how I had grown as a single mom and that I should pass that knowledge on to other single moms who were struggling. After a few months of God bugging me about this, I talked to one of our Pastors and he gave me the green light to start the ministry. He didn't like the word Brigade so I came up with Heart to Heart. Though I haven't led the ministry for four years, it is going strong. I still have a heart for single moms and can see how God allowed that experience and ministry to mold who I am today. He also made something good out of what the enemy intended for evil.
Do you see the potential in others? Look past the awkwardness, the mistakes, the immaturity, the selfishness, and the pride. These will go away or at least lessen with time as they grow spiritually. See what God has given them to work with and encourage them in that direction. Give them opportunities to serve and make mistakes. Yes, make mistakes. That's how we all learn. God is okay with mistakes, we're human after all. Use mistakes as learning opportunities. They're needed for the process. God bless you today and always.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Nuggets #30
An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus
Decoding DNA
Just because a person can not read doesn't mean she lacks the capacity to learn. One's present condition is not an indication of potential, but of development. The radical minimal standard that our "heroes" from Acts aspire toward is not intended to be a yoke of burden on our backs, but to inspire us to see who we could be if we allowed God to unleash his potential in us.
Resilient Transformation
The marvel of leading a New Testament community is that the genuine measure of leadership is not simply in the calling out of the extraordinarily gifted and talented. Instead, it is in the creation of an environment where each individual discovers and develops her unique gifts and talents.
On the Job Training
If the three years of Jesus' public ministry were meant to prepare his disciples, then his method of preparation was to send them into the world. The disciples never enjoyed insulation from realities of ministry and the pressures of the world around them. They were training in the context of real life and were expected - from the very first moment - to begin the process of becoming fishers of men.
Already knowing how he would meet the needs of the people, Jesus was determined to push his disciples to a different level of faith, which would result in a different level of living.
Jesus began by establishing a radical minimum standard that would permeate his church long after his ascension to heaven. We must evaluate our own preconceptions and assumptions about what it means to be a Christian.
So, my question to you is, are you being prepared to go out into the world to become fishers of men?
Decoding DNA
Just because a person can not read doesn't mean she lacks the capacity to learn. One's present condition is not an indication of potential, but of development. The radical minimal standard that our "heroes" from Acts aspire toward is not intended to be a yoke of burden on our backs, but to inspire us to see who we could be if we allowed God to unleash his potential in us.
Resilient Transformation
The marvel of leading a New Testament community is that the genuine measure of leadership is not simply in the calling out of the extraordinarily gifted and talented. Instead, it is in the creation of an environment where each individual discovers and develops her unique gifts and talents.
On the Job Training
If the three years of Jesus' public ministry were meant to prepare his disciples, then his method of preparation was to send them into the world. The disciples never enjoyed insulation from realities of ministry and the pressures of the world around them. They were training in the context of real life and were expected - from the very first moment - to begin the process of becoming fishers of men.
Already knowing how he would meet the needs of the people, Jesus was determined to push his disciples to a different level of faith, which would result in a different level of living.
Jesus began by establishing a radical minimum standard that would permeate his church long after his ascension to heaven. We must evaluate our own preconceptions and assumptions about what it means to be a Christian.
So, my question to you is, are you being prepared to go out into the world to become fishers of men?
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Nuggets #17
An Unstoppable Force by Erwin McManus
Continuing on with Chapter Eight
Spirit Matters
The modern church has often established programs, structures, and even roles and positions before it is even known who the people are. You have a position, and you've got to find someone to fill it. Recruiting volunteers can become as simple as filling slots.
The connection environment is radically different. It understands that the Spirit of God does not dwell in programs but in people. Strategies are not nearly as important as gifts, and the organizational principle that drives ministry must be the unique gifting of the people that God brings to the body of Christ.
Whenever we receive new members at Mosaic, we remind them that receiving them into our community is our commitment to inviting them to change who we are, that we may become who God desires us to be. Our commitment is not to clone them to who we already are, but that each person who joins our community is a promise from God that he is not finished with us yet. If we respect the gifts, talents, and uniqueness of each individual, then we must be willing to change. If a person's contribution is honored and respected, then he will make a difference.
Many times we have demeaned the value of the spiritual power that God has placed in individuals by forcing them to conform into what we perceive the church needs.
A community with the servant heart of God knows no limit to sacrifice, and when its people are doing what God created them to do, there is no limit to impact.
Do I hear a hallelujah? Thank you Erwin for putting my heart into words!!!!!!!! I believe that spiritual gifting is foundational for the power and fire of a body of believers. The church must not limit the individuals by making them conform to a box of behavior or serving, any more than an eagle should be caged. We should all be free to soar in the way that God created us. If not, God is the great redeemer and he will find a way to set us free to use those gifts to bring Him glory.
Continuing on with Chapter Eight
Spirit Matters
The modern church has often established programs, structures, and even roles and positions before it is even known who the people are. You have a position, and you've got to find someone to fill it. Recruiting volunteers can become as simple as filling slots.
The connection environment is radically different. It understands that the Spirit of God does not dwell in programs but in people. Strategies are not nearly as important as gifts, and the organizational principle that drives ministry must be the unique gifting of the people that God brings to the body of Christ.
Whenever we receive new members at Mosaic, we remind them that receiving them into our community is our commitment to inviting them to change who we are, that we may become who God desires us to be. Our commitment is not to clone them to who we already are, but that each person who joins our community is a promise from God that he is not finished with us yet. If we respect the gifts, talents, and uniqueness of each individual, then we must be willing to change. If a person's contribution is honored and respected, then he will make a difference.
Many times we have demeaned the value of the spiritual power that God has placed in individuals by forcing them to conform into what we perceive the church needs.
A community with the servant heart of God knows no limit to sacrifice, and when its people are doing what God created them to do, there is no limit to impact.
Do I hear a hallelujah? Thank you Erwin for putting my heart into words!!!!!!!! I believe that spiritual gifting is foundational for the power and fire of a body of believers. The church must not limit the individuals by making them conform to a box of behavior or serving, any more than an eagle should be caged. We should all be free to soar in the way that God created us. If not, God is the great redeemer and he will find a way to set us free to use those gifts to bring Him glory.
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