POINT TO PONDER: Nobody else can be me.
REFLECT: How did today's reading impact you?
Only you can be you. This means that no else on earth will ever be able to play the role God planned for me. If I don't make my unique contribution to the body of Christ, it won't be made.!
       "There are different kinds of spiritual gifts... different ways of
   serving... different abilities to perform service" 
   (I Corinthians 12:4-6 - Today's English Version)

       "God has given each of you some special abilities; be sure to
   use them to help each other, passing on to others God's many
   kinds of blessings." (I Peter 4:10 - Living Bible)
Yesterday and today we've looked at five ways God has shaped you for service. Yesterday, we discussed Spiritual Gifts and Heart's desire. Today we focus on:
  1. SHAPE: Applying your Abilities.
    2. These are natural talents that you were born with. Here's a few that were mentioned in the Bible: artistic ability, administering, baking, boat making, candy making, debating, designing, embalming, embroidering, engraving, farming, fishing, gardening, leading, managing, masonry, making music, making weapons, needle work, painting, planting, philosophizing, machinability?, inventing, carpentry, sailing, selling, being a soldier, tailoring, teaching, writing literature, and poetry. To apply my abilities in service I need to remember three truths:
    1. All of my abilities come from God (Romans 12:6)
    2. Every ability can be used for God's glory ( I Cor 10:31)
    3. What I'm able to do, God wants me to do (Hebrews 13:21)
  2. SHAPE: Using Your Personality.
    3. Some of us may want to "lose" our personality, but God has wired each of us differently on purpose. There is no "right" or "wrong" tempermanent for ministry. Your personality will affect how and where you use your spiritual gifts and abilities. When you are forced to minister in a manner that is "out of character" for your temperament, it creates tension and discomfort, requires effort and energy, and produces less than the best results. Today, there are many tools and books that can help you understand your personality. Brancato's hosted a party recently where this was discussed, and although I wasn't at the party, I found an interesting web site that helps you determine you personality (http://www.livingbold.net/articles/persona.html).. I'm told that I'm an otter/golden retriever...
  3. SHAPE: Employing Your Experiences.
    4. You and I were shaped by the experiences in life, most of which were beyond our control. But God allows six different types of experiences in my life to mold me for service:
    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 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?
    I need to hone in on the last type of experience... Please read/circle/underline 2 Corinthians 1:4. The very experiences that you resented or regretted most of your life are the very experiences God wants to use to help others.

So... I hope that we have a deeper appreciation for God's sovereignty and how he has prepared your S.H.A.P.E for the purpose of serving Him. You will be most effective when you use your spiritual gifts and abilities in the area of your hearts desire, and in a way that best expresses your personality and experiences. This day BEGS you to journal your thoughts... ask those questions above. Take a partner out for coffee and discuss it. If you're interested. CBF is planning a seminar in the future in digging deeper to determine your shape. Interested?
PRAYER:
"Gracious Father, thank You for Your creativity in shaping my personality and my abilities. Thank you for using ALL of my experiences that have shaped my life. Help me not to waste the painful experiences, but to help others in the same way You've helped me. Amen
FOR MY CONSIDERATION:
    What God-given ability or personal experience can I offer my church? How has God shaped my personality to best serve others?
This week's Memory verse: 
 	“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others.”  
 I Peter 4:10 (NIV)
CBF Home How can we help you in this journey? Please let us know
-- Keep up to date with www.cbfchurch.org/go/40days