Monday, October 12, 2009

Week Three of "dare to be different"

Can you believe we're in Week Three! This week, we're going to look at our calling. Who am I?--Week One...a child of the utmost King, created in His image, to be just who I am! Why am I here?--Week Two...creationally crafted to be unique, specifically adapted to complement and encourage, support and love.

And here we are in Week Three--What is my calling?

Let's review first:
1. Why was I created? Look back at Genesis 2:18, and 2:21-22. Remember our spiritual equality to Man (Genesis 1:27). Remember our creational crafting is unique and different, specific to our purpose as women.

Let's look at our calling by first identifying what a "calling" is:
A calling is a divine appointment to a vocation or service. In a nutshell, a calling is that, gifted to us by God, as our divinely appointed reason to exist...our divine purpose. Now that we know what a calling is, let's try and figure this out!
2. What is my calling scripturally?
Look at the Amplified Version (www.biblegateway.com) and read Ephesians 5:33. And 1 Peter 3:2. Make a list. (I love lists!)

What is my calling, specifically and unique to me? How will I know?

What are my spiritual gifts, and how do they fit in? Do I know what they are? How can I find out?

The last question we'llask this week:
3. How do I answer His call? What is my first step?

Remember in Week One when Lynn shared SMART? We'll incorporate some of our discussion from Week One, the vision--mission--scriptural goal for our lives with Lynn's SMART idea! :-)

Lord, as we work on Week Three, help us to hear You clearly. Help us not to feel frustrated, but to feel excited to begin that which You divined! Help us to know our spiritual gifts, our talents, and how to use that which we are to be that which You designed and called to serve. Precious Father, be with each of us as we grow into the woman You want us to be. AMEN!

10 comments:

  1. Week 3 “What is My Calling” 10/13

    Let's review first:
    1. Why was I created? Look back at Genesis 2:18, and 2:21-22. Remember our spiritual equality to Man (Genesis 1:27). Remember our creational crafting is unique and different, specific to our purpose as women.
    To help my husband, be part of his world, love support and take care of our children...

    Let's look at our calling by first identifying what a "calling" is:
    A calling is a divine appointment to a vocation or service. In a nutshell, a calling is that, gifted to us by God, as our divinely appointed reason to exist...our divine purpose. Now that we know what a calling is, let's try and figure this out!
    2. What is my calling scripturally?
    Look at the Amplified Version (www.biblegateway.com) and read Ephesians 5:33. And 1 Peter 3:2. Make a list. (I love lists!)
    • Respect
    • Honor
    • Support
    • Submissive

    What is my calling, specifically and unique to me?
    Able to communicate with my husband. I have a stubborn, hard headed, sometimes cold and too much pride. However, he enjoys his family, has a heart of gold, caring and is 100% Latin man. We have been together for 7 yrs, been thru 2 deployments, 2 babies and 2 moves. What I see from my part is that I am able to show, tell and support his decisions, he has for our family. Regardless if I may disagreement with them. If it happens that I have been right, rather than say,” I told you so”. I don’t judge him but find out why it did not work and see if there is another way to accomplish it.
    How will I know?
    Because I am wife #3 and with the previous relationship they were not able to talk to him where he would hear them. Did not allow him to be the husband and dad he is today… I have not taken his job as being the head of household or the leader in our family, nor his dreams or career. Instead I have been supportive and was right next to him when he decided something.

    What are my spiritual gifts, and how do they fit in? Do I know what they are? How can I find out?
    I don’t have a clue what my spritual gifts or how they fit in… Yes, I would like to know how to find out…
    The last question we'll ask this week:
    3. how do I answer His call? What is my first step?
    Pray, listen and Pray some more. My first step is to breathe and close my eyes and pray…

    Have a blessed week Ladies,
    Maria

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  2. I am searching on-line for a good Spiritual Gifts inventory for you all to take. It's such a blessing to have your gifts revealed, knowing with confidence what to say "yes" to and what to say, "no way--not my gift!"

    As soon as I find a good one, I'll post the site here!

    Maria, I'm closing my eyes, breathing deeply, and praying with you! :-)

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  3. www.buildingchurch.net has a very good spiritual gifts inventory you can take on-line! It calculates your score for you!

    Remember a high score indicates that is a gifted area for you. A low score is NOT a failure to have that gift, but rather just the confirmation that is NOT your gifted area.

    This is where you're free to say YES to that which God has gifted you, and NO to that which He has not! Remember, if you say yes to every godly opportunity, you deny someone else their God-gifted calling. Say NO when you should, and YES when He calls! :-)

    Let me know what you find out...and I'll share mine with you too!

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  4. Am I answering your study correctly. I feel like I am lost at time. Maybe I am not really getting what you are trying to get across. One thing I can say from week one till now, I am finding that I needed an outlet and find me again..It is great to see me again. Looking at me from the inside out, realizing how much I have grown, where I was lost, and remember my place within my family... Thank you Lee Ann for holding my hand during this study... It has made a difference already..

    Love you

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  5. Maria, you are doing phenomenally! :-) When we look in at ourselves, we can sometimes be very critical. A large part of this study is to realize unrealistic pressures that society places on us as women to do it all. Another part of the study is for us to remember our created purpose so that when we feel like we're dropping the ball, we can find assurance in The Word that we are doing what He has asked of us. Did you get a chance to take the on-line spiritual gifts inventory test? I think I know one of your gifts, for sure, but I'd love to see it confirmed after you take the test. :-)

    Know that I am praying for all of you! My love to each one...Lee Ann

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  6. 1. We are part of Man and God--we could be a three in one as well, man, woman, God. Basically, our calling is be a helper of man (which I believe also includes woman).

    2. "We are many parts, we are all one body and the gifts we have we are given to share..." It's from a song we sing at church (I'm sure it's from the Bible somewhere or taken from Eph. 5:30). This fits into my response to question 1.

    As for the list from 1Peter: with reverence--honor, appreciate, esteem, adore, enjoy, respect, deeply love our husband.

    I'm like Maria--I can be stubborn, but I hope I can do it respectfully and appreciate a conversation with my husband and end with a good outcome. Does it mention anywhere in the Bible that this same list should be reciprocated to the wife?

    I go back again to my answer to question 1. The list should be inclusive of man and woman--since we are taken of man and are part of God as well. I'm here to be a helper/a teacher.

    3. I had an interview last week and unfortunately, I did not get to go on to the second round, however, I did have a wonderful conversation with the hiring manager. She said I put people at ease when I walk in the room and I have great communication skills and she thinks I should pursue training and teaching. Which surprised me, because I think that is the direction God is taking me. Raising a family you teach your children in the way they should go and hope that they take the tools I give them to give to build a church not an outhouse (learned that from LeeAnna). I taught youth faith formation and now I will be teaching adults that want to become Catholics. I have also said I would be a substitute teacher when I retire. I also help out kids with music for special occasions at church. So I think God's plan for me is to use my gift of communication to spread His word and also to teach my fellow co-workers. It's a new journey which is one I will start to pursue.

    As for the SMART goal, I will be meeting with a mentor at work which will help go in the direction she mentioned for a job opportunity. At that time I will want to set goals and outcomes. I will start small (how do you eat an elephant? one bite a time). The job isn't there yet, but I want to be ready and well prepared.

    I just say the "Say No" and boy can that get you into trouble when you say yes to too much. I just experienced that and it can be very hurtful--especially when you think you said Yes for all the right reasons. I will do more praying before I respond and or blindly volunteer.

    Lynn

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  7. Lynn, I am praying with you! How exciting when God makes clear a calling, as He did through the Hiring Manager!

    I would encourage each of you to take the spiritual gifts inventory at www.buildingchurch.net. Remember to answer with your first reaction--don't think each question to death! :-) It tabulates your scores quickly and easily, and even has scriptural guidance for the gifted areas.

    Remember this week to go back to week one...look at your dream--your vision. Write it down. Then pray about how that vision becomes action--your mission. Write that down. Follow it all up with the scripture that supports your vision and your mission--I can help with this part.

    Remember Lynn's acronym from week one? SMART: SMART goal - Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realistic, Time Framed. I can help you break down your mission into measurable steps you can take, rather than seeing such a big picture you don't know where to begin!

    Praying for you! And Lynn, I know God blesses your teaching. You have grown so in just the short time we have been friends and sisters in Him. Your confidence in your gifted area is a joy to behold!

    Love and prayers,
    Lee Ann

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  8. Lynn asked a great question...does it say anywhere in scripture that this sort of submission is two-way? That it applies to men as well as women?

    Remember we ALL (men, women) are considered the Bride of Christ, and Christ our Bridegroom. Look at 2 Corinthians 11:2, and Revelation 22:17 as a couple of examples in scripture. So, yes, men are to submit in the same way to Christ that wives are to submit to their husbands.

    Men are called to love their wives as Christ loved the church...sacrificially. Ephesians 5:25-31 gives the husband's role in marriage. They have a specific calling too!

    We'll talk more tomorrow. :-)

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  9. Lee Ann,

    Healing and faith are my spritural Gifts. Is this what you thought it would be?

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  10. Good Morning, All!

    Yes, Maria, Faith was definitely one I knew you had. :-) What was your score in Mercy? Just curious on that one!

    Let's wrap up this week three before I post week four. I thought perhaps it might be helpful to share my present vision/mission/scriptural base with you so you could get an idea of what I'm up to!

    My life's vision is to have made a Kingdom difference having lived. What I mean by that is that I pray my very existence will have mattered in the eternal picture...that I would have opened my mouth as often as possible, or typed as many words as I could to share His Love and saving grace.

    My mission breaks down into two main areas: speaking and teaching, and writing.

    My scriptural foundation is 1 Corinthians 14:40, "But we will do all things with decency and in good order."

    So! Where do I begin? Look at Lynn's SMART helps...Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Framed.

    Looking at the two areas separately, let's focus first on speaking and teaching:

    ***Specific: Business cards, advertising, portfolio with information on what I do and what I can offer, website, personal visits to Rochester area churches and women's organizations...etc.
    ***Measurable: Calendar dates, on-going classes, invitations pending to speak
    ***Achievable: Yes--classes, speaking dates, teaching opportunities
    ***Realistic: Yes--fits in with my spiritual gifts and God blesses each opportunity in abundance
    ***Time-framed: Daily encouragements through Facebook, weekly devotionals through the website, weekly classes, speaking calendar dates are filling up

    Now the writing:
    ***Specific: Book published by spring of 2010
    ***Measurable: Devotions collected from past writings, short encouragements compiled
    ***Achievable: Yes--editor help found, publisher pending
    ***Realistic: Yes--in keeping with my spiritual gifts and God's confirmation to prayer
    ***Time-framed: Yes--although waiting on editor can be a test of my patience :-)

    So! That gives you a bit of a guideline, using the help that Lynn gave us with her SMART focus too!
    ***Vision: To make a Kingdom difference.
    ***Mission: Speak, teach, write.
    ***Scriptural foundation: 1 Cor 14:40

    Watch for Week Four!

    Love and prayers,
    Lee Ann

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