Day 8

• A Reminder:  God not only gives us “The Gifts Of The Spirit”, He gives us special talents.  You should have already been thinking about this.  And, don’t wait (until perfected) to use your talents and gifts.  Someone once said, “practice makes perfect”.   
  

A Personal Story

Several years ago my husband asked me this question.  Is there anything you would really like to do that you have never had the chance to?  After a little extra nudge from him, I said this:  “I always wanted to play the “Cello”.  I told my father this once, but he dismissed me (I don’t know why.  Perhaps he didn’t have the money to buy a cello…who knows…).  Anyway, my husband took me to a music store and bought me my first “Cello”.  So at the age of 46, I found a wonderful and patient music teacher.  I became a part of our church orchestra after taking lessons for 3 years.  I could have become a part of the orchestra sooner, but that’s how long it took me to get up the nerve to play in front of anyone besides my husband.  Bless his heart, I remember the day he told me, “I recognize a tune”!  I thought because I wanted to play this instrument so much I would pick it up with no problem.  I read music well (71/2 years of piano as a kid).  It was actually very difficult for me.  It took me several lessons to be able to move my left arm up and down….and my right arm back and forth at the same time.  I can now pat my head and rub my tummy well too.  My point is, I am very average in my skills, but there is something magical about playing with other musicians.  We all fit together well.  I remember one of the other musicians (she’s also a music teacher and plays the flute with excellence) said of our sheet music one Sunday morning….”this is fifth grade band stuff”.   And I said, “just my speed”!  As you use your talents and your gifts you will become more comfortable with them, and with practice you will improve!  I promise!  Which leads me into the next point…

• Your Heart’s Desires:  Psalm 37:4 says to “Find your joy in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart”  Your desires in serving the Lord are never silly or out of reach!
• Think about your experiences in life because they will forever be a part of “Your Personal Testimony” to the Love, Grace and Faithfulness of the Lord in your life.  Remember the quote I gave you?   “We speak best of God and His goodness when we speak from our own experience“.  Matthew Henry
• Where is your Mission field?  What season of life are you in?  These two need to be considered together because the season of life you are in will greatly affect where, when and how far you can venture out.  For example:  My husband and I will be staying close to home because his mother needs our attention (even though she is living in a nursing home).  I believe it’s called the “sandwich generation?”.   The season of life you are in does not keep you from “being on mission”.  Being married or single doesn’t keep you from ”being on mission”.  When you walk out your front door in the morning, “you are entering the mission field”.

Day 9

• Our confidence as Christian women comes from knowing who we are in Christ as we live daily for HIS PURPOSE.
• Psalm 71:5-6  “From our beginning the Lord has been our confidence… (our security)”.
• If you need a boost in your confidence read again the scriptures referred to in Day 9 and don’t let the devil fill you with the lie, “you have nothing to offer” or “God can’t use you”……  The devil’ will devalue God’s gifts and doing God’s work every chance he gets.
• And, NO…I am not telling anyone to be “PROUD (Pride), which we all know is a sin.  Our talents and gifts are meant to be shared so that the Kingdom of God might be pushed forward.  To keep them to ourselves is the wrong thing to do.  

Day 10 and 11

• If our #1 Purpose is to have relationship with God and to glorify Him, our #2 Purpose, our reason for living, is to further the Kingdom of God (after we have accepted Christ as “OUR LORD AND SAVIOR”) by living the life and becoming like Jesus Christ.  This is “GOD’S PLAN” for you! He has already written the script.  You just have to make yourself available!
• Jesus gave His life as “the perfect, correct amount of  payment……the perfect sacrifice” for our sins.  Jesus came to give us everlasting life, so that we could live in the light, to give us the truth.
• We are commanded by Jesus to:  Love God with all our heart, soul and mind. Love one another as He has loved us. 
• We are commanded by Jesus to: Go and make disciples……teaching…spreading the Gospel (Good News)
• If you read John 13:12-17,  you will know that Jesus provided the Disciples with a wonderful illustration of humility and love by washing their feet.  “You will be blessed if you do this“….SERVE ONE ANOTHER!!!!!!

God’s Purpose for Your Existence

Is to be in Relationship with Him

His Plan was to Reconcile you to Him

Through the Sacrifice of His only Son, Jesus Christ

Whose Purpose for You

Is to Become His Disciple, to Be like Him

His Plan is to Teach You to use the Gifts, Talents and Experiences in Your Life, to give your unique Testimony to Others, so they might be reconciled to the Father

For the Purpose of Living in Heaven to Glorify Him for All Eternity 

2 Corinthians 5:20  “We are therefore, ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.  God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”  NIV

I do have one final worksheet/drawing to give you.  I will attach at the end of this lesson.  I call it “Extensions of Your Heart”.  In the middle is a red heart which represents your #1 relationship with God.  You will find 7 hearts around the red middle heart.  Here is where you will place your relationships, commitments, your duties and/or responsibilities.  For example:  If you are married, the relationship with your husband will go into the 1st heart surrounding the red heart in the middle.  The next heart area would be your children and grand-children.  The next heart area might be your extended family…the next your friends.  Think about your relationships, about the amount of time you put into them.  Not enough in some, too much in others?   After you have entered your relationships you will move on to responsibilities such as a job….go on to church responsibilities and/or other places where you volunteer your time.  Think about the amount of time you are putting into these also.  The point is to get a handle on your life.  You may find that you are doing “just fine”, or you may find that you are ”over extended”  The farther away you move from the inner circle of your heart (the more people, places and things you try to pack in), the less time you will spend there.

Day 1 and 2

• Desire, in your heart, to seek God’s Plan and Purpose for your life.
• What is the Purpose of LIFE?    Remember, We are Daughters of the the King, Our Father God!  The Purpose of this earthly life must be sought eternally.  We are “Christian” women.
• Our Purpose or meaning for existence, is determined by God..Set your heart toward His reason for your existence.

Day 3

• Jeremiah 29:11-13 “vs.11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an unexpected end.  vs 12  Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.  vs 13  And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”  KJ 
• The NIV translation says, (pertaining to vs 11) “God wants to give us a hope and a future“.  This is the ultimate thought from God,  to reach that ultimate prize that Paul speaks of in Philippians 3:14
• Search for Him with all your hearts as you run the race to the “ULTIMATE” end (only of this earthly life).  Because at that point…It is, and will be a beautiful beginning.

Day 4 and 5

• Psalm 40:5 says,  “Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward (toward us):  they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:  if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”  KJ
• Psalm 139:17-18a says,  “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God!  how great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:…”  KJ
• AWESOME!  God’s thoughts toward us are “Precious” and He thinks about us all of the time.
• Genesis 1:26-27 says that “we were made in the image of God”.
• In Genesis 2:7 we read that “God breathed into Adam the breath of life and that he became a living soul”.

Our #1 Purpose is to have Relationship with our Creator!

We were made in “His Image” and we are reconciled to Him through Jesus Christ so that we might once again have loving, awesome communion with Him, now and for all eternity.

Day 6 and 7

• This was the day I left you with the links to the “Spiritual Gifts”  inventory.  I hope that you used the link(s). 
• Quote by David Francis  “A spiritual gift is a God-given assignment, capacity, and desire to perform a function within the body of Christ with supernatural joy, energy, and effectiveness.” SUPER-NATURAL!
• You have an important role, to live daily, in the Kingdom of God (the BODY of CHRIST).  Read  1 Corinthians 12:12-27.
• The Body of Christ depends on your contribution.  You have value to the BODY of CHRIST you are associated with.
• Read James 2:14-17.
• Do not hide your faith. We glorify God in our efforts.  Live for eternal purpose.
• What is your gift?  Do you desire to seek a certain gift (there is nothing wrong in this)?
• We are all gifted and talented, by the hand of God.  You are precious and special.  You will find great joy when you use your gift(s) and talent(s) in the BODY of CHRIST.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if each of us used what God has given us to encourage, teach…..etc.  Seek that “ONE” thing that you exist for “IN THE BODY OF CHRIST”.
• Here’s another thought for you….I believe that God uses our experiences in life to help us find that perfect fit for us.  My husband and I would not be Mission’s Directors in our Church had he not led us to the “short-term” mission field and placed inside of us a “Heart for Missions”.

This is my prayer for us today….”May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever.  Amen”.  Hebrews 13:20-21  ESV Study Bible

Tomorrow we will finish “Putting It All Together”

What does “my life” look like, in light of what Jesus Christ has done for me, and commanded me to do?

One month ago my answer to that question would be very different than it is today.  One month ago my husband and I were preparing to go on a mission trip to Egypt’.  Our lives were so chaotic, I can’t even tell you how chaotic.  We were trying to take care of all those things that needed to be done before the first frost came.  We were very uneasy about leaving my 93-year-old mother-in-law.  We were in the middle of a very intense Bible study ourselves, on anger.  You know, when you study something like that you find you have issues of your own that need to be dealt with (I elaborate more on this in my Bible study “Hey God, I Didn’t Ask For humility….”).  I was trying to relate to my grand-children, take care of my business, church activities…, and all those other responsibilities that we have as women and those things that just pop into life on a daily basis.  Can anyone else relate to any of this?  A week before we were to leave for Egypt’, my mother-in-law fell, and the person who works for us had an immediate family member develop some health issues.  It was disappointing when we had to cancel our trip.  But, a few days later I found myself so at peace that I had to think about why I felt that way.  It was such a load off of me (and my husband) to just “STOP”.  It is very hard to think about anything else except your next responsibility, duty or commitment when that’s all you have in life.  It was somewhat chaotic that first week, after we cancelled our trip.  But once we helped everyone get through the initial crisis, life started to change.  I started to actively pursue time with the Lord.  All of a sudden I could see the change in my days.  All of a sudden I didn’t feel as if I was trying to catch up so I could go or do.  I don’t know how long I have felt like I was always playing catch up.  I’m sitting here right now, and I still have time to wash a load of jeans, do what I need to do in my business, cook lunch for my “Hubby” and will spend the rest of the evening sitting next to him talking (or whatever).  And, I DON”T FEEL STRESSED.  I hope you can understand this…the key word is “STOP”.  My husband has been to see his mother today, she’s doing great where she is.  It was a nice day so he played a little golf, which makes him happy.  I’ve had more time in the last couple of weeks to spend with my grand-kids than I’ve had in a long time.  Tomorrow I will easily find time again to be with the Lord and blog. I just know it’s because I “STOPPED” and asked God to help me to be wise and persistent in pursuing my relationship with Him.  I realize that some of you might have small children at home and your time is not as free as mine.  But, take it from someone who knows….assess your responsibilities and do not add unnecessary ones to your load.

 We all have responsibilities, but when we start piling other responsibilities on top of what we already have we are going to get in trouble.  If we put so much in our lives that there is no time for the Lord, no time to talk with Him and to listen to him, there’s no way we will understand what His plan for our lives are.  We definitely are not processing the fact that Jesus came to save us so that we would not perish and have everlasting life.  We definitely are not living in the light if we are running so fast we cannot even see the light.

To answer my own question above……….One month ago, the light of Jesus was a little dim in my life.  Today,  I see it shinning.  I cannot play down what Jesus did for me. 

If we truly believe that Jesus came to save our souls from eternal hell, that His life was and is the prefect sacrifice for us, that He came to reconcile us to THE FATHER (#1 Purpose in life is to have a relationship with and glorify God)….we cannot keep living as if we do not know Him.  Too busy for Him?  Then we are too busy!

This has to be our starting point.  We are Daughters of the King of Kings.  Our families need to see this in us.

Today, “STOP” and make a list of all your responsibilities, duties and commitments. Really think about what is important.  Remember, in your life, you are trying to please “The King Of Kings”, not man.  Along with our relationship with Him, our family is very special and important!  In Day 5′s lesson I asked you if there is anything you need to let go of?  Is there?  Think about it again!

Tomorrow we will continue to put it all together……….We’ll talk about the commandments that Jesus left us, including John 13:12-17.

Scripture to Ponder:

John 3:16;  John 12:46-47; 1John 4:10; 

Jesus came___________________________________________________________________!

Matthew 22:37-39 (see also Mark 12:29-31) 

Jesus said, “The most important Commandment is: ____________________________________________________________________________ and the second is: _________________________________________________________________!”

John 13:34

Jesus said, “___________________________________________________________________!”

Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus said, “___________________________________________________________________!”

What does “my life” and “your life” look like, in light of what Jesus Christ has done for us and commanded us?  Be honest!  No one will see it but you, unless you would like to share.

Tomorrow, I will share my answer with you…..Remember, God Has A Purpose and A Plan For Your Life (and mine)!

Point One:  Your confidence comes from knowing who you are in Christ as you live daily for His purpose. 

 So many times we fail to see ourselves (as women) in the light that the Lord sees us.  As Daughters of the King we must believe that we are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14) by His hand.  Again, I want to remind you how precious you are to him.

Isaiah 43:4–You Are Precious to God

Isaiah 46:3–He Has Cared About You Since Your Conception

John 1:12–You Are His Child

John 15:15–You Are Jesus’ Friend

John 15:16–You Are Chosen By Jesus

John 16:27–You Are Dearly Loved By God

Romans 8:1–You Are Free From Condemnation

1 Corinthians 3:16–You Are The Dwelling Place Of God’s Holy Spirit

Colossians 1:14–You Are Forgiven Of ALL Your Sins

Point Two:  Your confidence as a Christian Woman comes from TOTAL trust in your God.

Read the following passages of Scripture and fill in the blanks: NIV Translations

 Psalm 71:5-6.   From our beginning the Lord has been our confidence (our security).

Proverbs 3:26.  “For the _____will be your ___________, and will keep your foot from being snared.”

2 Corinthians 3:3-4 “You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the ________of the living______, not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of human_______.  Such _________as this is ours though________before______.”

Ephesians 3:12  “In_____and through_______in him we may approach God with_________and_____________.”

 Hebrews 4:16  “Let us then approach the______of_______with____________,so that we may_________mercy and find________to help us in our time of need.”

1 John 5:14  “This is the___________we have in approaching____: that if we ask__________ according to his_____, he hears___.”

Today, hide God’s word in your heart.  Allow Him to be your confidence, security and your courage.

What are your talents?__________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

What are your hearts desires?  The Bible says, “Delight (find your joy) yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”  Psalm 37:4 ESV…Write down the desires of your heart (even if you think they are “silly” or “unattainable”).  _______________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Think about your experiences in life.  Write down a time(s) that the Lord has been a comfort to you.  The Bible says, “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  NIV

I have a quote in my office that I can see everyday.  It says, “We speak best of God and His goodness when we speak from our own experience.”  quote by Matthew Henry

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Where is your “mission field”?  Is it in your Church (your body of Christ)?  Is it in your neighborhood or your city?   Where has God planted you?  Do you have opportunity to go beyond the place that you live?  Is it in your “family” (your husband, children, grand-children, friends….)?

 Finally, what season of life are you in?  Are you single?  Are you married with children?  Are you in the empty nest season of life?  Are you in the “sandwich generation” (taking care of parents)season  of life?  Are you taking care of an ill child or spouse?_________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________

Today, meditate on Psalm 37: 4.  God wants you to find your joy in Him.  Talk with Him about the desires of your heart.

Quote “A spiritual gift is a God-given assignment, capacity, and desire to perform a function within the body of Christ with supernatural joy, energy, and effectiveness.”  End Quote

I also want to give you four scripture references that are key to spiritual gifts.  They are Romans 12:1-16; Ephesians 4:1-16 and 1 Peter 4:9-11.  The last one I want you to see, now.  It is 1 Corinthians 12:4-6  “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.  There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.”  (see also entire 12th chapter)  What I want you to understand is that “You”  are included in “God works all of them in all men”.  Now, a reminder to all of us, including me, “The Church” is not a building.  Yes, we use our gifts within our (location) body of Christ.  But there are gifts, such as hospitality, mercy and evangelism (to name 3), that are (also) used outside the church.  If you did not use the “Spiritual Gifts” websites listed in Day 6, I would encourage you to do so. 

I really didn’t intend to talk about the “gifts”, it just happened.  I pray everyday for the Holy Spirit to guide me and direct me in my steps in this study.  At the end of this study, I want all of us to have a clear mindset and fullness of heart for the Lord’s “Purpose” and “Plan” for our lives.  So, anything that can help us see our God-given potential will only encourage us.  I know what my gifts are and are not.  Two of my gifts are Evangelism and Discerning of Spirits.  I also know that “I Do Not Have The Gift Of Mercy”.  Anyone who knows me, will tell you this.  On the other hand, God (and it truly is a God thing) has given me the gift of “Mercy” for some people in my life.  I do not have the gift of “Hospitality” (which can mean more than inviting people over for dinner).  But, that does not mean I am not hospitable.  I love to have family holiday gatherings in my home.  I like to have friends over.  We have had missionary families stay in our home for a few days. But “Hospitality” is not my gift.  I guess one of my points is this:  We have only to ask for a gift if we need it.  Like me, God helped me to be merciful and compassionate for ??  Or, God give me some of that “Hospitality” gift these next four days while ?? are here.  Now you say to me, “let’s go on a mission trip”…and I’m ready right now to go, or I’m giving you 5 minutes notice to give your testimony…and I can do it.  Only by the Grace of God, but I will go and I can do it.

Today, if nothing else, think about your gifts and talents.  You do have them.  Think about the joy and satisfaction you have when they are active in your life. 

Something else that’s on my heart right at this moment.  I know that when you are in a season of life when you are consumed by raising children, or your having a difficult day…the last thing you have time for is discovering your “Purpose” or gift from God.  But, if you’re reading this anyway….take a couple of minutes and do it.  Let God speak to you right now.  Allow the encouragement of the Holy Spirit to touch your heart and strengthen you.

“Transformed by the Renewing of Our Minds!!!!!”  Romans 12:2 

http://buildingchurch.net/g2s.htm

http://www.christianet.com/bible/spiritualgiftstest.htm

Scripture to Ponder

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails”

Proverbs 19:21  NIV

“26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

Genesis 1: 26-27 KJ

I have a Study Bible called “The New Defenders Study Bible”.  I purchased it from ”Institute for Creation Research (ICR)”.  I want to give you a quote from the study notes in this Bible.

“‘Our Image’, therefore implies human likeness to the triune Godhead.  Plants possess a body, and animals a body and consciousness.  Man was not only to have a body and consciousness, but man was also to possess a third created entity, the image of God, an eternal spirit capable of communion and fellowship with his Creator.”

If we read on in the book of Genesis, chapter 2 verse 7, we see that God breathed into Adam the breath of life and that he became a living soul.  I think that it is safe to say that in the beginning God’s purpose for us was to have relationship with him.  And I think that because we were created in His image, we were perfectly capable of doing so.  Of course we all know what happened.  Adam and Eve’s sin broke that perfect communion with God.  But, because of the sacrifice made by God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to Him. 

So in our search for purpose we know these truths so far:

1.  God has so many thoughts toward us that we cannot even count them.

2.  We believe the truth that we are precious to Him.

3.  We were made in “HIS IMAGE” and  we are reconciled to Him through JESUS CHRIST so that we might once again have sweet communion with Him. 

PURPOSE #1:  To have “Relationship” with our Creator!

Recent events in my life have “stopped” me from going and doing.  It has caused me to rethink my priorities in life.  I have to tell you, “that’s okay with me”.  There is stress in a chaotic life.  I “will” think twice before I take any thing else on.  My husband always asks me, “what are you going to give up to take on this or that”?  If all the things we are doing, cause us to have “NO TIME” for our #1 purpose in life…..”THOSE THINGS ARE NOT WORTH IT”!  A very wise person in my life challenged me to rethink my “web of relationships”.  Who are those people in your life that are important to you?  Are those people in your life that need you the most being cast aside for “doing” or “going”, or for our so-called ministries?  Is your relationship with God being cast aside? We don’t have to do everything we are asked to do, even if it is a worthy cause.  Relationship with our Creator and relationship with our families should be #1 in our lives (in that order).  This is where we start.  Then we can add that “special something” that God gave us talent and a gift for.  If we all waited on the Lord to open up that “special something” he wants us to do, instead of trying many things on for size (doing), we might not be so overwhelmed.

Today, meditate on your life.  Is it a life of order or chaos?  Let’s get back to basics and simplicity.  Yes, we can say “No”.   Are you overwhelmed?  Is there something (s) that you need to let go of?  Wait upon the Lord!  Stop and listen to Him!  Anticipate what the Lord is going to do because you are willing to wait upon Him!

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him…”    1 Corinthians 2:9    NIV

Oh that we could understand how much God loves us.  I think that our minds cannot imagine the love that it took to lay down the life of His Son for us. 

 Psalm 40 verse 5 says, “Many, O Lord my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward (toward us): they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee:  if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.”  KJ

Psalm 139 verses 17-18a say, “How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand:..” KJ

Isn’t that an awesome thought!  I have nothing against using different translations of the Bible.  I do it often.  But, there is something so poetic and beautiful about reading the Psalms in the King James version.   

David says that God’s thoughts for us are more than can be numbered and they are precious!  Jeremiah says (Day 3)  ”saith the Lord” that God knows the thoughts he thinks toward us, thoughts of peace and thoughts to give us hope.  If God loves us so much, there has to be purpose for our lives.  He did not create us to be puppets to manipulate for his entertainment.  He created us in His own image for “Purpose”.

Today, meditate on your God who has so many precious thoughts in one day for you, you cannot even count them.  Believe the truth that you are very precious to Him.

Read:  Chapter 1 of the Book of Genesis