Week 8 Day 1 - 3: Conforming to Him...

Ok this week is all about spiritual gifts, and how you can identify them, zero in on them, and then bless the body of Christ with your service through them.

Ok here are the SHAPE points as presented in the book. I am hoping and praying I can find something in there that I can use to do Gods work:

Sprititual Gifts:
1) Creativity
2) Knowledge
3) Mentoring (I think)
4) Teaching (I think)

Heart: ie my passions
1) Music
2) Computers
3) Movies

Abilities: what are you good at?
1) Singing, music
2) Coding
3) Organizing

Personality:
1) Mild extrovert
2) Sanguine (?)
3) Love the limelight
4) Witty
5) Flippant

Experiences that Have shaped you
1) SInging with proffessional musicians
2) Working with street kids
3) Parents separation
4) Passing away of loved ones

Now to make sense of all this...

Week 8 Day 4 - 5: He who the Son sets free...

Debt is really, REALLY enslaving. Ask me about it. I have struggled with a certain debt for 2+ years now...and it seems very very hard to get out of it. Now i should have known better and NOT gotten into it in the first place. But further to that, i should have used the sale of a certain asset in my possession at the time to significantly reduce the debt. But I was foolish, something I am paying for now (literally).

The only way that I think I can do it now is to sell off my car, a most uncomfortable prospect seeing as it has now become an asset to my wife's business. And then there is the issue of when we get pregnant...

If there was ever a time I needed Gods wisdom, it is now. I have prayed alot on this issue due to the effects debt has on your spiritual walk. I have been unable to tithe completely so far, and thus feel denied of huge spiritual gifts. True I shifted the debt to a lower paying loan instrument, but it remains an eye-sore on the monthly budget, straining every other item in its wake.

Now I feel God telling me to rest in His peace, and that it will all work out, and that I do not have to run to and fro, and fret and worry, that it is all taken care of.

Week 8 Day 1 - 3: The Giver and the Gift

11 “Beware that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today, 12 lest—when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them; 13 and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; 14 when your heart is lifted up, and you forget the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;17 then you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.’
18 “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth" Deuteronomy 18: 11 - 17, 18

I do thank God that He has been working on the area of giving for quiet some time now..and more than that, He has demonstrated His supernatural gift of provision time and time again (ask me about my wedding some day..quite a few miracles there!)

I have however been struggling with the net vs gross issue, partly because of the forced saving rule in the company I work with. Not that I am unthankful, goodness no. I just need to take the extra step of faith in giving ALL my tithe into the storehouse of God, as said in Malachi.

I also struggle with a single major debt that has crippled my ability to give all. I am trusting God that in this particular week I will be able to learn how to shake off those shackles and walk free.

Week 7 Day 4 - 5: The Whole Earth, and All That Are In It

It is encouraging to read the stories of Ecclesias taking up the mantle and addressing environmental problems. God really is the God of the whole earth. It therefore follows that we should be good stewards of the same.

But in the same vein, He wants us to go forth and evangelise ALL nations. This concept was very foreign to me, after all, only "great men of God" travelled country to country preaching the Gospel. But here again surfaces my prior misconceptions about the great commission. The commission was for US ALL to go out to all the world. Adopting a country is a very good idea in my opinion. It crystallizes something that has been made extremely abstract. It brings that country, and the people therein to our living room, so to speak, and allows us to bring them to God in prayer effectively.

I believe the Wife and I should pick a country (she has a passion for Africa so chances are that's where we will get one) and adopt it, and pray for it, and trust God for miracles in it. This goes way beyond just praying for our families and our friends...

Week 7 Day 1 - 3: Transformation Crusade

I am glad to be a part of such a progressive Church. So few "get" Gods agenda on a total transformation of the society, and limit his working to only an individuals life and family (thereby inadvertently making the society even more individualistic).

I always thought that the CHristian responsibility extended beyond just our locale, but now I can see clearly what God had always intended for us to be. Evangelism and social relief are not the grand finale of His plan for salvation. There remains community development, social transformation, reconciliation and environmental concerns on top of that.

I cant wait to plug into a ministry where I can give of the gifts and talents that i possess. I am especially interested in helping someone one move from dependancy to self provision (but then again, my wifes business may just be the place im called, in which case im involved already!!).

God bless.

Week 6 Day 3 - 5: Go and Tell Somebody!

A very sobering three chapters. The call to evangelise is for ALL Christians, regardless of their giftings. I have been completely lax and complacent in this area. Of no heavenly use whatsoever. Even blogging about it has been hard. And this is in spite of the fact that my gift lies smwhere in music (still trying to find out where).

The short survey at the back of the book has revealed that my personal strenghts are strongly intellectual, with confrontation and testimony coming as weak seconds, my interpersonal and serving aptitudes are apalling, and invitational virtually non-existent. So call me complicated :-D

I just done believe the story of my conversion is that "compelling". To me, its the same old, same old. But there is someone out there who needs to believe God can save someone like him, and he happens to relate with my story, so Lord, help me tell it.

Lord help me be able to reach out.

My impact list is as follows:

1) Dad
2) Nitu and Pree
3) Dunkie

Week 6 Day 1 - 2: He came to save the Lost

It is wondrous that such an all-knowing, all-powerful God sought me out when I was lost in my sins. The experience is mind-boggling, and extremely humbling all at the same time. If He did that for me, and used someone to share the Good News with me, then I should reach out for someone else who is lost as well, and show them the goodness of this God who is concerned with sinners.

Father help me reach out to others, just as you reached out to me, and that, through me, many will come to know you. Help me go and tell somebody.

Week 5 Day 5: Each One Reach One

Interestingly, the catch-phrase title was Chapels motto on one particular outreach month a long time ago. It been very long since i witnessed to anyone about my faith in Christ, half the time feeling too guilty about the state of my life, and the other half too afraid of being rejected.

I kept thinking that the setting was all wrong, wondering if my testimony would ruin the friendship, or whether I even had anything of importance to tell anyone. I guess I used to overthink it, and consequently never do anything about it. And not reaching out for souls does have its consequences; my passion for lost souls diminished, and my christian walk became complacent.

I trust God to give me the courage and take away the fear of witnessing. After all, if I deny Him before men, He will deny me before the Father.

Week 5: Day 2 - 4: In Communion

The importances of joining a ministry, or Ecclesia for that matter are myriad. Despite our third world setting, our society is getting more and more disjointed. The feeling of being alone in a crowd is getting more and more prevalent. The temptation to conform in order to be accepted, harder to resist. The need to feel part of something, ANYTHING, overwhelming.

The small church group setting has never really worked for me though. This has largely been due to my past. The "small" group was not small at all, there was no fellowship or "bonding", more like cliques, and even within those it was a constant battle to be seen, heard, recognised, regarded and, ultimately, rewarded.

This one is different though. I do pray it works out...

Week 5 Day 1: A Part of the Anatomy

Ok the slow pace of the Internet is REALLY getting to me...and my provider tells me there will be no changes until the fibre lands...which will take about 3 more months!!!

I cant live like this!!!!!

Ok on with the series:

This week has been all about body parts and functions, in the body of Christ that is. Interestingly, I had never thought of it in that way. Sure I had always known that I am a member of the body of Christ, but the logical conclusion (I therefore should be doing something in the Church) had never actually hit me. True I have always loved serving in the Church, but to realise that it is a REQUIREMENT not a hobby or pastime is an eye opener. At least for me. It is important to get plugged in.

And therein lies the conundrum: I am hesitant to begin serving because family plans will eventually make me scarce as far as meetings go due to time constraints. Does this show a lack of faith? Should I just go ahead and plug into the ministry I would like to be involved in and trust God to do the rest? Questions...questions...

My Summary on Prayer

This is a small insight I had while studying the previous lessons on the Mizizi course. Ok not quite an insight but more a guideline for extended prayer. The 15min prayer sessions I have are OK now but wont do much longer: I need something that will guide me to deeper communion with God. Most of the points are self explanatory but I will list a few pointers for those that are not:

The daily quiet time should include the following:

Worship:
Begin your time by focussing on who God is and appreciating Him. Sing aloud a worship song or read a psalm of praise.

Read:
Read the Bible: read the message through to understand the big picture, then again to understand how it applies to you.

Apply:
Now take time to apply what you read in your life. Based on the passage:
1) Is there a Sin to confess?
2) Are there Promises to claim?
3) Are there Examples to follow?
4) Is there a Command to obey?
5) Is there a Truth about God to believe?

Pray:
Most important of all, pray regularly, pray privately and finally (and perhaps most importantly) pray genuinely.

Now on to the model of prayer:

1)Adoration: Reflect back to God on who He is. We speak of His greatness and ability, and how much we love Him.
2) Confession: We acknowledge our sins and apologise for them with a view to turning away.
3) Thanksgiving: Thank God always, in good times and in difficult times.
4) Supplication: Bring before God not only YOUR requests, but also the requests of others. Remember God is greater than our requests, and more powerful than any problem we will ever face.

Journelling
Journelling is a great way to keep track of the prayers that God has answered. It is also encouraging during trying times because we have a record of Gods consistent goodness throughout our Christian lives.