Too busy to hear God

This week, we have been looking at Hearing our Heartbeat. This particular week left me a little confused.  On the surface, I thought this would be an easy week of self-evaluation. Pretty cut and dry: “What are you passionate about? Do it.”  But as I began my process of “self-evaluation” I came to the realization that it wasn’t nearly as cut and dry as I thought.

Spiritual Gift Inventory

This week we begin the first letter of S.H.A.P.E., the “S,” your Spiritual Gifts. If you are interested in completing a spiritual gift inventory, here is a link for a test you can download:

• Click Here to download the Spiritual Gifts Assstment (it is a Microsoft Word document)
• Follow the instructions provided

This inventory will ask you 140 questions and will look at 28 different Spiritual Gifts. It might take up to an hour to complete and is a thorough test.  God bless you as you continue to examine who you are and who God has created you to be.

He knows me inside and out

As I was preparing to lead a group through the first week of SHAPE, I couldn’t help but notice these words from Psalm 139: “You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body;” (Click here to read all of Pslam 139). So God knows me inside and out? As I thought about those words I wrote in the margin “And God still wants to use me?”

Some will read these words and say “If God really knew what I am thinking, and really knew my thoughts, there is no way he could, or would, ever use me.” The thought of God knowing us that well brings reminders of all the evil thoughts we have rom time to time, our frustrations with other, our hatred toward certain people, or maybe our distrust of God. So do we need to be perfect to be used by God? I certainly hope not! If that were the case, God would have no use for me!

It is in instances such as this that I LOVE the cross and the forgiveness it brings! Jesus has this way of seeing our sin and because of the cross, working despite it.  I am thinking of the story of the Samaritan woman at the well found in John chapter 4. Jesus was talking to a woman who had been divorced 5 times and was living with another man. Jesus saw the sin and addressed it. And through a conversation with this woman, she came to see that He was the Messiah.

Even in her sin, God met her and used her. She returned to her town:

“Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?’” (John 4: 28-29)

Jesus saw her sin, addressed it, and used her for his glory. Verse 39 tells us “Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, ‘He told me everything I ever did.’”

God knows us inside and out. How wonderful to think that we have a God that knows our thoughts and sees our actions, and because of the forgiveness offered at the cross through Jesus Christ, is able to redeem our thoughts and actions, and use us for his glory. It is my prayer that as I recognize my sin, I see the cross, and I know that God CAN and WILL use me! I LOVE the cross!

Psalm 139: “You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body” and how wonderful it is that God knows me that well.

Doug Rogness
Congregational Life Director, West Campus

Knowing, Understanding, Embracing your S.H.A.P.E.

By Jen Weleski

For we are God’s Masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. (Ephesians 2:10 NLT)

Perhaps this verse is in your list of memory verses or if your like I was, it is the first time you have read it. We are His Masterpieces! What does it truly mean to be a masterpiece? Growing up I was never taught, “viewed,” or felt like anyone’s masterpiece. I was always searching for acceptance from those around me and almost always feeling as if I was coming up short. Never feeling confidant in who I was. But my search, my need for acceptance, my self worth (or should I say lack of) was shaken up the night I walked into a women’s bible study two years ago. The name of the study, Erik Rees’s S.H.A.P.E

In the weeks that would follow I was learning, no I was embracing, what it meant to be His masterpiece; made perfectly in His eyes for a purpose. I found myself slowly turning away from the need to seek approval, the belief of unworthiness, the self image I had of myself and instead began to choose to focus on what truly mattered; understanding what I am here for God’s purpose and to believe that God has equipped me with all that I need to accomplish my life’s purpose through the S.H.A.P.E. He has given me.

As Rees states, “Give yourself permission to be who God made you to be!” Wow! I needed to hear those words. More importantly I needed to accept them; learning to receive my personality as a gift from God. One concept I had never considered; now I treasure.

I’m not saying there aren’t times I still don’t need people’s approval, we all want acceptance. I’m not saying there aren’t times I still don’t feel like I‘m not “good” enough, a work in progress. However, I am saying thru S.H.A.P.E. my eyes, my heart, and my mind was, and has, opened up to believe, to search for His truths and His intentions for my life!

As for today, I know I’m still working on accepting all that the Lord has to offer; I don’t think that will ever go away, not on my time on earth anyway. I know going thru Erik Rees’s S.H.A.P.E. was God’s plan for me. He knew I was sinking. He knew I would be listening. He knew my heart would be open. He knew I needed to know I was somebody’s masterpiece!

What does it mean to be a masterpiece? I know what it means for me. Do you?

————
Jen Weleski is a member of Triumph and attends Triumph’s West Campus. Jen attended the S.H.A.P.E. study with a women’s group at the West campus.

What am I supposed to learn from this S.H.A.P.E. thing?

Growing up, I used to play with this toy, and now, when my kids visit Grandma and Grandpa, this very toy is used. I enjoy watching them look for the right holes to put the shapes into. The satisfaction they have when they get it right is fun to watch.

The flip side of that satisfaction is the frustration they have when trying to get it right. The square piece won’t fit in the round, triangle, or star-shaped hole. They will try to push it in, but it just doesn’t fit. Why won’t it fit? Because they are not putting the right shape into the right place.

God created each of us. Ephesians 2:10 tells us “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” We have been created to serve him.

The thought of serving God could bring a few different thoughts… including “God could never use me,” or “I have done things for the church in the past, it I DID NOT enjoy it.”

So what could you learn from this SHAPE study?  The SHAPE study helps you discover how God created you. We are all “shaped” a little different, the way God wants us. Finding your shape will help you find your sweet spot for serving.  You won’t be a square piece in a round, triangle, or star-shaped hole.  You can move from frustration in serving to satisfaction knowing you are serving how God created you to serve.

So what is your SHAPE?

Would you Host or Lead a Home Study?

Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

God created each of us in a unique way to accomplish unique purposes for Him.  It is amazing for me to think that God “knit me together in my mother’s womb” in a specific way for his service.  The same holds true for every believer.

Let me ask you, when it comes to serving God, have you ever felt like a square peg in a round hole?  The work you are doing just doesn’t fit who you are?

Triumph has been presented with a study that will help us discover exactly how God has “shaped” us for His service.  Did you know that you can have FUN and ENJOY serving God? Many don’t know this and many feel that because they are not a pastor, God can’t use them.

Beginning January 24, 2009, Triumph will begin a new study, both in Life Groups and through Sunday morning preaching.  Similar to the 40 Days of Purpose teaching Triumph held in 2003, it is our desire that this SHAPE study be something that the entire church participates in. This study has changed the lives of many.  It will help you find, and put you on the path to fulfilling, your unique purpose for life.

Would you be willing to either host or lead a small group? We are looking for a six-week commitment for this special teaching series.  Would you be willing to open your home? Would you be willing to facilitate this video teaching series?

Hosts: You simply need to open your home to 10-15 people once a week for six weeks.  The curriculum has DVD teaching, so a TV and DVD in a place where people can see them would be helpful as well!

Leaders: If you can read, you can lead! This series is produced by Rick Warren’s “Purpose Driven” ministry. It comes with workbooks and a teaching DVD. The DVD and workbooks have tips for leading a group and all the discussion questions needed for a successful study.

If you are willing to host, lead, or do both, could you let me know?  Simply send me an e-mail (doug@rogness.com) and I will add your name to the list.

Thanks in advance, and God bless.

Doug Rogness
Congregational Life Director, West Campus
e-mail: doug@rogness.com

Welcome to Triumph’s S.H.A.P.E. Site

Thanks for your interest in discovering your SHAPE. In 2003, Triumph taught through the 40 Days of Purpose from author Rick Warren. One part of that study (Purpose #4, Days 29-35) centered around understanding that “You were Shaped for Serving God.”

As you spend time learning about who you are, and how God has created you, we hope you will find this site helpful. If you have any questions, please contact the church office, or leave a comment on any post you find on this site and we will do our best to answer your questions.

God bless you on your journey,
-Doug Rogness, Congregational Life Director, West Campus