Weekend Reflections

As reflected in the class lesson today, God is truly amazing with His multi-faceted attributes.   He has truly been gracious and compassionate in all the ways that He has been working in my life.

I've been experiencing "healing" through the clear lessons that He has been showering me with:

• I am not alone - He is always with me
• God is just and I can entrust justice into His Hands
• We can grow the most through our adversity and suffering, which will also build our character

Another reflection of the "healing" is that I was able to buy a watch which somewhat replaces what was lost; and this one actually has "Walk by Faith" on the face, which is in line with my life verses.

This weekend was fairly encouraging.  This morning I woke up being drawn to pray for worship, especially as I serve on the AV Team.   And during the devotional today, I was asked to pray; similar to last time.  We sang "Christ the Lord is Risen Today", for our Assistant Pastor was inspired to sing about the resurrection as he read 1 Corinthians 15.  Class also went well, as we reflected upon the attributes of God. 

Afterwards was the DESIGN seminar, similar to other spiritual gifts lessons I've taken or even taught.  DESIGN stands for:

• D - Desire
• E - Experience
• S - Spiritual Gifts
• I - Individual Style
• G - Growth Stage
• N - Natural Abilities

These together would point us to where we would be most effective serving in the Body of Christ.  What I learned through taking the class today is that in my earliest spiritual gift surveys, often my strongest gifts were Helps and Serving.  Yet, the last one that I took showed that my gifts were Teaching, Helps, and Giving.  And then today,  they were Teaching, Preaching, Giving, Knowledge, and Discernment.   I think what this shows me, is that early on, I may have had more experience with Helps and Serving.   But, as I have grown and developed my gifts, I find that my stronger gift is Teaching, which has also helped develop areas that are related, like Preaching, Knowledge, and Discernment.  

In terms of Individual Style, in the DISC survey, of the different styles: (D)ominance, (I)nfluence, (S)teadyness, (C)ompliance; it appears that my Introvert nature comes out clearly, so, I scored highest with S and C.   Just reading the styles itself, I came out as expected, with Steadyness highest.   However, on reading it more closely, it said that I was more Indirect than Direct and People-Oriented than Task-Oriented.  That's not what I would've guessed; but, it is possible that once again my serving in Teaching and in Leadership has changed me to grow in being more People-Oriented.  As for a Indirect, while I appreciate more when others are Direct with me; but, because I try to be diplomatic and not cause conflict, it is possible that I am more Indirect.

The areas that contribute to Growth are:  Bible Study, Prayer, Fellowship, and Trials.   Here again, I'm reminded that Trials can help me to grow.  In terms of Natural Ability, I thought of writing; and strengths as being detail-oriented, reliable, and balanced.

Overall, I think that Teaching is what I am called to do right now, and where I am able to serve effectively.  Also, in terms of Giving, our church is launching the next steps of expansion, Advancing God's Vision.   I have prayed about what God would want me to pledge, and the amount I settled upon is interestingly related to the "healing" process I've been going through.

It's neat to see God at work and Him using me.  Amen.

After the class, one of the people (someone I had never met before) said to me that my smile reflected JOY. That was a nice and encouraging thing to hear.