Since it’s almost the beginning of a new year and people think about losing weight, this seemed like a good time for this post.
My inspiration for this blog, and the SHAPE acronym comes from Rick Warren; it isn’t original to me, but I think it is great, so I wanted to share it.
We each have a destiny, a God ordained plan for our lives, and that includes many things we often don’t consider that way. Some are things we cannot control, such as our parents, nationality, native language, the community we grew up in, and our race, to name a few. We need to recognize that, although sometimes we have issues with one or more of these facets to our lives, they are all a part of who God created us to be. The acronym SHAPE also is largely beyond our control, but is a central part of who we are, and God ordained these things for us to enjoy, build on, and use for His glory:
S – Spiritual Gifts
H – Heart
A – Abilities
P – Personality
E – Experience
Are we building on and developing that SHAPE, so that we may become all that God created us to be, and using it for His glory and to build the Kingdom? If not, why not? And, how can we begin to do so, or do it in areas we may have previously neglected?
Another thing to keep in mind regarding this, is that we are NOT responsible for gifts God did NOT give us! There is no benefit, to us or to God, to spend effort and energy trying to be a great musician, or a great artist, or whatever, if we have not been given that gift. Develop the gifts you have been given, and don’t stress over ones you might wish you had, or think you ought to have.
Thank You, Lord for the gifts You have blessed me with – and I know they are many – and help me to build and use them for Your glory and Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Kathy
