Scott's Ponderings

God's Timing

2006-09-07T13:58:22-05:00

Timing is everything, at least that is what I have heard. Last week I was working through my personal life mandate worksheets and was jotting down some of my natural abilities. Among them I listed the ability to build things and an analytical mind. I then started to think about how these two things would, could, or should play out in who I am and what I am called to do. I had a list of four or five, but the two listed previously were the ones that stuck in my mind. Here is where I saw God’s timing in the matter. The day after I created my list and started pondering these things I was at the Minnesota state fair. This is not unusual for me since I seem to be drawn to the fair multiple times each year. This year Habitat for Humanity had an exhibit their about the work they are doing with Thrivent financial to build home in the Twin Cities area. As I was touring the exhibit, I felt God’s tug on me saying, you know how to build, you know how to serve so be about what I have created you to do.

The second instance was a couple of days after pondering these things, actually it would have been the next day, but I was at the fair and was unable to take the call. A friend was having trouble with the layout of his blog. By systematically working through the different sections we were able to determine the component that was bad, make the needed repairs and now his blog is functioning properly. Again, I was wondering how one of my natural abilities would be used and God provided an answer.

As you think about how it is God has wired you, your natural abilities, and your acquired skills you may not know how they will be applied in service to God, all you need to do is listen and be willing to serve and the opportunities will present themselves.

Convergence

2006-08-31T10:31:21-05:00

Convergence (noun) - The process of coming together or the state of having come together toward a common point.[1]

As I near the end of my time in my FOAW group, convergence seems to be the word to describe the end product. As I think about my personal life mandate, there are a number of pieces that are coming together to create this document. These pieces include thinks like the way God created me (my strengths, personality [wiring], natural abilities, etc.) and those things I have learned along the way (skills, worldview, values, etc.). Put all these things together in a pot, stir well, bring to a simmer, sample continually and over a life time you end up with me, the good, the bad, and the ugly (the last two just need a little more simmering, or perhaps a good boil). When completed, my personal life mandate won’t make me a better person, though it will give me focus. My personal life mandate won’t show me God’s perfect plan for my life, but it will help clarify where I can best serve Him and others. My personal life mandate won’t be the end, rather it will by a blue print or guide as I continue as a sojourner on planet earth.

[1] Convergence. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary, Houghton Mifflin Company. http://dictionary.reference.com/search?r=2&q=Convergence (accessed: August 31, 2006).

How God Shapes Us

2006-06-15T08:04:52-05:00

Is it nature or nurture that makes us who we are? I would say both. God has created us unique individuals wired to be who we are. Some are introverts while others are extraverts. Some have the gift of gab while others are more reflective in their conversations. I think the key is to realize how it is God has created you and use that to glorify Him. In 1 Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:12-26) Paul uses the analogy of the body to describe the community of believers. One is not better or worse than the other, but in fact all are important. That's nature in a nutshell.

Not only are we a product of how God created us, but we are also a product of the experiences that we have gone through in life. God can and does use our experiences to mold us into the women and men He wants us to be. Because of our nature and our nurture, we become unique individuals that God can then use for specific roles in kingdom work.

Reflections on Life

2006-01-24T16:47:08-06:00

This begins a journey of reflection on God's calling on my life. For the next nine months or so I will be reflecting, evaluation, and wrestling with God about His call on my life. Some of those struggles will be shared here as a way of encouraging others who want to be what God has called them to be.