What's in Your Bag?

There’s only one of you, you can scan history for a duplicate of you and you won’t find it. God tailor-made you!

 

You offer a gift to your family, community and the world that no one else brings. If you don’t bring it, it won’t be brought. (Isaiah 43:7)

 

There are no small parts in God’s human drama. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

 

Live your life’s purpose or it won’t be lived. We need you to be you! You need you to be you! All you have to give is what you have been given to give.

 

Concentrate on who you are and what you have. Don’t compare yourself with others. (Gal. 6:4-5)

 

God never called you to be anyone other than you. But he does call you to be the best you, you can be. The big question is, at your best, who are you?

 

If you are searching for answers to the question:  “Who am I, really?” It’s time to study your S.T.O.R.Y.

 

1. What are your STRENGTHS (verbs)? You use these often without even realizing it, because it comes so naturally (be careful to remain humble but do not discount it.) No one sees what you see as clearly as you see it! (Romans 12:6)

 

2. What is your TOPIC (nouns)?  What and whom do you enjoy working with…? Numbers, people, animals, scrapbooks, recipes…(Exod. 31:3-5)

 

3. What are your OPTIMAL CONDITIONS? What events/situations trigger your motivation? Some people love to respond to a need, others are motivated by addressing problems.  Some operate well in crises. Some want to create and build while others want to sustain and maintain. What are your optimal conditions?

 

4. What about RELATIONSHIPS? Do you work better in teams, clubs or social groups (i.e. motivated by groups) OR do you function better alone or a combination of both under different circumstances? For those who work alone, it’s not like they don’t like people but more that they don’t need a group to fulfill their assignment.

 

If you like groups, do you have to lead or always find yourself leading the group? Know your relationship style/patterns.

 

5. What makes you say YES? When do you feel God’s pleasure? When do you look to the heavens and say “I was made to do this?”

 

When your strengths, topic, optimal conditions, and relationship pattern come together in such a way that you say YES, you are living out your S.T.O.R.Y.!!! 

 

(Adapted from Max Lucado's Cure for the Common Life)