You are a Masterpiece with a Special Commission

Welcome to our S.H.A.P.E. Virtual Book Club!  

We are just starting out and would love for you to join us!  You can go right to this post to see the schedule, how to order the book, S.H.A.P.E.:  Finding and Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life, and get started reading Chapter 1: Masterpiece, which is what we're discussing today.  So, get a cup of tea or coffee and join me for our VBC.

When Piper, one of my younger daughters, was little, I'd ask her, "Piper, what do you want for lunch?  Would you like a PB & J, or a grilled cheese sandwich?" 

She'd look up at me and say, "I don't matter, Mommy." 

I'd ask her, "What would you like to wear today?  You pink polka-dotted dress, or your purple one with green stripes?" 

Shrugging her shoulders, she'd reply, "I don't matter, Mommy." 

"What story would you like for me to read tonight, Piper?" 

"I don't matter, Mommy."  

Every time this cutie-patootie would tell me "I don't matter, Mommy," I'd say, "Oh, Piper, you DO matter.  You matter much more than you could ever imagine."  And, without too much detail over the complexities of the English language and imprecise pronouns, I'd explain that what she really wanted to say was, "It doesn't matter."

For many of us, we stay stuck in the emerging linguistics of my daughter.  We say to ourselves, to our family, to the world, and to God, "I don't matter."

When in reality, we do matter.  We matter very much. God views us as masterpieces, His workmanship, clay in the loving hands of the Master Potter.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works.

My soul knows it very well. 

Psalm 139:13-14

Have you ever praised God for the way He made you?  Have you praised him for the way He crafted your body?  Have you considered yourself, your personality, your talents, your laugh, and thanked God for making you?  Do you know, deep down in your heart, how very wonderfully you were made?  

And not only were you created wonderfully, but you were created for wonderful purposes, for Kingdom purposes. 

For we are His workmanship,

created in Christ Jesus for good works,

which God prepared beforehand

that we should walk in them.  

Ephesians 2:10

 You were created for good works, for Kingdom purposes, planned by God before you were even born.  But what is a Kingdom purpose?  

"Your Kingdom purpose is ... a special commissioning from God to make a significant difference on this earth.  It is the banner of your life that you carry and wave for God's glory." (Rees, S.H.A.P.E, p. 22)

A special commissioning from God to make a significant difference on the earth.  

I want that.  Don't you?

Now, I'd love to hear from you and I've got some questions below to kick off our discussion.  Choose one or more to answer, or just let me know your thoughts in the comments section.  Over the next week.  I'll keep checking back, reply and moderate.  If you have something you'd personally like to "talk" about with me, feel free to email me at cynthiafin@gmail.com.  

So here are some questions:

1. How often do you find yourself saying with Piper, "I don't matter?"  How does this impact the way you view yourself, relate to friends and family, and relate in circle of acquaintances?

2.  How does it make you feel to hear that God views you as a masterpiece?  Reflect on events from your past that hinder you from seeing yourself as God's masterpiece and name them. You may share here, email me privately, or talk to a friend or spouse.  But don't skip over this.  Give yourself time to thoughtfully consider what is keeping you from saying with the psalmist, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made....My soul knows it full well."   

3. If you have your S.H.A.P.E. book, did you take the survey on page 28-29.  What category do you currently fall in?  Why do you think that is? 

4. Perhaps you have a sense of your Kingdom purpose, your special commission.  Please share it with us!  

Lord Jesus, you have created each of us fearfully and wonderfully.  You have created us for Kingdom purposes that will glorify You and bring us joy.  God, we need to have a perspective shift, to see ourselves as Your masterpieces so that we can step more confidently into the plans You have for us.  Help us, Lord, so we can join in with the psalmist saying, "I am fearfully and wonderfully made ... my soul knows it full well."  In Jesus' name, amen.