Little Pink Dress Ministry: YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!!

Little Pink Dress Ministry: YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!!: Ladies as we seek the Lord Jesus in prayer and begin to know Him, we also get to know His purpose for us in this life. One thing is for cer...

YOU ARE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY MADE!!

Ladies as we seek the Lord Jesus in prayer and begin to know Him, we also get to know His purpose for us in this life. One thing is for certain we are all fearfully and wonderfully made to glorify our Savior.  David the Shepherd boy, who God called to be king. As we read the entire scriptures about David we can see his character develop and be transformed by the hand of God.

David was affectionately called, “A man after God’s own heart,” although after reading his story, you might be surprised! Today his life would definitely make a juicy reality show or at least the best seller list. Hopefully none of us in the room would tune in or read about it. Although David was a great sinner, a mortal sinner, he knew that He served not only a holy, but also a merciful God. When David was weak; he knew that his God was strong. David knew where to go to get the grace need to be strengthened, that of course was in God’s presence.  David sinned big but He sought His bigger God, with his whole heart. He prayed, he sang, and he danced before his heavenly Father. He poured out his whole heart to God and most of all he trusted and depended on God for everything.  David found His God to be faithful and true. David knew God, not just knew about God; and because of his personal relationship with God he was able to praise God from His heart.  David did not just go thru the motions; he had a living faith in a living God. David’s heart was set on God and because of His character; God was able to use David.  The purpose of David’s life was to be King.

 Why did God make you?

Not only did God make you to “know Him, to love Him and to serve Him and to be happy with him in heaven”; God made you for a purpose. Yes, you are fearfully and wonderfully made for a purpose. You are created by God to do great things. “For thus says the LORD: Only after seventy years have elapsed for Babylon will I deal with you and fulfill for you my promise to bring you back to this place. For I know well the plans I have in mind for you—oracle of the LORD—plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you.  When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,” (Jeremiah 29:10-13)

My purpose today is to bring you good news.

On Easter Sunday, we celebrate Jesus our Savior, whose death brought us life. Jesus is God’s gift to us. Our lives are to be our thank you gift back to God in response to His unfailing love.

God had a purpose for each bible character. Let’s look at some of them.

Abraham went from childless to the father of many nations with a little help from his wife Sarah. She laughed when God told her husband that she would bear a child in her 90’s. Whenever I read her story I still laugh. Watch what you pray for. God’s ways are not our ways. Abraham was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had a purpose for Abraham’s life.

Joseph was favored by his dad Jacob. What did his daddy give him to show his love, a coat of many colors! What did his brothers get? Jealous!  Joseph went from,” Bragging Brother” to the man with the most Brotherly Love. God does not always change our circumstance but truly he changes our hearts along the way.  He never departed from Joseph whether He was at the right hand of the King or given an unjust jail sentence.  You might say that, “In this world we have much tribulation but our God delivers us out of it all.”  Joseph lived out that scripture. God raised him up to be the right hand man to the Pharaoh, where he was able to provide for his family during the famine. God put him in the right place at the right time, with a small detour by way of a prison cell.  Joseph was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had a plan for Joseph’s life.

Jonah was a prophet. When God spoke His word to Him, Jonah thought that he had a better plan than God. Where did it get him? He found himself in the belly of a fish. I think Jonah would attest to the fact that it was not a “whale of a good time.” Ask him when you get to heaven how it feels to be spewed out of the mouth of a whale. Jonah had a change of heart, and then obeyed God. When Jonah spoke to the people of Nineveh they listened and repented. Then God had a change of heart too. He did not destroy the people of Nineveh. Jonah was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had a plan for his life.

Joseph was a gentle giant of a man. He was called to be the foster father of Jesus, God’s son. His role was to protect, provide and be the head of the Holy family. He was Mary’s husband in every way accept, physically.  Mary was a virgin. Joseph had the fruit of self-control. God chose a man who could parent His Son on this earth. Joseph proved trust worthy. Joseph was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had purpose for Joseph’s life.

Peter, although he walked and talked with Jesus daily, when his friend Jesus needed him most, Peter ran away. Yet, Peter went from being a disciple who was too afraid to stand alone for Jesus to being the first Pope. His name was changed from Simon to Peter to Peter the Rock.  It was upon that rock that God built our church, the one, holy, apostolic, Catholic Church. He may have run away in the early days but the Rock was a firm foundation which holds true to the faith until this day. God was faithful even when Peter was not. Peter was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had a purpose for Peter’s life.

God had a plan for each woman in the Bible

Hannah, while barren, wept from the depth of her soul for a child. Her prayer was answered. She birthed a bouncing baby boy named Samuel. God fulfilled her heart’s desire but her prayer answer came at a price. Once Hannah weaned her son Samuel, she gave him back to God as she promised. Samuel was to be a great prophet and priest. Samuel was raised by the priest Eli, who also taught him the faith. Hannah’s sacrifice, of giving her son back to God, won souls to the kingdom of God.  Hannah was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had a purpose for Hannah’s life.

Mary’s “Yes,” of surrender to God opened her womb to house the Savior of the world. His birth brought forth God’s plan for redemption. His death brought us life. What life will your surrendered, “Yes,” bring to this world? Mary was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had a purpose for Mary’s life.

Elizabeth, Mary’s cousin though old in years, brought a young man into the world named John. He became the fore runner of the birth of Christ. His message became the Lenten message for all times. “Repent for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Elizabeth was fearfully and wonderfully made! God had a purpose for her life.

Was there purpose to the lives of these bible characters? Yes, definitely yes. There was purpose, meaning and there was abundant fruit in each of their lives. The purpose unfolded as they came to know, love and serve God. There is purpose to each of our lives too. It is worth the prayer, effort and surrender needed to get to know God for ourselves. This is “Good News!”

So what purpose ladies does God have for your life?  Do you know or are you still prayerfully seeking God’s plan for your life? He has one, that I can assure you.  He wants to reveal it to you. “No eye has seen. No ear has heard, all that God has in store for those who love Him!”

Discovering your God given gifts as well your natural gifts will aid you in discovering God’s purpose for your life.  Be assured your purpose will fit your gift, your talents and your personality. Knowing your purpose and working with the Holy Spirit to live out the purpose He reveals to you, will bring you the greatest joy and bear the most abundant fruit. Our God’s love is so great that He loves you all best!

The purpose for your life may be as simple as raising godly children. Who knows, right now you could be raising a priest, a nun or perhaps a Saint? Your purpose may be as great as your becoming a Saint, like Blessed Mother Theresa or St. Pope John Paul II. They did not always realize their purpose either. Everyone begins sometime. They begin in prayer, seeking the face of God. This search never ends because God is infinite; so there is always more to know about Him. One thing I can assure you is that, you will never know your purpose unless you begin to seek his face. St. Teresa said, “You must both know yourself and know God.” You must go into the deep.  Be not afraid to seek God’s face. Scriptures says, “When you seek Him, you will find Him, when you seek Him with your whole heart.”  This is a promise. The first step begins in humility, by knowing that you do not know all. No one knows all. No matter what stage of maturity you are in your spiritual walk, begin today to open your heart before Him and let Him reveal Himself to you in a new way. Let Him love you. Let Him heal you on the inside. Let Him take up residence in your soul, where He belongs. “He is the vine, we are the branches, apart from Him, and we can do nothing.” “If you abide in me and my word abides in you, you can ask anything and I will do it.”

When we read the about the different people in the Bible, what did they all have in common: the answer, they all sought God with their whole heart. They all became empty vessels and desired God to fill them. They all placed their trust in God alone. All came to a mountain in their lives that they could not move. They all came to a point in their lives where they knew, like St. Teresa of Avila, “God alone suffices.” They believed their faith with all their heart. They knew first hand that God is, and was and is to come. They knew and experienced the words of the song, “How Great Is Our God!!” Their surrender “Yes,” to God changed their lives forever. They continued to live their lives in the power of the Holy Spirit. Then they became an example of God’s love and grace in this world, actively winning souls for the kingdom of God.

Sisters in Christ, “Are you there yet?” Have you come to that point in your walk that your heart is crying out, “I need you now Lord?”  Are your hearts crying out with John the Baptist, “More of Jesus, less of me?” Are you lost in the desert, like Moses and his people waiting for the Red Sea to part? Are you wailing in prayer like Hannah for God to give you the desire of your heart, and the wait seems way too long? Are you running away like Peter or are you afraid to go forward like Moses? Have you come face to face with a mountain in your life that you cannot move? OR have you already heard the Lord reveal His plan for your life deep in your heart like He did when the angel Gabriel spoke to Mary? However the plan seems too impossible to ever be fulfilled.

I come to bring, “Good News.” You are right, it is Impossible!  It is impossible to move the mountain, without God, that is. With God all things are possible!

When we come to that place where we have discovered the world has nothing that will truly satisfy; when we have the desire to be a “Woman after God’s own Heart,” like David, it is then that God begins to reveal our own hearts to us. We quickly realize how holy He is and how much we need to change.

Mathew had to change careers from a cheating tax collector to a disciple of Christ. Peter had to give up his pride. Paul had to change his religion. Mary had to give up her reputation. Ladies, what do you have to give up in your life to make room for Christ?

When we entered the newly built, St. Mary’s Help of Christian Church for the first time, I am sure, as Deacon Pat said, that an awe of reverence swept thru many hearts. It was a grace!  As I walked through those gigantic blue doors into our amazing house of God in all its beauty and splendor, I must admit, I felt very small. Like a child standing next to their daddy, my littleness was evident.  Our littleness should always be felt as we enter into the presence of a very holy all knowing, all good, all powerful God.  We serve a God who is bigger than life itself. Our Heavenly Father created us, each unique. We are, fearfully and wonderfully made for His Divine purpose. It is in His presence that you come to know the real you. His divine purpose for your life is to do a work that no one else can do. Our God loves you, just as much as He loved David. He likes you too.  Your life counts!  You are in this world to make a difference. In this big world, no matter how small you feel, you were created to make a big difference for Christ. You are to touch lives. You are to be the hands and feet of Christ in your own family, in your own neighborhood, in St. Mary’s Help of Christian Church.  

Today ladies, let us take some time today to prayerfully get to know God a little better, to get to love God a little more fervently, to decide to serve God a little more diligently. Let us set our hearts on the things above. Let us willingly and prayerfully seek His purpose in our lives.  Finally let us make a decision to work with His Holy Spirit daily so as to fulfill His calling on our lives. As you start each day begin with a prayer and remember to always accessorize with virtue. You are fearfully and wonderfully made and no matter what the circumstances in your life, God will sere you through. 

     

Little Pink Dress Ministry: LIFE IS A SAFARI

Little Pink Dress Ministry: LIFE IS A SAFARI:  Ladies, do you ever feel like God has created as many types of people as the number of animals on a Safari. Yes, this is so true. People a...

Little Pink Dress Ministry: A TALK ON ---DISCOVERING YOUR GOD GIVEN GIFTS

Little Pink Dress Ministry: A TALK ON ---DISCOVERING YOUR GOD GIVEN GIFTS:               How many of you’all ever wanted to sign up to go to the mission field? I sure did until I discover they had animals. Fr. Fo...

A TALK ON ---DISCOVERING YOUR GOD GIVEN GIFTS

              How many of you’all ever wanted to sign up to go to the mission field? I sure did until I discover they had animals. Fr. Fortunatus told me, “Ellen, NO animals.” I think he heard me wrong because we all know that priest cannot lie. Then the second obstacle came with the wardrobe. What would I wear? Do High Heels work for missionaries? We all know I love to accessorize.  As you can see I am what is called, “Missionary Challenged” However, like the angel who spoke to the Shepherds on the day of Our Saviors birth—I, come to you today to bring you tidings of great Joy. I bring you “Good News.” I love good news. How about you? The good news is, “Today the entire world is a mission field.” Yes, hearts everywhere are longing for the “Good News of Christ” to come into their fields. However, “The harvest is ripe but the workers are few.”  All of us are given the opportunity to be a missionary right where we are, in our little corner of the world.  We are called to be ambassadors for Christ, living the good news and preach the Good News. St Francis is quoted as saying, “Preach the gospel wherever you may go and when necessary use words.” My friend, in the world today, where the dark is getting darker and the light of Christ is shining brighter, I find words very necessary. We must speak out for the truth of Our One Holy Catholic Faith or who will? 

  In order to make a difference, we must: the how, what, where and why of gifts.

1.      How do I discover my gifts?

2.      What are your gifts?

3.      Where do I use my gifts?

4.      Why has God given me these gifts?

       When I say the word gifts, a whole lot of different things go off in people’s minds. Some good thoughts that bring a smile to your face and some bad that bring tears to your eyes, depending on your life experiences.  I who received a hair dryer from my parents when it was in vogue to drip dry your long straight hair, parted in the middle in the 70’s used to almost get an anxiety attack when birthday or Christmas arrived and I had to open my presents in front of a larger Italian family. In my family presents was another word for love. I used to think they love me, but they don’t know me. You can imagine my delight when I returned to the Catholic faith after a short time of being to busy for God, and gave my whole heart to Jesus in 1976 and his first words to me were, “I only give you good gifts.” My heart began to change forever. Yes, his words have proved true; they are always just my size and the desire of my heart.  God himself will help you slowly, carefully, and diligently, unwrap the presents he has placed in your heart; these gifts once revealed are to be used for his glory alone. In Psalm 139 God says, “I praise you, so wonderfully you made me; wonderful are your works! My very self you knew; my bones were not hidden from you, When I was being made in secret, fashioned as in the depths of the earth.   He knit you together making us a unique creation of his love. 

      Do you remember the old Baltimore catechism, I sure do!! I think that comes with both being older and being raised a cradle Catholic. Oh, how I treasured my catholic faith and the formation I received. If my 61 year old brain will remember correctly, it went like this: Who made you, God made you.  Why did God make you, God made you to know him, to love him, to serve him and to be happy with him in heaven. I don’t know the entire Baltimore catechism by heart by any means but that one lengthy sentence has stuck with me for life. I think it describes our catholic faith in a nut shell.  I say it a little different now. I say instead to know God is to love God, for God is love. To truly love God is to serve God. Then we will be happy with him in heaven.

The quest to know God is a life long search. To me it has become my life long goal. The Book of Job contains one of my favorite scriptures. Job, after asking God 20 questions approaches God with total humility saying, “I heard about you from my friends and now I know you for myself.” I bet you’ll thought that t all Job got was a lot of pain and suffering and of course the fruit of patience. People often say, “Oh, the patients of Job.  I’d say that our friend Job received something more than the fruit of patience for all His pain and suffering.  You see my sister in Christ, in the midst of his trial by fire he got to know the living God of the universe first hand. Yes, He knew God for himself.  And, yes, God answered all his questions. God knew the answers. God wrote the book.  God will do that for you too.  So, ask away!

 As we spend time daily with our living Savior, Lord Jesus Christ, we begin to not only know him, but as St. Theresa says, “Know God and then know ourselves as well.” Then we discover our gifts. God is calling us all to be His disciples, just as He did when He walked the earth. He wants to call out your name. He wants to invite you with the words, “Come follow me and I will make you fishers ’of men.” You see the word disciple means learner. Jesus first will train you up and then he will send you out .How does He train you? He trains you up through His Church, through His Word and through His people. God gives us the sacraments to gives us the grace we need to live each day for Him the definition of sacrament is: A sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ to give grace. We are saved by faith working through grace; it is not of our self but a gift from God. Grace is defined as unmerited favor. We all agree it is amazing.

As we receive Jesus daily in the Eucharist we begin to receive the grace we need to live the life he has called us to live. As we study the Word in our quiet time, He will teach us how to live. As we listen to the priest or Deacon preach in the homilies will begin to know how to apply the Scripture readings to our everyday life.  You can be assured that if you will seek him, you will find Him. The more you seek, the more you will find. The first time I gave this talk, I took the talk to heart. I began a quest to know God. I sought harder, prayed harder and frequented the sacraments more often. Then I asked wisdom of wise old Deacon Pat, I said, “Honey, “that is what I call him behind closed doors, “I just want to know God.” I must have appeared a desperate woman because Deacon Pat answered promptly and he always thinks before he speaks. What did Deacon Pat say? He said, “Ellen, you can never know God totally. God is infinite.” “Wow, I’m glad I asked,” I said, I think I was trying to do the impossible.

Jesus will unwrap those gifts and then call us to use them for his glory in his church and the World around us. As we receive the sacrament of reconciliation often we are able to empty ourselves of the sins that drag us down. Through this sacrament we are given the grace to become more like Jesus. As John the Baptist said, “We must decrease so that he can increase in us.”  Paul says the same thing in different words, “I no longer live but Christ lives in me.”  I have a question for you ladies:  Are you alive?  If you don’t know the answer asks your husband.  My husband said to me one day after I said, “Sometimes I think I’m dead.” He assured me, “Honey you’re not dead yet!”  I took it as a nudge by the spirit of God to keep putting the flesh to death.  Remember ladies we can get so overwhelmed by sin in our lives that we forget that, “He that began a good work in you will complete it until the day of his return. I say, “He changes us within as we spend time with him.” God loves us into wholeness, so as we know him, we discover that he loves us and we in turn learn to love him back. Then he calls to service. So, how do we discover our gifts?  By getting to know him and getting to know his word.  Do you want to be used by God in your gifts, ladies and to serve the church?

  Now I am going to tell you how God can do that. I love the Mass.  It is so amazing that you can go to Mass day after day and then one day God can show you something that has been there all along, that moment of grace can change your life forever. You will never be the same.  That is what happened to me one day as Fr. Ring raised the cup in adoration.  God spoke to me as if from the Last Supper, “Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to t hem, saying, "This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you.”  I in my minds eye reflected about that sentence.  I began to learn a truth about growth in Christ –not a formula but a truth.  On the journey to maturity there is a road to holiness some take it others do not.

            When we first come to give our whole heart to God he blesses us.  We walk around with a permanent smile that say Jesus loves me and I love him too.  We secretly think he loves us more than anyone on earth. Then after a long season of grace he begins to call us to a deeper walk of knowing him for ourselves like Job. Many are willing to praise and hail him as read in scripture Matt. 21:9-8. How many are willing to walk with him to Calvary, the walk that leads us to sit at the foot of the Cross with him alone.  He asks if we are willing to let him break us, “unless a seed falls to the ground and dies,” Just like the priest breaks the host at the Mass, did you know women that so many are willing to walk with God in the good times but how many are willing to walk with him in the bad times, the times of trial and suffering.  Just like the marriage covenant teaches us to stick together in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, as we walk toward maturity in the Lord, we learn to take up our Cross and follow him. During the time of suffering we need to be a willing vessel, to be broken like the clay pot, being molded and fired in the crucible of life. We begin to know another side of our God that he is faithful, that he will walk on the water if he has to, to save us.  If our boat is sinking he will carry on his back if he has to bring you to a place of safety. He will hold us in the palm of his hand. We also learn about ourselves, we learn that we are weak, but in our weakness he is strong, that we are human and need not only Him but, we also need the body of Christ. We learn that grace is unmerited favor, not something we earn. We don’t deserve it. We learn that we need Jesus to daily save us from our sin and from ourselves, not one time, but over and over again.  This mission ladies, if you decide to take it, will bring you right to the heart of God.  You will not self-destruct.  I promise that you will learn, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, but apart from you Lord, I can do nothing.” You will learn that “I am nothing and you are everything.”  Then God will pour you out to love and serve the body of Christ, both in the Church and in the fallen world. 

            So, do you know your gifts?  A common comment I hear Catholics and other Christians say is, “I don’t have any gifts,” or “No one ever asks me to do anything in the Church.”  I can assure you that you all have gifts and God wants to use every one. There is much work to be done! Remember the parable of the talents.  Before I go on I want to say that there are seasons in your walk with Christ in which your gifts will be used for different things.  For example, Pat and I have a large family and for many years we did very little in the Church because we put our whole heart into raising our children (the little church = family). Little did I know that the journey itself would take me into my ministry? I now run a Woman's Ministry called Little Pink Dress Ministry. I also speak and write on many subjects. My newest book is a bible study just for moms. I am working on a Bible Study for teens and tweens called, “Help, and I Want to Be a Godly Girl!”  I love the way God works. He works in the secret of my heart. So, as I daily laid my life down for my family, He was molding me for my ministry.  One thing I always say is, “your passion usually is your ministry.”  Mine is the lost art of motherhood and the vocation of marriage. It is still a worthy vocation. We Catholic wives and mothers have the opportunity to be a Light to the world of doing it God’s Way.  Our marriages and our families should be Christ centered.  As Pat and I began to to serve the Church, we felt more a part of the Church. One of our gifts as a couple is calling people on in their gifts, drawing on their gifts, discerning new gifts, having the welcoming committee plugging new people in. Your gifts are given to bless others.  Don’t bury your gifts or let others bury them.  Present yourself as a living sacrifice for Christ. 

            As Christ laid down his life for us in sacrificial love, we too must lay down our life for others in sacrificial love.  To build the kingdom of God here on this earth. Does this sound familiar?  Did you realize that we say this daily in the Lord’s Prayer.  The words are, “God’s kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.”  We need to be grateful, willing to be humble and daily abandon ourselves to God’s spirit.  Go where he wants us to go and do what he wants us to do.  The more you use your gifts, the more God will give you places to use them and they will improve. 

            Did you ever hear the saying, “What you are is God’s gift to us, what you become is your gift to God?  Effort plus Prayer = Victory in Jesus.  There is much work to do in this world to bring light into the darkness. There are no super Christians. Many hands make light work. We all have to do our part We need each other. Working together we can make a difference, in our Church and in our world.

            Some words of caution:

1. We are a team. We are the Body of Christ. There are no superstars, It is God alone that we praise, not people, and definitely not our self. All gifts are important. Deacon Pat can minister to some people that turn a deaf ear to me, and vice a versa. So treasure each person for the gift they are to the Body of Christ.
2. Do not discourage others. If God is telling them to collect day old bread from the grocery store and give the bread to the poor. Don’t say you know the Bible says, “We’ll always have the poor among us.”  Pray instead from the book of Proverbs,” “A blessing on the kindly man that gives his bread to the poor.”  Always encourage rather than discourage a person. Then if you feel God prompting you, offer to help. It may be the first time they ever stepped out in faith to do a ministry for God. Applaud them.
3. As you grow in maturity, in grace and in faith, you gifts may change. Change is inevitable, maturity is optional. Do not be so locked into your gifts that you cannot be flexible. Let God lead and you follow Him. He may ask you to get out of your comfort zone.  God may even ask you to walk on the waters. He asked Peter.
4. If you are going to boast, boast in the Lord.  My grand baby Elle is in her own words, " I am the The Best Ballerina Ever." She was only four at the time. She will outgrew the bragging stage and still try her best. Bragging is not something we want to do as an adult. Gifts are freely given by God to Glorify Him and to build His Kingdom. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. Use your gifts to glorify Him. Use them always, with a grateful heart.
5. Don’t be a gift hog. Pray before you take on any ministry or service. If you take on a service that God has not called you to do, it may cause you stress and frustration.  It will not only rob you of your peace, but also may rob another brother or sister from being able to serve. The Word of God says “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me because I am a gentle and humble teacher and I only give you light burdens.
6. Burn Out – Psalm 23 “He makes me lie down in green pastures, He restores my soul” Don’t miss the moment!! If God calls you to rest in Him, rest, rest, rest.  As I close I want to caution you in Christ to seek always after the greatest gift of all, knowing God.  What is it that you ask of me, God? Many times in my walk God calls me back to my first love, back to remembering when he first spoke to me at the age of 7 when I received the Eucharist for the first time and I knew my God was real.  I remember in my 20’s when he called me to give my whole heart to him, by speaking the words, “I am the way, the truth and the life.  No one gets to the Father except through me.  I remember when he called Pat and I into full time ministry with the words in Matt. 10:37-9, "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.  

 Before I conclude, I want to sum up the talk with a:

G-------------GROW THEN GO

I---------------INVEST TIME SEEKING GOD

F--------------FAITH

T---------------TEACH AND BE TEACHABLE-----TEAMWORK

My friends seek the giver of the gifts and not the gifts.  He is the greatest gift of all.  To know him is to love him, to love him is to serve him.

LIFE IS A SAFARI

 Ladies, do you ever feel like God has created as many types of people as the number of animals on a Safari. Yes, this is so true. People as different as the animals while on a Safari you view.  I guess you could say that our God loves variety. Black or white, fat or skinny, loud or quiet, God made us all. Moreover God loves us all. God loves us all best. We are all fearfully and wonderfully made by our Creator, our God who called us for a purpose. The purpose is to use our gifts and talent to glorify Him. Yes, God loves you so much that he made you for a purpose that no one else can do, but you.   God made each of us unique. 

Why did God make you?  In order to discover why God made you,you must get to know God for yourself. Once you know why God created you then go forth and bear fruit. Do the work that He has assigned to you. Full fill your purpose by seeking His face and walking in His grace. Listen to His still small voice and be lead by the power of His Holy Spirit. However, the most important thing to remember is to be yourself, fearfully and wonderfully made, because frankly everyone else is already taken. Treasure the unique, wonderful human being God made you to be. Treasure also those other  people you meet along your journey. All have a work to do. Learn from each other. Bear with each other patiently. Love one another. As my prayer partner Judy says, "If we are both alike, one of  are not necessary." The French say it best, "Viva la the difference!'"

Here is a poem I wrote to celebrate our uniqueness. Read On!!

LIFE IS A SAFARI

 Life is like a safari; don’t you think so too?

 A journey to experience custom made for you.

A trained guide is needed to lead the way.

A guide who diligently directs where to go and what to say.

Watch out for the snake creeping or the gator in the waterbed.

Don’t worry guides eyes are trained to avoid the danger ahead.

Don’t be surprised if a lion greets you with his scary “ROAR!”

I assure you, a safari it is never a bore.

You may spot a leopard or hopping kangaroo

Or even hear a hungry hippy growling at you.

Along with your guide nature in all its’ beauty you see.

The guide points out a rainbow or a bird perched in a tree.

It is easy to spot the zebra with stripes boldly displayed,

 Careful the Rhino’s coming at you, the guide shouts, “Get out of the way!”

An elephant is way too big to find a hiding place.

The graceful giraffe seems to be running a race.

While on a safari each animal becomes a priceless view.

Pause as your guide carefully points each one out to you.

It is wise to choose a guide as you safari on in life too.

To help you avoid the pitfalls and point out the beautiful view.

Remember how varied the animals encountered on a safari day

It is the same with the people that you meet along life’s way.

The roaring lions shout desiring to be heard.

Stop a moment and you will hear their every word.

With eyes wisely focused and ears attuned to the guide;

It becomes evident the beauty of each person on the inside.

Just like a present wrapped tightly with a pretty bow,

Take the time to both open up and listen; then each person get to know

If you meet a zebra or rhino greet with a, “How do you do!”

Don’t say to them, “Why can’t you just be a kangaroo?”

Ditching the lions because their roar is too loud,

Or the zebra whose stripes are way too bold,

Is really not Okay ……..

Because you may need their gifts someday?

You may still want to avoid the snakes along the way,

But smile kindly first then bid them; “Good day!”

Each person is created for a purpose to do,

That is why they are they, and you are you.

Be yourself; as gentle and as free as a bird

Or be loud and bold, as a lion begging to be heard,

Be as grace full as a gazelle, for heaven sake,

Or be as gruely as a gator in the lake.

If we are patient, kind, understanding as we can be,

We can all live together in harmony.

On life’s safari tread really, really slow,

There are a lot of people to get to know.

Life is like a safari; it is true.

It a Journey to experience custom made for you.

So Safari on, my friend and do not miss the view

On a safari day there is always something good in store for you.

                                                                                  

THE GIFT

 What is your gift experience?  How do you receive gifts?   Do you quickly return gifts or treasure the gift with all your heart?  Do you use the gift right away, or set it aside, unused?  Do you share your gifts with others or hoard them for yourself?  Do you set aside the gift without a bow, but open the beautifully wrapped one first?  Do you re-gift?  Are you a giver or a receiver?

 Gifts come in all sizes, various prices, and varieties.  Once you open a gift, you may treasure it all your life.  Sometimes you treasure the gift because of the giver.  My husband surprised me one birthday with two unexpected presents, I was overjoyed.  The gift, a pair of pink skinny jeans and a blouse; will never be forgotten.  It was not because pink is my color and I love clothes.  No, it meant something since it was the first gift he had purchased in over thirty years. 

You know, people are a lot like gifts. They too come in different sizes and personalities. Each person you meet can become a treasured gift to you, if you open the “gift” and get to know their story. Yes, everyone has a story to tell.  If you take the time to listen they will usually open their hearts to you. If the gift is left on the shelf, it will never be unveiled.

You can actually damage the gift if misused, whether it is a stranger, a friend, a child or spouse.

People need people to become alive.You need all kinds of people in your life to thrive, to be healthy and whole.  Some people encourage. You especially need these people when you feel that there is a black cloud trying to rain on you. You can easily spot them because they smile as they say things like, “We need the rain.” Some people exhort. They sometime correct in love or other times point out your defects. You need them to rub off your rough edges. They are a blessing in disguise. They say things like, “Are you going to wear that blouse?” You do not have to ask, “Why do you like it on me?” because of the way they say it, you know. Some people teach you skills. Some share their talents with you. Some people are just good examples. You will want to follow in their footsteps.  Some people you can laugh with. Call them when depression tries to set up camp in your heart.  Some people you can cry with.These people have climbed the mountain of suffering and made it to the other side. They are also the people who give you a hug when our hearts cry out, “Does anybody care about me?” They are usually the only ones who notice you have a tear in your eye. Some people are too busy, to notice, usually because they need a hug themselves.  When in doubt, hug the busy and grumpy people, just in case. It may help them to open up their heart.  Love heals.

 It will be amazing how many gifts you will get to know if you take the time! As you journey the path of your life, look for the treasures in the hearts of the people you meet along the way. When treasure hunting for gifts, don’t only open the ones beautifully wrapped. All gifts count, even the ones without the “bows!”  You may find a bigger treasure in the one wrapped only in in white tissue paper. Once built up with love, a less noticed gift can grow to be the most treasured gift of all. Take the time to unwrap the gift slowly and carefully so that you do not break it, or crush the inner treasure of the heart, and never get to really enjoy the inner beauty. All gifts should be treasured, not re-gifted, or set aside alone on a shelf to collect dust. Shower all you meet with encouraging words, listen to their story, be the good example, and let them know you care.  

Everyone has a story to tell which is worth listening to.  Everyone has a hurt that needs healing.  Everyone has a gift to share with the world.  Everyone is on this earth to make a difference.  As we treasure the gift with love, and pour out our gifts upon them, we enable their gifts to grow. They then become confident enough in their gifts to share them with the world.  Go on a treasure hunt; see what gift you can discover each day.  Take the time to look beyond the outer wrappings to see the hidden person within.  Do not miss the gifts within your own home.  Maybe you have never taken the time to treasure the gift of your child, your parent, your siblings or even your spouse. Maybe even the gift you have failed to unwrapped is the gift of yourself. 

 Take the time today to do it, because it is never too late. Slowly, carefully, and diligently, unwrap the present in your heart.  Once these gifts are revealed you are more gifted to make a difference in this world. Who knows you may even be able to throw the world one big surprise party, with gifts alive everywhere.  Until then strive daily to treasure the gifts in all you meet. This is what makes the journey of life worthwhile. Journey on!

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