Self-Discovery: TMD - May 15

Sanctuary: the May theme for TMD

This week’s study was “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” self-discovery Psalm 139:14 says, “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

We are God’s handiwork. Think about that. I mean, really think about that. We are hand-made by God. Like: if life were a craft show, the soles of our feet would have a little sticker that says, “HANDMADE BY GOD” on it. That’s amazing! Where will this moment of self-discovery take you?

Sometimes we need to stop and take a look at what God made.

And sometimes that means looking at ourselves from a new perspective. Look at our personality, our talents and abilities and our spiritual gifts.

I’ve had a paradigm shift.

I have dared to see myself differently this year. I am a professional artist. Yep, I got paid for art. I offered local in-person classes, and PEOPLE ACTUALLY CAME! We had fun, and I was blessed by their desire to redefine what Bible study could look like. I felt a call to create a class for grieving hearts, and dozens of people signed up for the first version of Good Grief. So I’m upgrading it to offer it again. All because I dared to see myself differently. I dared to start my own journey of self-discovery.

What would you do if money were no object?

That was my Daughter’s question that opened my eyes to a new journey of self-discovery. (Aren’t I blessed to have such a great deep-thinking gal?) “If money were no object and you could do anything in all the world, what would you do?” My instant answer was, “Use art and writing to tell people about Jesus.” Then it hit me: I’m not working toward that.

Bummer. That would be so cool. Don’t get me wrong, I have a great career. And I feel like I do help people. But my current career didn’t match my “heart answer.”

Most people, if you asked them for help, would help you.

This was part 2 of Daughter’s discussion that day, and I’ve found it to be true. In fact, God has provided the exact people I’ve needed at the exact time I needed them to USE ART AND WRITING TO TELL PEOPLE ABOUT JESUS. This is how I’ve confirmed that I’m on the right path – the path God wants me on right now.

Where would your self-discovery take you? Where would you start?

Prayer. Scripture. Dare to dream. Take the dream that you had years ago and dust it off. I suggest the book Chazown: Define Your Vision. Pursue Your Passion. Live Your Life on Purpose by Craig Groeshel.

It may be hard for you to believe this, but I bought this book about 3 years ago. I started working through it, and I got discouraged. So I stopped. But I found it a couple of months ago, and it all fit exactly with what God was doing in my life. Again: just what I needed at just the right time.

Take a step out into self-discovery.

Ask yourself these questions that my then 21-year old asked me. What passion has God placed inside you for just a time as this? “Know Thyself, for you are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

The art today continues my Jed Johnson Tower theme from May 1 and May 8. Again, I scraped acrylic paint onto the pages with an old gift card and added the photo. I picked this picture because it is from the far side of the lake- near the path to the tower. I took it the first day I found this NEW PERSPECTIVE. It was the day I dared to look at things a new way.