When in Rome... (part 1)

This morning, I was looking through my digital photos for a specific picture - which I found - but a few spots over, I saw a picture I had taken of a page out of a Bible.  I evidently took the pix in March out of a new translation I was reading called The Voice.  Have you heard of it?  It was of Romans 12.  I'm sure you've heard parts of this before, but you might not have heard it from this translation.  And if you haven't heard it, you are in for a treat. :)

Romans 12:4 starts like this:
"For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions, we, too - the many - are different parts that form one body in the Liberation King.  Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone."

Easy enough - we are all parts of one body in Christ.  I love the last part of that, though.  "Each one is joined with one another, and WE BECOME TOGETHER WHAT WE COULD NOT BE ALONE."  WOW!!!  I hadn't heard it put quite like that.  Together, we can become what we couldn't become alone.  So maybe we need each other after all.  I heard it said once that we were meant NOT to COMPETE with each other, but rather COMPLETE each other as sisters.  That verse is a great example of that - we become together what we could not be alone.  Again - WOW!!!  

Ok, to continue on with verse 6 ...

"6) Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given.  If prophecy is your gift, then speak as a prophet according to your proportion of faith.  If service is your gift, then serve well.  If teaching is your gift, then teach well.  If you have been given a voice of encouragements, then use it often.  If giving is your gift, then be generous  If leading then be eager to get started.  If sharing God's mercy, then be cheerful in sharing it."

We did our strengths and skills exercises, have you worked on them again?  Have you gone back to look at what you wrote that day?  Have you avoided it?  

Remember, BECOMING IS A JOURNEY!  This is a process.  Don't just attend the conference and be excited that day, that weekend, or that next week.  EMBARK!!!  Go back to your notes from the conference - what did God say to you that weekend?  What has He said to you since then?  Are you listening???  Are you asking?!?!  Embark on that journey that God has for you discovering, uncovering and becoming!  Put the effort in - some days the effort will be much more than others - but take time to discover things about yourself you didn't know, to uncover things you have consciously and subconsciously hidden, and to become more like Christ in ALL areas of life.  

BABY STEPS!!!  Some days we just need to focus on baby steps.  This week, let's take a baby step together.  Pick ONE area, just ONE, to work on this week.  Maybe this area is a role you have, maybe it's a strength of your yours, or a skill, but whatever it is, do it well.   As we just read, "serve well, teach well..."  Whether our roles, strengths, or skills are being a co-worker, being a mother, being a wife, being a boss, being a manager, being an artist, being a singer, encouraging, writing, speaking - whatever it is, do it well.  Mother well, lead well, manage well, design well, write well, whatever you do, do it well as you are becoming all He created you to be.

You are BEAUTIFUL!  You are BECOMING!!  
thanks for being you -

jenny