Another translation of Ephesians 2:10 uses the word workmanship to describe our uniqueness. It’s from the Greek word poiema, which literally means work of art, and is the root of our English word poem. You are a work of God—and nothing but the highest and best comes from his hand. Like the artist who takes scrap metal and turns it into an amazing sculpture, God takes our lives and fashions them into a masterpiece. One of a Kind Will you accept the challenge to find and carry out your Kingdom Purpose? Remember, the Bible says, Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:9).

Secondly, having studied Spiritual gifts extensively, it is frustrating to see Erik Rees confuse qualities commanded of all believers (e.g.--hospitality) and ministry roles in the church (i.e.--apostleship, evangelism and pastoring) as Spiritual gifts. There are 15 charismata listed in three main passages about Spiritual gifts in the New Testament, and we don't need to add other things to the list. He also defines some of the gifts in ways that make it sound like these are run-of-the-mill abilities that even non-believers can manifest. Knowledge, for example, is something God tells you that you couldn't naturally know about a person or circumstance; not mere book-learning.The book you hold in your hand is designed to take you through a proven process, guided by the Holy Spirit, to discover who God created you uniquely to be—so you can start finding and fulfilling God’s specific purpose for your life. I want you to know, you are not alone in those feelings. As a pastor, I have worked with so many people who share the same longing. I have discovered that people truly want to be who God made them to be—and genuinely desire to do the work he is calling them to do. Most simply don’t have the tools to get there. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) If you're coming to Coles by car, why not take advantage of the 2 hours free parking at Sainsbury's Pioneer Square - just follow the signs for Pioneer Square as you drive into Bicester and park in the multi-storey car park above the supermarket. Come down the travelators, exit Sainsbury's, turn right and follow the pedestrianised walkway to Crown Walk and turn right - and Coles will be right in front of you. You don't need to shop in Sainsbury's to get the free parking! Where to Find Us

Our leader is a Servant. But we can be slow to follow. Erik Rees has written the servant’s manual and it’s accessible, illuminating, applicable, and inspiring.” John Ortberg Teaching Pastor Menlo Park (California) Presbyterian Church The core problem is not that we are too passionate about bad things, but that we are not passionate enough about good things. Larry Crabb, Finding God Tap into the secrets of what makes you who you are--passions, talents, experiences, temperament, and spiritual gifts--and you'll discover the path to a life of unimagined purpose, impact, and fulfillment. Kay Warren could be the prototype for anyone who wants to learn about hearts that beat for God. In her story I see five passion principles that can inspire us to dream big and think beyond our fears, in the process discovering our own unique, emotional heartbeats for God. They are: 1. Know what drives you. For Kay Warren, that is God and her desire to use everything he has given her to bring glory to his name every day of her life. 2. Know who you care about. For Warren, it clearly includes those impacted by HIV/AIDS. 3. Know the needs you will meet. For Warren, it includes spiritual, emotional, and physical needs. 4. Know the cause you will help conquer. For Warren, it is the desire to dramatically decrease the spread of HIV/ AIDS in the world through care, education, and medicine. 56 God doesn’t create anything without value. He is the ultimate craftsman. And he designed you specifically to fulfill a unique role in his ultimate plan to establish his kingdom on earth. Even though each of us has made mistakes that make it more difficult for him to perfect, we still are a special work of the Creator’s hands. He even takes time to know about our day-to-day lives. In fact, he is smiling right now, rejoicing as you seek to discover the masterpiece you are to him.Uncovering Your S.H.A.P.E. Overall, your life is not as balanced as you would like it to be. Fulfillment is hard for you to find. You admit you don’t have a clear-cut strategy for your life. You may even feel most of the time that you are just surviving. Many ­people walk through life confused. If you are here, thank God for putting a tool in your hands that will replace your confusion with his clarity and confidence. b b b b b Now that you know where you are today, the next question is, Where would you like to be by the time you finish reading this book? What is the one thing you long for God to do in your life as you spend time with him? To capture this moment, write God a note in the space below, asking him to help you see how special you are and the specific purpose he has just for you. b b b b b Dear God, Appendix 1: S.H.A.P.E. for Life Profile. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221 Appendix 2: S.H.A.P.E. for Life Planner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225 Appendix 3: The Best Gift Ever . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 Appendix 4: A Note to Pastors and Church Leaders. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Appendix 5: A Note to Couples. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235 Appendix 6: A Note to Parents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 Appendix 7: Grabbing Hold Together Group Discussion Guide. . . . . . . . . . . 239 Sources. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 About the Author. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 About the Publisher. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 257