As for this session's focus - it was in understanding the Grace Gifts we receive at our conversion to our Christian faith. Now all that I share is based on the assumption that you have a Christian belief or are pursueing a Christian faith. If you just are not sure or have any questions, please use our Contact Form to provide any question or request for my details on any of this information shared. So first, we need to understand and probably agree that some gifts are enabled from our birth (we view these as Grace Gifts crafted by God at conception). Then, for those who have commited to their Christian faith, they will find that some gifts are enabled at their conversion (born again). We learned and discussed these two definitions: 1) Conversion = to turn away from self toward God, according to Jesus (we are born again). 2) Spirtual Gifts = are unique God given abilities that He uses to enrich and to impower His original design within us. | What does the Bible tell us of... Conversion (from John 3:1-8): "Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” |
We then closed with some heads up info as to what we'll be addressing more in the weeks to come (after our Christmas & New Year's Eve breaks). We all have aspects of these within us - how much and how often we tap into these is tied to understanding our own unique design (do you see the Achiever, the Harmonizer, the Persister, the Energizer, the Catalyzer and or the Dreamer).
Thank you for reading and considering the above. More to come. Let us know if you have any comments and/or recommendations in regards to pursueing and understanding your unique design.
On behalf of the men from our Men's Fraternity group - have a Merry Christmas!