KEYS TO A MEANINGFUL, FULL LIFE

"MANY PEOPLE DIE WITH THEIR MUSIC STILL IN THEM" – OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES ~ You don't have to be one of them ~

Busy schedules can lead to life feeling stressful at times and leave you living on autopilot. Stephanie's story is shared to help you slow down and reflect on who you are created to be and what is truly important.

Today's inspirational message includes: Though I can see what a person needs, I can’t always give it to him or her. I can’t give what I don’t have; but God made others strong in areas I am not, so they can help that person. That's God's community in action.

"This Authentic Lives Workshop is a stupendous tool. Using words, exercises and images, it has compiled a way for me to answer questions that I’ve been asking in my life for a very long time. I like this tool very much; in my journey of discipleship, this is a tool that has led me to see how I can be myself, really and naturally, relax and just be me. This tool has shown me that I am beautiful. Previously, I couldn’t see that beauty; I could only see things I didn’t like and despised myself, like I was a big mistake. In front of others, I could display another image, but that was so contorted and painful. I believe I had some joy down inside me, but it was suppressed. This workshop has shown me that the way God created me is beautiful, my characteristics are the correct ones. I can embrace them; I can embrace myself. Now I can focus my energy on unleashing the potential that God has put in me. Today, I was moved in the Scriptures, that I want to give a verse to the creator of AL Workshop. That verse is: “ The purposes of a person's heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” Proverbs 20:5  I am so thankful that God has given him the wisdom to put together this workshop to help us see the potential that is in us and be freed to live it out. I am so excited and happy to see all the beautiful ‘selfs’ who are gathered around these tables. This person has this gift to help those in need in a certain way in a group, and that person has those gifts to help. We need to be a community, not just tending to ourselves. This is not a selfish course, just focusing on who I am and what I can get for myself. No, in this course, I now see each person having valuable things to give to others. Now I know the strengths God created me with and the strengths of others. When someone comes to me with a need, and I know my community, I can send that person to the one with the gift to really help him or her. Otherwise, I will be trying hard in an area that is not my strength. Though I can see what that person needs, I can’t give it to him or her. I can’t give what I don’t have. This course is super!!" ~ Stephanie, 10/21/2017

Why Authentic Lives? Everyone exists for an important reason. Being clear about the core values of your life is one key to living life to the full. You needn't be you only in your imagination; your dreams truly can become reality. Your life can be different. "Authentic Lives" is a two-day workshop that can facilitate you discovering who you are and your true identity, your core values and the meaning behind your existence. [And for those of us who are already Christ's disciples: how to live and minister as a disciple/to disciple/.... in a way uniquely suited to who God created you to be.]

Stephanie, pictured above, participated in the October Authentic Lives Workshop in Kaohsiung, and shared the testimony above at the end of the event.

Recent Authentic Lives Team +1 The recent Authentic Lives Workshop in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung was co-lead by Barry, Emma, (with contributions from Helen, who was there to learn more) and LeAnn ( l to r).

My initial reason for getting involved in Authentic Lives Workshop was that it is an outstanding platform for reaching people who are hungry to know more about LIFE, one indication that they are spiritually hungry and may be People of Peace. That is still one of the motivating reasons that I have continued to be active in helping lead these in Taiwan.  I have also seen God's power working in lives through this set of personal/interactive workshop exercises in a way that is transformational for those who are already walking as Jesus' disciples. For many, it's like a key which unlocks them from confinement of trying to fit various molds that have constrained them from valuing and living out who they were created to be. For others, it is a clarifying lens through which to carry out ministry they are already committed to, in ways that allow Holy Spirit to shine even more. Rather than plodding dutifully through ministry steps, being energized in life communicates to others the fragrance of Christ and sparks interactions that lead to budding new disciples, under the Spirit's power. And, the Spirit's power is also unleashed through the process of deepening authentic relationships among us.  SO, I now also see this Authentic Lives workshop as a very apt complement to other types of training (as an organization, as church members in general) we've had in the past!