Understanding Your Calling! Study Manual. About Ginger London 2. Why Faith Is Important In Understanding Your Calling 4. 7 Ways to Exercise Faith 5

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2 Table of Contents Manual Sections Page Number About Ginger London 2 Why Faith Is Important In Understanding Your Calling 4 7 Ways to Exercise Faith 5 Biblical Examples of Faith 7 DISCOVERING Know Your Gifts Discovering Your Calling! 9 Assessment of Gifts 13 DEVELOPING Anointed For The Calling 21 Revelation 24 DELIVERING Creativity and Witty Ideas 29 Operating By Faith - Confidence 33 1

3 About Ginger London Life and spiritual change agent Minister Ginger London is a Christian faith leader, pre acher and teacher for believers looking to discover, develop and deliver their greatest potential in service and life. She is also a business mentor and coach for entrepreneurs who have a desire and goal to do "greater works" in the marketplace according to their core values and beliefs. Minister Ginger D. London is a well-respected Preacher, Teacher, Author, Christian Counselor, Speaker and Board Certified Life and Business Coach. She is the owner of Ginger London Ministries, Gingerlondon.com and Ginger London Enterprises in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is known for the godly wisdom and practical biblical solutions for living successful she shares with those who are fortunate to experience the ministry God has entrusted to her. Her teaching, preaching and coaching has produced transformational changes in the lives of believers, entrepreneurs, and ministry leaders. Today she specializes in helping Christian leaders, entrepreneurs and other business leaders identify and create their compelling message so the y can leverage the special gifts, talents and abilities entrusted to them from God so they can live the abundant life successfully. She also imparts success skills, tools, strategies and effective solutions. It brings her great joy and fulfillment to help people renew their minds spiritually so they can connect a godly mindset to their spiritual gifts and life purpose for greater works. She fervently believes that when ministries, ministers and entrepreneurs are given the most effective step -by-step training and are simultaneously provided an environment where they are lovingly held accountable and inspired to do greater works, they multiply their results over time. 2

4 Ginger also believes that successful greater works in ministry or business requires not just more knowledge, but a change in behavior. This is why she has committed to being an educational incubator providing programs, training and special teachings where ministers and entrepreneurs are inspired to grow from within. To that end, she supplements her trainings and programs with success mindset teachings that can shift results dramatically. Over the past 20 years, Ginger has advised and helped Christian leaders and aspiring leaders. She has run several training programs designed to help people to prepare for the works of ministry. Over the last 9 years, she also has established several business coach training programs for entrepreneurs and thought leaders to birth new brands, monetize their messages, create lucrative programs and trainings, host moneymaking seminars and events, and reposition themselves as leaders in their industries. She works with ministry leaders, authors, entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, and speakers through one or more of her ministry and coaching programs. Some of her other accomplishments: Creator and Trainer of "Understanding Your Calling," "Discerning Your Boaz!" "The Making of A Spiritual Diamond" and "Spirit-Filled Business" Coaching Programs. Visionary and host of the Got To Get Myself Together Relationship and Life Strategies Conference Visionary and host of the "Got To Get Myself Together!" Challenge Facebook Group Owner and Certified Coach of the Greater Works Coaching Program and Institute Hosted and taught on The Ginger London Ministries Show for 3 1/2 years on local cable channel Hosted the Heart To Heart Counseling Show on WNDC Radio for 3 years. Author of four manuals: The Making of A Spiritual Diamond, Understanding Your Calling, Discerning Your Boaz! and Friends, Foes, and Fellow Christians. A writing contributor of 8 Topical Articles and Biblical Profiles for the nationally acclaimed Women of Color Study Bible released in January 2000, now released as "Aspire" The New Women of Color Study Bible. Owner of London s Heart To Heart Christian Bookstore and London's Fashion & Inspirational Jewelry and Accessories for women and men. Her Credentials: Licensed and Ordained Minister Board Certified Coach Graduate Teacher for the Evangelical Training Association Minister London has received state and national ministry ordination. She has preached and taught both nationally and internationally. 3

5 Why Faith is Important In Understanding Your Calling! Faith is essential to our lives as believers, and if you ve ever wondered why faith is important this section of the manual will shed some light on the answers. It is the very foundation of our Christian belief. We begin our journey with the profession of our belief and faith in who Go d is. We believe by faith that Jesus lived, died on the cross, and rose on the third day. Because of our faith, we know that God not only is our Father in Heaven, but He loves us so much He gave His son Jesus for the redemption of our sins. We have faith that God actually loves us enough to take care of our needs. We have faith that He hears our prayers when we call Him. Having faith is a necessity for Christians, and here are three reasons why it is so important for us to have in faith our lives. Faith is Pleasing to God Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Not only must we believe who He is, but we must believe that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. It pleases God when we seek to have a strong relationship with Him that is built on our trust and belief in Him. When we seek Him with a pure and believing heart, God lovingly answers our pr ayers, heals our bodies, and mends our broken relationships. Faith Determines Our Actions Faith is important because it affects the decisions we make, the way we interact with others, and the way we react to the situations that confront us. Faith must be practiced. The more we put our trust in God, the more faith we develop. Some of us start with just a small amount of faith. The Bible talks about having just a mustard seed -size amount of faith. It is not the amount that counts, it is the belief in our heart that at all times God is with us, will provide for us, and will rescue us from the enemy. Faith in practice develops more faith in action. Faith Gives Us a Testimony Our testimony and witness is based on our faith. Have you noticed that we win others to Christ not only by our actions but also by the words that we speak? When something great happens, we often cannot wait to share the good news. This is how we should be as Christians. We should be sharing our good news of faith about how God worked in our lives, changed our situations, and helped us through tough times. The words of testimony not only build up the person speaking, but they give courage to the hearer of the testimony and encourage them to believe God, too. 4

6 7 Ways to Exercise Faith You cannot truly have faith in God without action on your part. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God and believing what you have heard and read. You must exercise your faith in order to become a stronger Christian. Below are seven ways you can take action and exercise your faith. Believe God s Word When you believe God s Word as truth, you are exercising your faith. To exercise means to use or apply something. As Christians we use or apply our faith as we believe God s Word as truth and live our lives according to the principles and lessons found in it. There are a lot of good things in the Bible you can take hold of to increase your faith. In times of difficulty, it is helpful to read 1 John 4:4 and believe Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. In times of doubt or confusion, you can rely on Proverbs 3:51 which says to trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. Believe what God s Word says about your created purpose and what He knows about you. Read Pslam 139. Obey the Word Reading and knowing God s Word is not the same as the act of obeying His Word. When you live by faith, obedience is extremely important. You cannot live by faith when you ignore or overlook what the Word of God says about your life. Whether it is deliberate or unintentional, disobeying God s Word is being unfaithful. You can t walk or live your created purpose without reading God s Word daily. Trust in God s Goodness Faith and trust are inseparable. You cannot have true faith unless you trust and believe in God s goodness. As a believer you should hold in your heart the love God has for you and remember how He showers you with His goodness. Pray God s Word It is important to pray God s Word. This will not only keep your mind and heart attuned to the promises of God, but when you petition God with His very own Word, this begins to build your faith as you see God move and change situations for you. 5

7 Meditate on the Promises and Miracles of God s Word Do not just pray God s Word once, but also take the time to meditate on the Word. Saturate your mind and spirit with the Word, and you will notice your faith increasing, especially in difficult times when you are not sure how you will make it through. Combat Doubt with Faith Whenever you have a negative or doubtful thought, immediately change the wording of your thought to a statement full of faith that God, our Creator, is in charge and that He knows the plans He has for your life and that your steps are already ordered by Him. Surrender Your Mind to God Surrendering your mind to God every day not only strengthens you as a believer, it also will help you build and increase your faith. Exercising your faith doesn t have to be confusing. Just remember that you have to take action in order to genuinely have faith. If you use these seven steps to exercise your faith on a daily basis, you will see positive growth in your faith. 6

8 Biblical Examples of Faith To Help You Believe In Your Calling From God There are many examples of faith in the Bible that demonstrate trust and obedience to God. To trust God is to believe in His integrity, rely on His strength, and to know He is able to help you. We can use these examples to help us learn how use our faith in God. Noah was warned by God about the storm that was coming. Without any evidence, Noah started preparing for the storm. He started building, and he started storing supplies. There are times in our lives that we are warned about things to come, and we have a choice to make. Do we listen to that still small voice and start preparing, or do we ignore it? We should trust God s guidance, and He will not lead us wrong. Abraham was another excellent example of faith and obedience to God s leading. He left what was familiar and comfortable and set out on a journey of faith that would lead him to not just a new land but to a land of promise. He did not know where he was going, but because he felt God s guidance, he went out in faith. There are times in life when we are called to go to new, unfamiliar places. It could be a new job, a new state, or a new church, but the key is to know that God is acting in our best interest and would never lead us in the wrong direction. Trusting God means knowing that He would never lead us to a dry land but instead to a land that is full of promise. By faith Sarah conceived as an older woman because she believed that God was faithful to His promise. This example shows not only the faithfulness of God, but the willingness to do whatever it takes to fulfill God s promise in life. As a woman of age, carrying a baby to term would have been somewhat awkward. Sometimes the things God calls us to do are awkward. They don t always feel great, but the promise that is fulfilled is what we want to receive. Abraham had to believe, as well as take action for God s promise to come to pass. As time went on, he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief. He was strengthened in faith, gave glory to God, and was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform (Romans 4:20-21). Can you imagine God giving you a blessing and then asking you to make a sacrifice with the blessing? That is what happened with Abraham. God promised them a baby, Sarah conceived and bore Isaac, and then God asked Abraham to make Isaac a sacrifice. Abraham s trust and faith in the Lord was a tremendous example for us. These are only three of the many examples of faith that are in the Bible. We can see from these examples how God keeps His promises to those who remain faithful. We need to stand firm in our beliefs in God s promises just like Noah, Abraham and Sarah. 7

9 Discovering 8

10 Know Your Gifts Discover Your Calling Why do I need to discover my Spiritual Gifts? Some people believe that knowing what your gifts are bare no true meaning. However, knowing the purpose of a thing is very useful. Not knowing the purpose of your gifts will cause you to live in what I call the Haphazard Zone. That is the zone where you walk aimlessly through life, day-to-day not knowing who you are or what is going on. You are allowing life to happen to you and not living life to the fullest. Discovering your spiritual gifts will open your eyes to the purpose of your life. Can you imagine where your life would be if you understood what God had for you? Or what you were born to do? Everything has a purpose. When you don t know the purpose of something you will abuse it. You have a destiny. You have a call. God gave you gifts that you were designed specifically for. The three main reasons why you need to discover your Spiritual Gifts: 1. Knowing your spiritual gift(s) will enable you to find your place of ministry in the Body of Christ. Every Christian has a particular function in the body of Christ. Your spiritual gifts equip you to carry that purpose out and to enhance the Body of Christ. 2. Knowing your spiritual gift(s) will enable you to determine your priorities. Knowing your gifts will keep your life with boundaries around it. You will not just let any and everything into your life. One of the most common problems we all face is having more things to do than we have time to do them. Paul says in Romans 12:6-8, that we should make the use of our spiritual gifts a priority in our lives. In simple terms, when we have too many things to do we must choose to function in the area of our spiritual gifts. In order to set priorities you must know what your gifting is. 3. Knowing your spiritual gift(s) will be of great help in discerning God s will. To expand our last point just a little bit further, knowing your spiritual gift(s) can be very helpful in discerning the will of God in the direction your life takes, especially your occupation. For example, if you do not have the gift of teaching or leadership, a teaching position perhaps that is not the field for you. There is a very distinct relationship between knowing the will of God (Romans 12:1-2) and understanding your spiritual gift (Romans 12:3-8). Here are a few more reasons why knowing your gift is important: Commitment based on the focus of our gifts rather than abstract commitment will help you keep your commitments You will have more effective service in whatever area you are working in Appropriate commitment to ministry You will have more confidence in overcoming inferiority about who you are and what you are to do. 9

11 How do I discover my Spiritual Gift? 1. Understand what the gifts are. Once you understand each gift you will be able to discern more effectively what yours might be. 2. Accept that you are gifted with these special endowments given to you by the Holy Spirit on behalf of our Father who has a great plan for you. 3. Analyze yourself. Look at your interests, passions, personality, and even your talents and skills. 4. Seek confirmation from others. Sometimes people who are in tune with spiritual things can see what gifts you may have. 5. Evaluate the results of all that you learned and observed about the gifts you believe you are blessed with. Do you see evidence of these gifts in your life? 6. Dedicate yourself to ministry because in doing so you will eventually find your gifted path. 7. Take an assessment online. 8. Sit with a Biblical/Christian Coach, Counselor or pastor to determine where God might be using you. What should I do once I know my Gift(s)? 1. Dedicate yourself to learning more about your gift and how God wants you to use it. He will let you know in his time what you are to do. 2. Develop your gift by using it. Seek out a Pastor or biblically based life coach, take courses that relate to the gift, and pay attention to how you develop in your gift. 3. Study the Scripture. 4. Talk to others having the same gifts because they will either have insights or may need your encouragement. 5. Pray for guidance and strength. You may become discouraged at times about your gift and how you are being use or not being used. 6. Be sensitive to the need of others when it comes to executing your gift. 7. Do not neglect your role because God entrusted it to you for a reason. Facts about Spiritual Gifts: It is not natural ability or talent as so many believe. It is not the Fruit of Spirit (Galatians 5:22-25). Gifts can be abused. It is received, not achieved. The Gifts allow for diversity within unity because we each have unique work to do. Each member is unique, important, and useful. Gifts are good but only when ministered in love (1 Corinthians 13). The Gifts are diverse, but all are equally honorable. 10

12 Apply What You Learned Exercises Of the three main reasons why knowing your Spiritual Gifts is important, which one caught your attention? Why? Read Romans 12 and answer the following questions. How will you know what is God s perfect will for your life? 11

13 What does Paul warn the Romans about in Romans 12:3-5? What s the significance of it for your life today? From Romans 12:6-end of the chapter, Paul makes some bold statements about how our behavior should be in moving forward with the use of our gifts. What are some of these warnings and why we must we heed to them? What dangers can come from not following Paul s wisdom? 12

14 Skill, Talent, or Gift Assessment of Gifts As we move forward you will need an understanding of what a talent is, what a skill is, and how they differ from gifts. In the previous section we already covered what a gift is. It is a special endowment from God entrusted to us to use for His glory and service towards the Kingdom Building process! A Talent is: Natural endowment or ability of a superior quality. Spiritual Gifts are spiritual endowments from God! A Skill is: A developed talent or ability. A Spiritual Gift is a supernatural ability entrusted to us by God. Here are three facts about a talent and/or skill: 1) A talent or skill is the result of genetics and/or training. You can go to school or class and learn a skill or enhance your skill or natural talent. You could possess a talent to do something that just comes naturally. A spiritual gift is the result of the power of the Holy Spirit. 2) Anyone can possess a talent or skill regardless of their religious beliefs. They can be a Christian or non-christian; however spiritual gifts can only be possessed by Christians. 3) While skills, talents, and spiritual gifts should be used for God s glory and to minister to others, spiritual gifts are focused on these tasks, while talents can be used entirely for non-spiritual purposes. As you continue in this study manual, stay focused on the fact that spiritual gifts are not natural but they are supernatural abilities entrusted to us by God. Now, let s take a look at the gifts and definitions of each one. 13

15 What are the Spiritual Gifts? For the purpose of this study we are going to stick with the Word of God and what it says about spiritual gifts. You can find a list of gifts in the following scriptures: Romans 12:6-8 1 Corinthians 12:1-28 Ephesians 4:11 Prophecy Ministry Teaching Exhortation Giving Leading Showing mercy (compassion) Administrations Miracle Wisdom Knowledge Discerning various spirits Speaking in tongues Interpretation of tongues Prophecy Faith Working of miracles Healing Apostle Teaching Apostle Prophecy Evangelism Pastor Teaching 14

16 Definition of Gifts ADMINISTRATION: 1 Cor. 12:28 - to steer the body toward the accomplishment of God-given goals and directives by planning, organizing, and supervising others (Greek Word: kubernesis - to steer, guide, helmsmen) APOSTLE: Eph. 4:11; 1 Cor. 12:28 - to be sent forth to new frontiers with the gospel, providing leadership over church bodies and maintaining authority over spiritual matters pertaining to the church (Greek Word: apostolos - 'apo'=from 'stello'=send; one sent forth) DISCERNMENT: 1 Cor. 12:10 - to clearly distinguish truth from error by judging whether the behavior or teaching is from God, Satan, human error, or human power EVANGELISM: Eph. 4:11 - to be a messenger of the Good News of the Gospel (Greek Word: euaggelistes - preacher of gospel; eu=well, angelos=message - messenger of good) EXHORTATION: Rom. 12:8 - to come along side of someone with words of encouragement, comfort, consolation, and counsel to help them be all God wants them to be (Greek Word: paraklesis - calling to one's side) FAITH: 1 Cor. 12: to be firmly persuaded of God's power and promises to accomplish His will and purpose and to display such a confidence in Him and His Word that circumstances and obstacles do not shake that conviction GIVING: Rom. 12:8 - to share what material resources you have with liberality and cheerfulness without thought of return HEALING: 1 Cor. 12:9,28,30 - to be used as a means through which God makes people whole either physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually HELPS: 1 Cor. 12:28 - to render support or assistance to others in the body so as to free them up for ministry KNOWLEDGE: 1 Cor. 12:8 - to seek to learn as much about the Bible as possible through the gathering of much information and the analyzing of that data LEADERSHIP: Rom. 12:8 - to stand before the people in such a way as to attend to the direction of the body with such care and diligence so as to motivate others to get involved in the accomplishment of these goals 15

17 MERCY: Rom. 12:8 - to be sensitive toward those who are suffering, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, so as to feel genuine sympathy with their misery, speaking words of compassion, and caring for them with deeds of love to help alleviate their distress MIRACLES: 1 Cor. 12:10, 28 - to be enabled by God to perform mighty deeds which witnesses acknowledge to be of supernatural origin and means PASTOR: Eph. 4:11 - to be responsible for spiritually caring for, protecting, guiding, and feeding a group of believers entrusted to one s care PROPHECY: Rom. 12:6; 1 Cor. 12:10; Eph. 4:11 - to speak forth the message of God to His people (Greek Word: prophetes - the forth-telling of the will of God; 'pro'=forth; 'phemi'=to speak) SERVICE: Rom. 12:7 - to identify undone tasks in God's work, however menial, and use available resources to get the job done (Greek Word: diakonia - deacon, attendant 'diako'=to run errands) TEACHING: Rom. 12:7; 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11 - to instruct others in the Bible in a logical, systematic way so as to communicate pertinent information for true understanding and growth TONGUES: 1 Cor. 12:10; 14: to speak in a language not previously learned so unbelievers can hear God's message in their own language or the body be edified INTERPRETATION OF TONGUES: 1 Cor. 12:10; 14:27, 28 - to translate the message of someone who has spoken in tongues WISDOM: 1 Cor. 12:8 - to apply knowledge to life in such a way as to make spiritual truths quite relevant and practical in proper decision-making and daily life situations 16

18 Apply What You Learned Exercises What are some of your skills and/or talents? After reading the definitions, which gifts do you think God may have given you? Please note that this is not a definitive answer and that it will become clearer to you as we move forward with the course. 17

19 Why do you think that God wanted to give us Spiritual Gifts more so than talent or skill to complete the work He has at hand? Journal Prompts Answer these prompts in your journal or the printable journal page below. 1. I think my Spiritual Gifts are because. 2. The one gift that I feel comfortable with is..because 3. The one gift that would really stretch me would be..because 18

20 Journal Page 19

21 Developing 20

22 Anointed For The Calling Being called by God means, approaching your calling with the belief and understanding that your assignment truly belongs to God and that you commit to being led by His Spirit in answering and fulfilling the call. As a ministry leader, career professional or business owner, your approach to the assignment should be a God-centered approach with a Kingdom purpose. You bring your entire being to your business your mind+ soul+ heart faith fueled for success. When you are called to be a business owner it is a spiritual calling and assignment. God gives your business a message [products or services] that you are responsible for getting to the world in a big way. It is known in the Kingdom of God as a form of greater works. Doing ministry, work or business without the spiritual influence or aspect is a disservice to your congregation/customers/clients and is a rejection of God the one who called you to business. Without the spiritual influence you rob your business success and your customers from experiencing all of gifts, talents and abilities you have been empowered with, not to mention the moral and business integrity that comes from the Word of God. Being called to be a business owner has several key spiritual principles that confirm the calling: 1. You are spiritually gifted by God for the assignment. 1 Corinthians 12:4 Now there are diversities of Gifts, but the same Spirit. 2. You have received a revelation about being called. The Apostle Paul knew what he was called to do. He said, I am called an apostle. He had a revelation about his calling. 3. You are responsible for identifying the type of assignment God wants you to own by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Romans 14:12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. 4. You are to use the Word of God as the blueprint for your assignment and to maintain daily focus. Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 5. You commit to engaging in ministry, business, or work with Christ-centered integrity and excellence. Titus 3:8 This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. As a spirit-filled believer, your ultimate assignment is to let your Light Shine before all men. You have been created for Purpose, called to an Assignment, and released into Greater Works. Matthew 5:16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and Glorify your Father in Heaven." 21

23 Anointed For the Calling Worksheet DO YOU SENSE THE CALL OF GOD YOUR LIFE? EXPLAIN. WHAT ARE YOUR BELIEFS ABOUT BEING CALLED? WHAT TYPE OF ASSIGNMENT HAS GOD CALLED YOU TO? 22

24 WHAT GOD REVELATION HAVE YOU RECEIVED ABOUT YOUR CALLING? 23

25 Revelation BEING CLEAR ABOUT YOUR ASSIGNMENT Revelation is defined biblically as a manifestation of divine will or truth. It is the supernatural communication of truth to the mind. It is the highest order of knowledge. When God gives you revelation about your life or assignment He gives you an understanding of His plan at your level of comprehension which you become accountable for once received. Revelation is information that will challenge your thinking and cancel any doubt you may have. It s the ability to know that you know. Once you have received revelation there are some spiritual things that must be put into motion: 1. Divine Definition You must know who you are in the eyes of God. You must be crystal clear about the assignment. You must be clear on what area of ministry, what type of business, products or services, or what profession you are to pursue. 2. Divine Development You must grow daily. You will become stagnant if you remain in the same mindset, skills set and ministry or professional practices you start with or started with. You must develop with the times you are living in. 3. Divine Dominion You must operate in the power of God doing things as God would. Divine dominion requires divine character, supernatural strength and faith. Without revelation you will have no foundation for faith. You will forfeit the blessings and benefits of God for your life and you become a candidate for fear of failure. Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Proverbs 4:7 (NKJV) 24

26 DIVINE DEFINITION Revelation Worksheet WHAT STIRS YOUR SOUL? WHAT ARE YOU PASSIONATE ABOUT IN YOUR LIFE? WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO? DIVINE DEVELOPMENT WHAT SECTION(S) OF THE BOOKSTORE DO YOU ALWAYS GRAVITATE TO? 25

27 WHAT TYPES OF BOOKS ARE ON YOUR NIGHTSTAND? WHAT HAVE YOU BECOME SKILLED AT THAT FILLS YOUR HEART? DIVINE DOMINION WHAT ARE YOUR NON-NEGOTIABLE VALUES? 26

28 WHAT HAVE YOU OVERCOME IN YOUR LIFE AND WHOM DO YOU WANT TO HELP SO THEY CAN OVERCOME IT TOO? 27

29 Delivering 28

30 29 Creativity and Witty Ideas Deuteronomy 8:18 (KJV) And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. This section begins by defining two important words in the above scripture: power and wealth. Power is the ability to act or produce an effect. It s the influence [inspiration, stimulus, encouragement, guidance] over others or a mental [intellectual, spiritual, emotional] or moral usefulness. Power is the strength of a person, meaning the capacity for endurance. Wealth is abundance [plenty, richness, great quantity, loads] of valuable resources [income, supplies, sources, means]. With these two definitions in mind, the power to get wealth means that you have the ability to be spiritually useful in having a great quantity of valuable resources. CREATIVITY According to Webster s Dictionary, the definition of creativity is artistic or intellectual inventiveness. Creativity is marked by the ability or power to create or bring into existence, to invest with a new form, to produce through imaginative skill, to make or bring into existence something new. When you create something, you are actually bringing it into being, making it from nothing. But how do you make something from nothing? How do you achieve creativity? What is the essence of creativity? Creativity comes in many forms. It can be scientific creativity, resulting in inventions or medical cures. It can be artistic or musical, resulting in beautiful paintings, sculptures or operas and songs. It can be creative writing, resulting in novels, and information products. Creativity can even be as simple as arts and crafts, such as needle arts, yarn crafts, and jewelry making - things you create with your own two hands. The important thing to remember is that creativity includes generating the idea or concept, as well as applying that idea and producing or manifesting the end product or result. When the potential for creativity meets the promise of skill, you ve made contact with the creative spirit. There s no holding you back now. You ve received that flash of inspiration, that aha! moment of illumination, and you are ready to take those creative risks. You are creative in our own way. You simply have to recognize your own unique talents and skills. Ask yourself these questions: 1. Are you constantly looking for new goals, something new to accomplish? 2. Do you like to look at what already exists and ask What if?

31 3. When you try something new and different, does it make you feel smarter? 4. Do you enjoy teaching someone a new skill? 5. Are you good at problem solving? Creativity doesn t always result in a tangible product. Sometimes its ideas, problem solving, or teaching; but it is indeed, creativity in action. Creativity enables us to better ourselves, develop awareness, and expand our horizons as well as those of other people. FOUR THINGS YOU NEED FOR CREATIVITY Now, you re probably wondering exactly what it is that you need to do to assure yourself of creative success. You do need certain tools and skills to accomplish this task. First, you need a certain expertise in whatever business you ve chosen to pursue your creativity in. If you have zero knowledge in the field of science, odds are you will not make the next fantastic breakthrough in medicine or invent the replacement for the wheel. You must find the field that is your special interest and skill setting. Some expertise is essential for success in your calling. Second, you need the ability to think creatively in your chosen field - being able to imagine a whole realm of possibilities. That includes the ability to turn things over in your mind until you find the answer. Persistence is required - that determination to keep on tackling a problem until you solve it. Know when to turn things upside down and look at them differently. You must know when to nurture the process of creativity and when to let it rest in your mind until it s ready to fly free. Third, you need courage - to be willing to take the creative risks and try something you ve never tried before. You have to be open to whatever new possibilities when they present themselves to you. You never know when ideas will come. Fourth, you must have passion - the desire to succeed no matter what. It doesn t matter what the end prize happens to be or what manner of compensation you might receive. The passion is all that s important - the desire to make whatever works, no matter what. Albert Einstein said, Sticking to it is the genius. 30

32 BENEFITS OF INTEGRATE CREATIVITY INTO YOUR LIFE Okay, we ve established the fact that everyone is basically creative. You ve recognized the creative energy that you possess; and that creative energy must go somewhere or be applied to something, or you may find yourself unhappy and unfulfilled, without understanding exactly why. The benefits of adding this creativity to your everyday life are numerous: 1. Self-confidence 2. Reduced stress 3. Inner peace 4. Better control of your life 5. Unbelievable satisfaction - at last, you re expressing yourself, finding purpose. So, how do you apply your creative energy to your daily life? You apply that newly discovered creativity to family and relationships, to work, and to your community. It s time to explore all the possibilities and perhaps better our world. Simply start with your own little corner of it. You must implement those marvelous new ideas to your information gathering and problem solving. Create checklists and plans. Adapt a new idea; give it a twist. Go with that hunch, that sensitivity, that special insight the creative person possesses. The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, And He adds no sorrow with it. Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV) 31

33 Creativity and Witty Ideas Worksheet 3 TIPS TO MAKE YOU MORE CREATIVE Being creative and thinking up world-changing ideas is a learned skill. Everyone can be creative but they have to be willing to start. The creative process will then become more natural over time. Try the following tips to help you on your journey to be more creative: 1. Record your ideas on whatever is comfortable and convenient at the moment. What is important is that you record your ideas. In the past, I have forgotten ideas that I thought of when I was on a walk or in the car driving to an event. Now I carry a digital recorder with me on those walks and trips. At other times I use my computer, notepad or journal. Choose what will work best for you and make sure you have a way to record your ideas at all times. You never know when an important idea will surface. 2. Don t limit yourself to ideas that seem possible. Capture all of your ideas. Even those that seem impossible to implement are important for a couple of reasons. First, what seems impossible to you may not be impossible sometime in the future and certainly, nothing is impossible for God. Second, impossible ideas encourage further creative ideas that might be more likely to be implemented. 3. Change your scenery or location. A change in scenery can stimulate the creativity inside you. A change might be as simple as looking out a window. You can also visit someplace new like a park, beach, or mall. The new environment can foster new ideas. 32

34 33 Operating By Faith Confidence Philippians 1:6 (NKJV) Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. This final section is about Confidence. Confidence is defined as a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances in his/her ability to succeed. It also means full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person. Every day, in one way or another, you are faced with challenges, and while some are relatively small, others can be quite overwhelming. Therefore, the need for confidence is essential if you are going to be able to handle life issues and successes adequately and effectively. Confidence is needed in the everyday workings of life. Those who are confident will find that they are able to get others to follow their lead without too much effort or objections. This is mainly because more people will be naturally drawn to the leadership qualities that the confidence one has displays. Confidence also allows you to have a certain unshakeable amount of faith and strength in your decisions, enabling you to carry out duties and actions which are positive and beneficial. Without this sort of decisive decision making, a lot of things will not be able to be completed or it will encounter snags which no one wants. The God-confidence will require you being able to see yourself through the eyes of God. Your belief system generally dictates the other aspects of your life and daily decisions. Therefore, with the correct belief systems in place, it is possible to garner the unlimited confidence levels to be capitalized upon. The belief system usually is the dictating factor of your thought process and is a very powerful tool or asset which should be used as often as possible, to ensure better confidence levels are built. Essentially, the belief system makes up your whole outlook on things, and therefore it is very important to ensure the belief systems are all based on godly ideas and input. Spiritual health is a condition marked by the diminished sense of fear and the willingness to strive forth until the end goal is achieved. This mind-set will contribute to your self-confidence levels being built up consistently. The daily experiences of peace, joy, gratitude and unconditional love will give way to a better and stronger ability to cope with various different situations. These experiences will eventually create an unlimited amount of confidence in you. The inner source of God s power will help you tap into self-confidence whenever the need presents itself.

35 Self-confidence is a very attractive and beneficial disposition to display. When you strengthen your confidence, you ll be a happier person. Confidence in yourself equips you to accomplish everything you've always dreamed about. There are many ways to strengthen your confidence. All you need is the courage and the drive to try them. When you do, you'll start to understand your calling better to see yourself fulfilling the calling of God for your life and to see your dreams come true! 34

36 Operating By Faith Worksheet CONFIDENCE 1. What Do You Think About Yourself? 2. What Do Others Think About You? 3. What do You Believe God Thinks About You? 35

37 HERE IS HOW YOU CAN WORK WITH ME Coaching Services: Individual Coaching Sessions: $ minutes coaching session Monthly Coaching Sessions: $475 (3) 45 minutes Sessions, and 5 s Custom Coaching Program (8 Weeks): $597 Business, Ministry or Personal Coaching 8 Weeks Coaching Program or Home-Study Program Custom Coaching Program (12 Weeks): $997 Business, Ministry or Personal Coaching 12 Weeks Coaching Program with Weekly Assignments For more information send an to ginger@gingerlondon.com or visit the website. 36