Spiritual Gifts

I read a few of my older entries and think I should note something here.

Vision

Related to a previous entry about ‘strands of light’, I’ve had visions recently showing me how the Spirit tends to work in people’s lives – in flashes. I agree with my previous entry, that God works through believers to reach unbelievers. Believers help the person open their heart to the work of the Spirit. The Spirit then grants them a flash of insight – a glimpse of God – and the person is affected. It is then up to that person to decide what to do with that glimpse.
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Listen

If God is speaking to you, stop what you’re doing and listen!

While I was reading, I realized repeatedly that I wasn’t actually comprehending the words my eyes were traversing. My mind was absorbed in another thought. I realized that the thought was more important, and I decided to write it down to capture and develop it further, which is how I started writing the previous 2 entries. I believe this is the right thing to do.

Cure for the Common Life – notes

While reading chapter 7, pg 66-67, I started thinking about how I wondered whether God considers my not using my STORY to his glory is, in a sense, like stealing.  It’s like using time, that isn’t mine in the first place, for something that isn’t of value to God who owns my time.  Additionally, if I’m not as effective at my job as I should be, for my position, am I cheating, or stealing from, my employer?  Will I ever really be the project manager that they think they got or that they deserve for the salary?  Or is my salary truly worth it, but because of the other talents and value I bring to the organization?

I then started wondering whether the Business Analyst position would be better suited for me.  It’s data analytics and modeling, working with business, and if I could work in my development expertise, it seems like it would be a good fit.  I wonder whether they would pay me the same salary for it though.  It’s not about the salary… it’s about doing the most what you do the best.

I think God is answering my prayers right now.

Working for my Uncle – lessons learned

1. Even a brilliant person can struggle with a great product by refusing to let go (management).  [My uncle] is obviously very bright.  He has skill in what he does.  He has vision that solves his customer’s problems.  But the work environment he creates suffocates because of his inability to manage and (more importantly) inability to let go of the management of the office
2. A product’s price can affect the perception of the customer, leading them to incorrectly determine that it’s a superior product
3. Even mediocre products can have success in a marketplace.  A product does not have to be first, or even be the best, in order to develop market share.

Creator, Not a Manager

I think God has just revealed to me something very important.  In all that I’ve been praying about recently about what I’m supposed to do with my life, something’s become clear.

I am a creator, not a manager.

Thank you Lord for revealing this to me.  I view this as a vital discovery, and am blessed to be putting this together now rather than later.  As my professional successes and frustrations have shown, my value comes in my ability to create things – to see possibilities and create!  When trying to manage people, I feel like I fumble around, even with the best of intentions.  I’m not sure how my management skill comes across to other people, but I know it’s not my strength.

This is vital in that:

1) I need to pray and think very seriously about how I go about "doing the most what I do the best"

2) In future endeavors, if or when I do something entrepreneurially, I will know that I need to hire or work alongside with someone who is called to be a manager.  I learned my lesson with working for my uncle.  I saw how he handled the business and how lifeless it was, even with what he was obviously very passionate about.  He lacked management skills, just like me, and he was unable to let go of the reigns to let someone else manage it for him.  That is a vision that I must protect myself from.  That lesson may have been a key reason I was there.