Gifts - Embodying God's Compassion

WEEK ONE

Read pagest 4 through 52 in Elizabeth O'Connor's Eighth Day of Creation. What particular quotations stand out for you? Write a paragraph or two about two or three of those quotations in O'Connor's book and tell why the particular quotations are important to you.
Divide your life into four quarters (if you are forty, you will have four periods of ten years each). Write six things in each quarter - for example:
- Something you enjoyed doing
- Something you feld you did well
- Something that made you feel satisfied or proud

You can list any sort of thing: learning to whistle, building a tree house, cooking a meal, playing softball, getting a job, taking a trip, learning a new skill. Make sure that they are things that had meaning for you personally. It is not important that others recognized their value.

As you list the six things for each quarter, don't skip the early years of your life. Many people groan when they contemplate doing this. We have been taught to be modest and hide what gives us delight. some people think they haven't achieved much in their lives. Be patient and work on your list in odd moments throughout the week while driving, taking a walk, or working around your house. Things will occur to you.

Note: Don't try to do the whole list at one sitting or leave it to the last minute. It takes time.

Before your small group meeting, go over your list and pick out your ten most important achievements. Rank them in order of importance. Be prepared to tell another why something is important to you.

As a part of your daily prayer time, read 2 Timothy 1:6-7. Read and ponder this scripture. Journal about what comes to you. How do others "fan into flame the gifts of God" within you? How do you "fan the flame" for others?
During your small group time:

Read aloud your reflections written in response to Question # 1 of this assignment.

Divide your small group into pairs. One person listens as th eother shares his/her achievements and what he/she loved to do in the four quarters of his/her life. During this sharing, the listener remains silent. When the presenter is finished, the listener speaks. He/she helps to clarify the gifts of the other and names any recurring themes that came up.

Next, the two switch roles. The presenter now becomes the listener, and the former listener shares his/her material.

When this exercise is completed, the entire small group will come together and reflect on the process - and give each other feedback about any gifts or recurring themes they may be aware of.

WEEK TWO

Read pages 53 through 82 in Elizabeth O'Connor's Eighth Day of Creation

What new life have you refused?

Where do you choose to remain unconscious?

In the assigned reading, what particular selections stand out for you? Write a paragraph or two about two or three of those selections in the assigned readings. Why are these important to you?

As part of your daily prayer time, read Matthew 25:14-30

If the Lord returned today, what would he say about the way you have used what he gave you? How have you worked at developing it? What kind of responsibility do you feel toward God regarding your talents?

WEEK THREE

Read pages 83 through 110 in Elizabeth O'Connor's Eighth Day of Creation

Journal your reflections on the material found on pages 83 to 87.

What particular selections/paragraphs stand out for you in the overall assigned reading?

Write a paragraph or two about two or three of those selections in O'Connor's book and tell why each particular selection is important to you.

As part of your daily quiet time, read and reflect upon Acts 9:26-31 and John 14:12-29

What does scripture say about encouragement in using our gifts?

Write a one-page reflectoin on how these scriptures can be encouraging to you.

WEEK FOUR

With the enclosed material from Listening Hearts, there is a list of ways of preparing to hear God's call.
- Which of these ways do you practice on a regular basis?
- Which ones are easy for you? Which ways do you resist?
- Of the obstacles listed on p. 36-37, which tempt you?
As we conclude this section, how would you now write your answers to these questions:
- What is the dream of God and your part in it?
- What gifts have you been given in order to live out your part of God's dream?
As part of yor daily quiet time, read one or more of the following biblical passages related to vision.
- What is God trying to say to you through these passages?
- Write and reflect on this exercise.

Proverbs 29:18 - its importance
Acts 2:14-24 - who receives it and how
Acts 10 - having a pice of a vision
Isaiah 58 - its substance
Psalm 117 - its breadth
Habakkuk 2:2-3 - its timing