My wife and I will be traveling to Iowa to pick up a baby that we are adopting.  The birth mom sent us some images of the baby in the womb, and no this picture is not it.  They're black and white pictures called ultra sounds.  I look and look at them and have no idea of what I'm looking at.  then I started thinking...God is so awesome in that he is shaping this little boy we're naming Isaac to be formed and created to be a leader for his generation.  That's what I'm praying for his life, that he would have favor in the eye's of the Living God that a revival mantle be stirred in him and he would perhaps lead his generation for a move of the Father.    In fact, let me pray:  Dear Mighty God, I pray over this baby boy, you know how he was conceived and I know that everything happens with your will in mind.  Raise him up to be a warrior for the Kingdom..Amen!

Looking at this ultra sound really gets me thinking....

God has been molding and shaping us for ministry since we were born.  In fact, God started uniquely shaping even before we were born!

"Thank you for make me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about.  Your workmanship is marvelous...You were there whild I was being formed..you saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe." Psalms 139: 14-16 (LB)

1.  You were SHAPED for a purpose.

2.  You are UNIQUE!

3.  You are wonderfully made!

"What right do you have, a  human being, to cross-examine God?  The pot has no right to say to the potter: Why did you make me this shape? A potter can do what he likes with the clay!" Romans 9:20

In Ministry...Function Follows Form!

MINISTRY IS DETERMINED BY SEVERAL FACTORS

"There are different kinds of SPIRITUAL GIFTS but the same Spirit gives them. There are different WAYS OF SERVING, but the same Lord is served.  There are different ABILITIES to perform service, but the same God gives ability to everyone for their service.  The Spirit's presence is shown IN SOME WAY in each one, for the good of all." 1 Cor 12:4-7

My S.H.A.P.E. WILL DETERMINE MY MINISTRY

S. spiritual gives (1 cor 7:7)

H. Heart (Phil 2:13) What am I gifted to do?

A. Abilities (1 Cor 12:6) What do I love to do?

P. Personality (1 Cor. 2:11) What natural skills/talents do I have?

E. Experiance:  Where does my personality best suit me to serve?

SUCCESS IS DOING WHAT GOD MADE YOU TO DO

When I was a youth pastor, I received a magazine once that said, Successfull youth ministries!  Inside gave a bunch of testimonies of these big churches.  Not one church with a small group was listed.  Is that what we're aiming at, quantity vs. quality?  I actually did some research and most of the churches were averaging more than 1000 people, and they were located in big urban cities.  Please don't get me wrong, I believe that big youth groups are awesome, but we need to be careful not to judge success on size. 

Again, God created each one of use for a purpose, don't let other people tell you what your purpose is and if you're a success or not.  If you're doing what God has called you to do, then congratulations on your success!