III. What gives me joy, freedom, life, and energy? Home Hello! We hope that you have had some time to reflect on your life journey thus far. Perhaps you’ve had some time to think about why and how you got to this place. This session is all about focusing our discussion on what places in our lives give us joy, freedom, life, and energy. This helps us to focus more on who we are and helps us define the “life-giving” places in daily life. It also helps us to notice the places that seem to “suck” the life and take our energy and passion from us. The purpose of this session is to find the places in life where we are able to thrive and really do well because we are listening to what is life giving.

A.  Stop & Listen “ My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” —Psalm 139:15-16 B.  Discovery Find out more about who you are and see what is a natural fit for you as you understand your unique God-given personality Take one of the following online assessments to learn your four letter personality code.  short version - 4 questions long version - 65 questions Follow a link below to read the analysis from your type. Taken from LIFE KEYS BY Sandra Krebs Hirsh, Jane A. G. Kise and David Stark Copyright © ______ Used by permission of Bethany House Publishers division of Baker Book House Company C.  Reflection What gives you joy, freedom, life, and energy? What are the places in your life where you get “lost” in what you are doing? (What do you lose time at doing?) What sucks the life out of you and takes away your joy, freedom, life, and energy? If you could do anything, regardless of time, space or money, what would you do?

Food For Thought “Men outside their proper callings are like joints out of place in the body; in finding the proper place, each must examine both his “affections” and his gifts. And that they may the better judge aright, for what calling their children fit, they must observe two things in them: first, their inclination, secondly, their natural gifts.” —William Perkins, Treatise of Vocations (1502) For what am I most grateful? For what am I least grateful? "These questions help us identify moments of consolation and desolation.  For centuries prayerful people have found direction for their day and for their life by identifying these moments." Here are some other ways to ask the question: When did I give and receive the most love today? When did I give and receive the least love today?   When did I feel most alive today? When did I most feel life draining out of me?   When today did I have the greatest sense of belonging to myself, others, God and the universe? When did I have the least sense of belonging?   When was I happiest today? When was I saddest?   What was today's high point? What was today's low point? -- from Sleeping With Bread:  Holding What Gives You Life by Dennis Linn, Shelia Fabricant Linn, Matthew Linn Music:  Stand by Bebo Norman, 10,000 Days I'm walking in an open field looking for some space to fill I believe there's something left to hold So even when the sun goes down and there's no one around I'm standing in the freedom of my soul And the truth of the matter is still the same It's that you and I, we will not be here forever The truth of the matter is still the same more Film:  Keeping the Faith "Brian (Norton), a priest, and his best friend, Jake (Ben Stiller), a rabbi, both fall in love with their long-lost childhood friend, Anna (Jenna Elfman), who has returned to Manhattan to pursue her hectic business career. However, Brian has taken a vow of celibacy, and Jake is constantly being set up by Jewish mothers in his temple. The workaholic Anna isn't Jewish, but this doesn't stop her from returning Jake's affection and beginning a relationship that they hide from Brian. As their relationship progresses, complications arise, leading Jake, Brian, and Anna to deal with questions of both religious and romantic faith." - synopsis from RottenTomatoes.com Music:  Change Your Mind by Sister Hazel, Fortress Hey, Hey Did you ever think There might be another way To just feel better, Just feel better about today more Music:  Walk Down This Mountain by Bebo Norman, 10,000 Days It's a better place Standing high upon this mountain I've seen your face Full of the light that holiest height can show Blessed hand is why you you've given But you've been given all you'll ever need To know more