Not My Gift – Nor My Talent

When my wife purchased the four foot wide portable closet unit for our basement one of my friends said, “Those are a piece of cake to assemble.” I needed a second person to help me get it out of her car; it’s amazing how heavy particle board has become! Thankfully I now had some help putting it together as well.

When we opened the box, all the parts seemed to be there, but the kick plates were damaged (hint: particle board is heavy but fragile) as were the two front doors. But, we soldiered on, determined to accomplish the task before us. Working on the cement floor was taxing; construction was relatively straight forward; completion was eventual (but not as quick as we had hoped).

After all was said and done, the closet unit now full of supplies, I realized once again: projects like these are not my gift, nor my talent. As a result, rarely a joy.

When I’m using gifts or talents that either come naturally or supernaturally, I’m not only living in my sweet spot, but delightedly so! Here my gifts are given to serve others, for the building up the Church and growing the Kingdom of God. When my gifts are displayed with joy and passion, I’m contributing to the abundance of life in Christ for all who cross my path.

Knowing your gifts and understanding your temperament are important elements for the crafting of your personal rule of life. See how others are leaning into this way of being at www.RuleOfLife and join the journey into the abundance of life in Christ. “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 16). Shine on dear friend!

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Steve Macchia

Founder & President

The Rev. Dr. Stephen A. Macchia is founder and president of Leadership Transformations, Inc. (LTI), a ministry serving the spiritual formation, discernment, and renewal of leaders and learners since 2003. For more than 20 years he has been the Director of the Pierce Center for Disciple-Building at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, where he also serves as an adjunct faculty member in the Doctor of Ministry Program. From 1989-2003 he was the president of Vision New England, the largest regional church renewal association in the country. Earlier in his ministry life, Steve was a member of the pastoral staff of Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts for 11 years. He is the author or co-author of 17 books, including The Discerning Life (Zondervan Reflective), and Crafting a Rule of Life, Becoming A Healthy Church (LTI), and Broken and Whole (IVP).  He and his wife Ruth live in the Boston (MA) area and are the proud parents of two married children and grandparents to three adorable grandchildren. Steve’s personal website is www.SteveMacchia.com.

My soul comes alive singing the great hymns of the church and enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. I’m in awe of God for fulfilling the dream for LTI that he birthed in my heart, for the team he has assembled, and the transformational impact experienced in the leaders and teams we serve.

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Mitzi Mak

Selah-West Faculty & Emmaus Faculty

Mitzi started her professional life as a high school social studies teacher. She and her husband Jerry then served cross-culturally for ten+ years, living abroad first in India and then Kurdistan, N. Iraq. In addition to being a Spiritual Director, she now serves as a Formation and Care pastor in her local church in Houston, TX. She has graduated from LTI’s Selah Spiritual Direction training as well as LTI’s Emmaus Formational Leadership Program.

Mitzi enjoys engaging conversation, reading fiction, doing jigsaw/crossword puzzles, ocean gazing and exploring the world with Jerry through food and travel.

God has two main callings in Mitzi’s life: to care for those who care for others and to be a guide in helping others have a healthy relationship with the Trinity – recognizing God’s loving presence and activity in their lives and how to faithfully respond.

Selah was a transformative experience for me – allowing the contemplative within to emerge and to beautifully co-exist with my extraverted personality.