What might be sabotaging your uniquely gifted contribution to the world around you? Discover the obstacles and barriers standing between you and your God-given purpose. In this book, you'll learn how to identify ways to strengthen your calling that'll encourage you to confidently operate in the gifts and talents that God designed you to do. Through the lens of T.H. Meyer’s own journey, you’ll recognize the universal struggle in embracing your whole person as she encourages you to live a life without regrets. For the individual reader looking to examine more deeply their life purpose or group seeking to collectively spur each other toward their God-given gifts, talents, and life. This book can be used as a 12-week, 6-week, or 4-week study guide , with exploratory questions at the end of each chapter the assist you in listening to God's voice and revealing your unique purpose, path, or direction.
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Aside from writing, Tammy enjoys sitting on the porch with her hubby, quality time with her teenage sons, chips and salsa, meaningful conversations, and Sonic tea.
This is a good book for Christians who feel they are called by God but don't what that calling is. It is part memoir as Myer shares her own experiences of giving up her gift and then rejuvenating it years later. It is part encouragement, such as what to do when you think your calling is just not possible. It is part a call to reflection with many personal application questions.
People who are looking for a way to discern their calling from God will find lots of good material here. Much of it involves a personal discovery process so make sure your journal is nearby. This is also a good book for Christians who are not sure if they even have a calling from God. Myer will walk you through the process to discover what your calling is and will then give you lots of encouragement to pursue it.
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.
“What might be sabotaging your uniquely gifted contribution to the world around you? Discover the obstacles and barriers standing between you and your God-given purpose. In this revised book, you’ll learn how to identify ways to strengthen your calling that’ll encourage you to confidently operate in the gifts and talents that God designed you to do. Through the lens of T.H. Meyer’s own journey, you’ll recognize the universal struggle in embracing your whole person as she encourages you to live a life without regrets. For the individual reader looking to examine more deeply their life purpose or a group seeking to collectively spur each other toward their God-given gifts, talents, and life. This book can be used as a 12-week, 6-week, or 4-week study guide, with exploratory questions at the end of each chapter the assist you in listening to God’s voice and revealing your unique purpose, path, or direction.”
Endorsements ”A wonderful exploration, but not only for readers to look inwardly, but to also look around at others, at where our lives are at, and mostly upward toward God’s design and dreams for our lives. Love it!”– Cindy Coloma, best selling and award-winning author of over 15 books ”You’ll come away from this wise and insightful book with a clearer understanding of how you are uniquely gifted to contribute to the world, and why it’s imperative that you honor your creative calling.”– Michelle DeRusha, author of Katharina and Martin Luther: The Radical Marriage of a Runway ”TH Meyer looks at the glass ceiling the world has placed between ‘creatives’ and ‘non-creatives’ and shatters it. This those who have felt they are not creative, too timid, or simply too late to the life they were called to live, Meyer says, ‘Pish-posh.’ She delivers on her promise to help people embrace uniqueness, explore boldness, and encourage faith.”– Amy Young, author of Looming Transitions: Starting & Finishing Well in Cross-Cultural Service ”In her book, A Life Of Creative Purpose, Tammy Hendricksmeyer [TH Meyer] is a trusted mentor, offer ing us the tools we need to step completely into God’s design for us as individuals, and as members of His body. Her relatable stories coupled with scripture inspire and ignite a renewed passion for pursuing not only our own creative callings but even more, her words stoke the fire in our hearts for the Giver of these gifts.” – Kris Camealy, author of Come, Lord Jesus: The Weight Of Waiting ”A Life of Creative Purpose is a fantastic resource filled with thoughtful questions, stories, and Scripture each designed to awaken us to God’s unique purposes for our lives. It is well-written, thoughtful, and engaging, an invitation to embrace our own eternally significant creative purpose.” – Cindee S. Re, author of Discovering Hope: Beginning the Journey Toward Hope in Chronic Illness ”In her book, A Life of Creative Purpose, TH Meyer masterfully blends personal stories with wisdom from Scripture to reveal the importance of creative purpose (even if you think you are not creative.) The thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter will help you discover (or uncover) and embrace the unique way God has made you and inspire you to step into a life of purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.” – JoDitt Williams, author/artist of Delight in the Word of God: A Devotional Coloring Book/Journal for Adults
My Thoughts: This is a great book to remind us about the gifts that God has for each of us. It reminds us not to be afraid to step out in faith to use the guts that God gives us to use.
This is a book of encouragement. It helps those who may not know what their purpose or gift is, to learn how to find it.
I enjoyed this book and encourage others to read it.
Reviewed from the premise of a Christian and Biblical foundation: The book is confusing, I thought we were going to talk about finding creative purpose in our lives, as artists, as creative people. Instead, we are presented with a mix of being called to live on a farm (a whole other kind of calling, not necessarily linked to creative purpose), spiritual gifts (gifts given specifically to Christians, through God's sovereign will) and natural gifts that are given to anyone (like being an artist, musician, author, etc.). I found it confusing.
The only redeeming quality were the thought provoking questions at the end of the chapters, very useful and often similar questions are asked in many various Christian studies, and some in non-Christian studies. It was nice to have them all in one spot. I liked that Mrs. Meyer did not succumb to common psycho-babble about birth order, parental influence etc. she dealt directly with our responsibility in our behavior, and our repentance and need to grow in faith in the Lord. Sometimes requiring us to step out and do, not really being certain of the results.
And yet, I found the use of The Message as the foundation for the scriptural references, disturbing. When we build our foundation of thought, on a sandy ground, which is The Message, then the foundation of our thought will be shaken and found wanting. For example - beginning of Chapter 14: "God knew what he was doing from the very beginning." Romans 8:29-30. That sounds great, right? Of course, we know God knew what he was doing. He always does! But that's not what this verse actually says. "For those he foreknew ...." doesn't mean He knew everyone in the sense that He knows they exist. It means that those who are His sheep, He knows intimately. He knows His church, His bride, like a husband knows his wife (the original word actually is the same word used for Adam "knowing" Eve, and then bringing forth Cain). Isn't that MUCH more comforting than "God knows what He's doing." I think so.
In the same chapter, she went on to discuss her and her husband's role as partners. The problem is that marriage is a picture of the church, as Christ's bride. The church is not Christ's "partner", the church submits to Christ, as Christ submitted to the Father, even unto death for the redemption of His bride, the church. Nothing Satan and the depraved minds of unregenerate humans like better than to destroy that picture. And so, Christians are caught fighting this fight against submission, because of the warpedness of wicked men turning it into oppression and misery, and rejecting the beautiful picture of Christ being the husband's authority, and the husband being his wife's authority, treating her as Christ treats him. The wife giving her husband the place of authority in the home, while the husband gives Christ the authority over him. There is no room for abuse in this, no room for sinful, unregenerate behavior.
I appreciated things that were said in this book, but I also had problems with many things too, so I would say, read it and use the questions as a guide, but in finality: Go to God's Word, a good solid translation, like NASB or ESV that are translated directly from the ancient manuscripts - throw out the paraphrases. Then live with this in mind: God does all things in our lives, whether it's what we consider good or what we consider bad, they are done for His glory and for our sanctification."Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases." Psalm 115:3 ESV I received this book as a gift, no compensation was received for providing an honest review.
A Life of Creative Purpose is told in the manner in which I learn best—story. From the opening tale of the author shredding her life’s creative work, to the last question on the last page designed to get and keep you thinking, the book holds your attention. Through its pages, you make a friend of a woman who is so very much like people we meet every day.
So very much like ourselves.
Each short chapter holds a purpose, and you find that not only in the chapter’s story, but also in the questions that follow. These questions probe your thoughts and sometimes poke festering sores. If you let them, they’ll help clean out the infection and move you toward healing.
T.H. Meyer offers action steps, and at the end of the book, if you still need help, she tells you how you can contact her for coaching your creative life.
Look, I’ve seen similar things before and it made me feel as though the book was designed as bait to lure me into the “real” product. That is not the case with this book.
Written as both an encouraging help and a creative memoir, A Life of Creative Purpose not only gives you direction and a goal, but it offers a gentle reminder.
We were put here for a purpose. Sometimes we don’t know what to do with that purpose, but here it is in all its raw glory. And this book offers help taking those first steps in finding that purpose.
The book isn’t full of shocking new ideas that’ll revolutionize your life. Instead, it offers a fresh approach to reminding us of those things we should know and often forget.
Recommended for people who are looking for direction, clarity, and the reminder that they are not alone. I had a couple of quibbles that never fully materialized. I don’t know where the author stands on God speaking to us outside the Word or women’s roles in the kingdom of God, but she gave enough hints that I suspect I might not agree with all her conclusions.
But T.H. Meyer did something brilliant.
She left those for a different book. The conclusions weren’t relevant points to the purpose of her book. The point was the journey in seeking and searching. For that, I thank her.
I just wish she'd put more emphasis on an actual Biblical translation rather than a paraphrase. That was difficult to look past.
Those bothered by typos should note that there was at least one rogue apostrophe and a consistent capitalizing of the names of trees ( “Elm” and “Oak”) where they shouldn’t have been. It was just off enough to make me take notice, but nothing misspelled, etc. It is also possible that the copy I requested from the author is an ARC and the available copy on Amazon doesn’t have these in them.
Super minor and only mentioning it because I know it bothers some.
One of the main things I got from this book was to give yourself time to rest and spend that time in God's presence. Oh how I wished I had heeded those words years ago when I volunteered for everything at the church. I eventually became the children's pastor. I was there on Saturday's get all the classes read and , during the week I was up there copying lessons and other duties that were required of me. If Thanksgiving came., I spent my time at the church decorating the children's church for Christmas. What I did leave out of my life was my family and obeying what God had called me to do. I was so busy doing "works" I forgot to listen to God.
God did get my attention and I learned a hard lesson I i was created to do something, but not to glorify myself. One of the chapters that really spoke to me was titled, " Giving Yourself Permission." I also had been deeply hurt by a church. I felt alone in the wilderness. I was taken from a church family and abandoned. It took a long time to heal from that. In the midst of it, I learned to depend on God and really listen to Him. As the author talked about, I didn't reach out to anyone and was left to bouts of depression and loneliness. I loved how she talked about, " mourning the death of a community I loved." Allowing yourself to mourn releases pain and therefore you can start to hear the clear voice of God.
Have I been participating in my life or just a spectator? Am I ready to hear what my true calling is and what I was created to do? The book does give great examples of how to listen to God and find your purpose in life. He needs us to listen with an open heart. Sometimes we may be put in difficult situations that help us grow and become stronger to fight against the enemy. I did like some of the examples she used from the bible to show how God used people even though they didn't think they were capable. ] Overall a good book that looks at finding our purpose and allowing ourselves to listen to the call on our lives. There are questions at the end of each chapter that help you reflect on what the author talked about. There are some good points in the book and others I may not have fully agreed on but I did think the author does a good job of helping readers ask themselves what they are created to do.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
I didn't plan it this way. I didn't plan to read this book, this week. I didn't plan to read A Life of Creative Purpose, while wrestling with my own. I signed up to review this book months ago, put it on my calendar, and forgot about it. But God knew what he was doing. It was the book I needed to read this week, and I'll be spending the next few weeks journaling through the reflection questions.
Could it be that creativity that you have is a gift from God, given to you on purpose? Could it be that he is calling you to do something special and unique? A Life of Creative Purpose will give you the prompting you need to explore what God is calling to you to do. What is his calling your life? Maybe not a call to the mission field. Maybe not a call to "pastoral ministry." Maybe, God's call on your life is all of those things. Or maybe it's none of them. Maybe it's being a mom. Maybe it's being a writer, maybe it's painting, maybe it's crafting, maybe it's running your own business.
But there is a unique way God has called you to bless the world. A Life of Creative Purpose will help you explore what God is calling you to do. It will help you dig through the roadblocks that are keeping you from getting started. Or even the things that have caused you to quit. I highly recommend this book to anyone struggling to understand God's purpose for their life, or anyone who, like me, knows some of that purpose but is struggling to take the next step. And especially to anyone who identifies themselves as a creative person, but doesn't really know what to do with that, or how it will serve God's kingdom.
I received a review copy of this book; all opinions are my own.
I found this book to be a very insightful, honest, and relatable look into the gifting of women for the Kingdom. I related with the author on many points such as needing rest like Jesus to minister effectively, feeling limited by what others may think of the gifts the Lord gives us (sometimes by just being a woman), and understanding the need to grieve at points in your life to move forward to a new season. I liked how the author emphasized that the gifts are totally from God and can not be developed or put into use properly apart from an intimate relationship with God. I know as a control freak, I tend to turn to any ministry that sounds worthy of my time and gifts (like everything lol), and then I just end up a mess because I launched off without even acknowledging God in the decision. I enjoyed the personal anecdotes that made the points hit home, and I enjoyed the discussion questions for contemplation and application at the end of each chapter. I enjoyed how the author emphasized how different seasons bring different challenges and different ways for our spiritual gifts to glorify God, even being a stay at home mom. While I can't say I agreed with everything, I found the overarching themes really well written, and filled with Scripture and other books on the topic that really gave it credibility and authenticity. If you feel like you are not worthy of the dreams God has placed in your heart, or if you feel like you are just in a rut spiritually, this book is for you!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are entirely my own.
This is a great book of encouragement to remind us that God has gifts for each of us. It reminds us not to be afraid to step out in faith to use the gifts that God gives us to use because the gifts are for the whole body of Christ and not just ourselves. I really like that the author uses personal stories to show that she really does know what she is talking about and that the book is written in easy to follow language, not in a text book style. There are also suggestions after every chapter to help the reader discover their gifts and how to use them.
I think the chapter on fear was personally written for me at this time in my life as I am dealing with letting go of fear in areas that has been lived with that damaging emotion to long. I thing my favorite quote in the whole book is " However, fear does not get the final word if God has anything to do with it." After reading this book, I am on the hunt to find what my Spiritual gifts are! I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.
In this nonfiction work, the author shares personal stories from her own life and uses these experiences as launches to show how to life a purposeful life in service to God. A short book of sixteen chapters, it covers such topics as “Knowing God and His Gifts,” “Going Where You Never Thought Possible,” and “When You Face the Doubts and the Doubters.” I found the book helpful and encouraging, based on scriptural principles and supported with Bible verses. Each brief chapter concludes with questions for personal application and reflection. The book would be good for individual use or in a group discussion. The title and subtitle describe its contents well: A Life of Creative Purpose: Embrace Uniqueness, Explore Boldness, Encourage Faith. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
Ever open a book expecting it to go one direction yet you find it going another? Before I opened the cover of this book I actually feared I was going to walk into one of those "best life now" books where it's more about self than God. I was pleasantly surprised that what I walked away with was more of a concept of being "mold-able" by God, and not allowing fear to thwart you from exploring God's design for you and your life. Ever heard the phrase "you'll never know until you try?" If you are still trying to figure out what your gifts are and what God is calling you to, be flexible! Seek God always, but don't let fear dictate what you are willing to try and explore. Sometimes trusting God means taking leaps of faith! It's not about doing whatever we want and being blessed, but about taking the gifts the Lord has given us and using them for His purpose and His kingdom.
My only complaint was that I wish the verses shared at the beginning of each chapter weren't in The Message translation. It's too liberal of a translation for my comfort. (No, I'm NOT a 'KJV only' person).
I was pleasantly surprised with this book and can honestly say that I enjoyed it. It's a fairly short read but one that has plenty of content for you to meditate on long after you've closed the back cover. Definitely recommend!
*I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.
A book like this always make you think and compare to things in your own life. I don’t read nonfiction very much. This is a very good one and definitely one I need to read again.
At the end of each chapter there is a Personal application and reflection. For example after the first chapter that was a statement that I thought was really good. It says to write down the wildest, grandest, scariest things you would do if you knew you wouldn’t fail. That is something to really think about.
I loved the reminder in chapter 5 that there are seasons for everything. A time to rest and a time to work. A time to mourn and a time to play. There is more, read the book to see what it is.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to write an positive review. This is my own opinion.
Enjoyed the passion with which the writer addressed the topic of creativity. I was encouraged to continue to pursue the unique manner in which I am developing and using my creative gifts. Some nice practical examples of how the author worked through challenges to come to a place where she felt free to use her gifts to the fullest. Unfortunately the number of typos was very distracting. I would give it a higher rating if it received a good edit. Still, if you can overlook the typos, it is a worthy read for any who desire to grow in the creative arts.
A Life of Creative Purpose provides incredible insight into living a creative life. The book is part memoir, part encouragement, and part inspiration. T. H. Myer does an excellent job of combining personal experience, Scripture, and journaling to discover your calling and live the life God has called you lot live.
So if you are looking for a book to help you discover the path God has called to you follow, check out this book for yourself.
Enjoyed how the author speaks to the heart of the creative soul. I was encouraged to continue walking my unique path in developing and using my creative gifts. Sadly the many typos distracts from the quality. A good edit would improve this work greatly.
Have you ever stopped to wonder what the creative purpose is for your life? That’s what Meyer addresses in her latest. She reminds the reader that the way you look at life shifts when you realize your purpose.
This book is full of stories, scripture verses, and questions for reflection to help determine your creative purpose and embrace your unique self. Faith-based truths are included, and there is a coordinating journal.
If you’re looking for an insightful and encouraging book, this is one to pick up.
Some of my favorite quotes and reminders are:
• With God, the impossible is possible. • Speaking truth reverses lies. • We are to be who God’s called us to be: nothing more, nothing less. • Give yourself permission to own your God-given gifts. • Fear does not have the final say.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to leave a review. Opinions expressed are my own.
T.H. puts a voice to the term "creative"! Its a unique way to be, and God's way of working through us is bringing life to our thoughts and imagining.
If you've ever struggled with pushing through in your creative bend, I highly recommend A Life of Creative Purpose! I also recommend grabbing a journal to capture moments of clarity and revelation!