I’m reading this great book right now called “The 8th Habit”.  If you haven’t read Stephen Covey’s original “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” you really should read both books, they’re changing my life.  This second book is about going beyond integrating good habits into your life, but to actually use them to find the “voice” that you have…that unique, personalized, passionate, driven, purposeful “thing” that is you.
 
I love this concept, I love the idea that each one of us is created in God’s grand design with a voice…and more than a voice, but a message.  It doesn’t have to be a profound message, it just has to be yours.
 
I think innately we know if we have it or not.  In fact, if we’re not worried whether we have it or not we’re either a) to apathetic to care or b) too busy using our voice to spend time trying to analyze it.  I appreciate what one of the first principles the book talks about says: when all is said and done, you have a choice.  You have the freedom to discover, use, embrace and promote your voice and help others discover their voice.  We live in a society that says if we don’t have a “title” or a “given responsibility” that you should just wait to be told what to do.  The 8th habit says if you have discovered your voice, that you always get to speak influence, you always get to speak into the things that could be.
 
As I’m reading this, it resonates with me because it’s the missing piece of the puzzle I’ve been looking for.  With all the training I do and all the growth I see in the ministry I am apart of, everything can fall into place (ie. people can get healing, people can get vision, people can exercise passion, people can work (and work hard), etc.) but all this is just the prerequisite to the ultimate goal: find out who you are and learn to speak from that part that is you, that part that God designed on purpose, it’s destiny really and it’s the courage to walk in it.
 
To be honest, I think I’ve found my voice…
 
My voice is to my generation.  It says “Wake up!  There’s more to life.  Don’t bother me if you’re still trying to figure out if life can be more significant than the mundane you’ve been living.  Come to me when you’re desperate enough to live a life free-falling into God’s plan.  We can get there, it’ll cost you everything, but we can get there.”
 
This inspires me.  This taps into a passion.  When I get to speak these words, I have a satisfaction: I know God’s called me to this, it’s His message, I’m just the mouthpiece.
 
I want to keep speaking this message.  I need you to see that this message can change the world.  One of the ways you can acknowledge this is by joining the team.  I need 15 more $100 a month supporters to fund my ministry for next year.  I need people on board by January 1, 2010.  It’s as easy as clicking “Support Me!” on the left menu bar. 
 
Let’s find our voices.  It’s what brings life…it’s our destiny.