Saturday, April 27, 2019

About the Book

Book: A Life of Creative Purpose

Author: T.H. Myer

Genre: Christian non-fiction

Release Date: Revised edition released in December, 2018

“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

Click here to purchase your copy.

About the Author

“T.H. Meyer enjoys sunsets, porch dates with her husband, and Sonic tea. Her family built a home on their Texas farm in 2011 where their two mini-Australian shepherds share the couch and ice cubes from the fridge.Tammy is a Purpose-Focused life coaching strategist who authored A Life of Creative Purpose and co-authored A God of All Seasons. She is a mother to three beautiful kids and grandmother to one. You can find her at her website: www.thmeyerauthor.com“

More from T.H. Meyer

A Purposeful Life & the One Thing that Trumps Fear

Most my life, I’ve been afraid of failure. However, I might’ve been even more afraid of success. For too many years, I was immobile because the magnitude and pressures, or vulnerability, required to do what God had called me too, paralyzed me.

I’ve written a lot about this. I even originally named my blog, The Art of Fear Not. I decided on that title because God always told His people to not fear just before sending them into battle.

Armies Against Us

Even though His people were informed that they’d win the skirmishes, most times they were still afraid. I can’t say I blame them. They were up against sword-wielding armies that were willing to cut a man down and spill blood.

We may not have the same scenario, but we don’t need the threat of hand-to-hand combat to experience fear. Our own thoughts can attack us with feelings just as real a danger. I know mine did.

The enemy uses fear to hide us or blind us from our God-purpose. He’d prefer to lock us up and throw away the key. The enemy attempts to bully us. His demonic realm would prefer to rip out our vocal cords or cut off our hand from writing or burden us with every insecurity until we began to believe our worth was lower than the dirt itself rather than seeing us live our God-given purpose.

But bear in mind, when you’re in bondage, suppressed, oppressed, silenced, or held back, it also holds back blessings too—our blessings through your God-given contribution of gifts and talents.

Fighting Back

Several years ago, I decided to tackle my own issue with fear, head on. I looked in the mirror and met with God on my internal mess. And I also asked questions like, “Was it me or God who wanted to do a such-n-such thing? And if it’s God, why am I hamstrung with fear?”

After spending time in prayer, and laying down a good dose of self-preservation, a clear path emerged. I then decided I’d follow wherever it led. Not that the path was open and wide or easy for traveling. No, this was more of a narrow thicket where I couldn’t see ‘round the next corner—making the journey less about self-reliance and more about placing one steady foot in front of the other.

Don’t get me wrong. Fear didn’t entirely flee on this trek with God. There were times it tried to gore me like daggers from a thorny locust. But instead, I chose to trust and move forward anyway.

I fought back too.

A Warrior’s Call

During that time, anxiety would creep in only for me to replace it with intercession. I meditated on scripture. I bombarded my mind with worship music and reflected on His beautiful handiwork in creation.

I took opportunities to reverse fear into faithful action. I’m sure the devil didn’t take kindly that his demonic attacks turned into prayers, worship, and a yielding to the sword of the Spirit inside my heart. But that’s what fighting does—the good fight—positioning myself for a (God) purposeful life.

But oh how we also need to be each other’s champion for freedom too!

Power & Purpose

I continue to be amazed at the power of prayer. Prayer moves mountains, y’all. And sometimes those mountains are skyscrapers inside us. I’m not perfect at prayer or even at instantly returning to it, but when I finally do—why did I wait so long?

When we receive God’s wisdom, we become bold like lions, warriors ready to rise above insecurities, frailties, or fear and charging into battle in order to advance His kingdom.

I want to live in obedience to Christ, despite trepidation of what it might require of me.

Which also means, I need the Holy Spirit to help me get over myself.

Truth That Sets Free

We all need each of you. We need you to press into your God-purpose. Except, we don’t want to be something you’re not. You should be exactly what God’s called you to be and nothing more. No pressure to run off and save the world.

None of us in this Body of Christ are too small and Lord have mercy, none are too big and important either.

Instead, we pursue our God-purpose whether it’s raising our family or speaking on a stage. Or writing a book called, A Life of Creative Purpose.

And let’s not allow our muddied past to undervalue our worth inside God’s kingdom. I’ve done that. I once disqualified myself for many of God’s ministries because of condemnation and shame. Learn from my mistake.

Truth be told, the spirit of fear is afraid of you—afraid of the Spirit inside you, the same Spirit that sets you free.

Courage Rises to the Top

The enemy knows your God. The ruler of this world attempts to draw away your attention with clanging gongs, hoping you’ll never notice how big God really is.

Scripture says that God’s perfect love casts out fear. And that means, we have to first let God love on us, receiving it. Once we do that (& never stop), courage rises to the top.

Let’s make this a year where we pay attention and live with more intention.

God’s gifted you beautifully unique.

Don’t grow weary of the fight.

What might God be asking of you? How might He be challenging you to change or step out or persevere this year? What are your biggest struggles or hurdles right now?

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.

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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.