Author: Erik Rees

ISBN:  0-310-27009-X

God made you. He gave you a personal blend of Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. This book promised to give the reader the tools to "unlock your God-given potential, uncover your specific Kingdom Purpose," and "unfold a kingdom plan for your life."

The name of the book intrigued me -- S.H.A.P.E. It seems that Rees "introduced the concept of S.H.A.P.E." over twenty years ago in order "to help people remember five factors (spiritual gifts, heart, abilities, personality, experiences) God uses to prepare and equip us for our purpose in life." He writes that we "are shaped to serve God by serving others." I can safely say that the technique worked -- I can readily recall what each letter stands for.

Under "The Journey Ahead," I learn that the path may be tough but rewarding. I am to exile myself from the world's distractions and "empty the bag you gradually have been filling with worries and man-made longings." Rees suggests calling someone to journey with and ends with a prayer to start us on our voyage.

We start off with knowing that we are "one of a kind." We are like an original painting -- no one or nothing else is like us. We are molded, intentionally shaped, "to fulfill the specific plan He has for each life." Rees writes, "Every journey has a starting point. Today is the starting point of your life-changing journey of discovery." Before we can dig in, we are encouraged to answer a few simple questions like, "My unique God given purpose in life is clear" and "My attitude and actions reflect a servant heart." Twenty-five points or more indicate, "your life is in balance." Based on your answers, if you score 15-25 points, "your God-honoring purpose seems cluttered." Less than fifteen points, "you are confused about your specific in life for God." Now that you know where you are, Rees provides a place to "write God a note" to ask Him to "help you see how special you are and the specific purpose He has just for you."

Chapter two kicks off with Spiritual Gifts. It appears to be a mysterious topic and a tremendous undertaking to understand what spiritual gifts we may have within us. First, we must understand that these gifts are "neither for you nor about you." They are our gifts "for the express purpose of blessing the body of Christ -- the church." I also learned "that every believer receives gifts from God" and "the more you serve God in ministry, the more clearly you will see your gifts." Basically, we use our God-given gifts, "people are helped, He is honored, and we are fulfilled." Spiritual gifts include mercy, knowledge, wisdom, and encouragement (to name a few).

The "Heart" chapter is written to help us discover our "true passion." Rees writes about Kay -- the typical "white, suburban soccer mom." Kay had come across pictures in a magazine of Africans "ravaged by AIDS." When a month passed and she realized that the pictures still haunted her, she decided that she couldn't possibly stand before God knowing she had done nothing about the situation. "She knew obeying God would be hard," and other may not accept her new passion. Kay ventured to Africa where she met Flora, "a woman who was dying in the same home that her unfaithful husband, his mistress, and the mistress's baby also were dying -- all of AIDS." She also met and held Flora's three-year-old daughter. Thus was born Acts of Mercy -- "a foundation that 'cares for hurting people the way Jesus did.'" There's a "list of causes" at the end of the chapter that include abortion, abuse/violence, and alcoholism (to name a few).

Abilities are discovering what you're good at. The Rees household was nearing the end of the day and Erik's wife was clinging to the end of her busy-day rope. Rees writes, “By now I knew she didn't need a strategic plan from me; what she needed and wanted was a sensitive ear and heart." Erik's wife claimed that she didn't have much to offer -- she cleaned, cooked, and shuttled kids from one activity to another. They "took a piece of paper and wrote down ten things she loved to do: coach, inspire, run, counsel, encourage, listen, help, read, provide, and organize." She was able to turn this list into activities that were geared to God's plan. She began to see "that God could use her natural abilities during any and every season of her life." At the end of the chapter, there is a list of natural abilities.

Personality is "discovering who God made you to be." I learned that God doesn't measure people like we think He does. He doesn't just notice the "football-player-like" -- He uses all personality types. In this chapter, you will discover your personality type -- and "attempting to conform to personality types and patterns that are outside our natural S.H.A.P.E. goes against everything God, as our Creator, wants us to grasp about ourselves."

Experiences are "discovering where you have been." We are asked to think about our past "achievements/experiences" in five areas -- "personally, vocationally, relationally, educationally, and spiritually." Rees writes about Katie -- a "best selling author" friend of his, who is "highly educated with two Master's degrees and a doctorate." He describes her as "one of the most humble individuals I know." Instead of being prideful of her accomplishments/experiences, she claims that they are "door-openers for God to use."

The guidebook goes on to discuss "letting go" in order to remove roadblocks, and "unleashing" to understand your full potential.

I would certainly agree that this book contains valuable tools for those wanting to change their lives and set free the burdens we sometimes create for ourselves.

The above review was contributed by: Sue Vogan, Writer & Author of NCO-No Compassion Observed: To read more of Sue's reviews Click Here