Fractals?  The first time I heard of this word was in the book The Shack, by William P. Young. I had no idea what it meant.  Since then, I have come to not only know the meaning in my head, but to understand its deep implications in my heart.

So what exactly is a fractal?  I really can’t tell you. I am a very simple minded person, and it seems unless you are a scientist or a mathematician (and I am neither one of those) the definition is hard to grasp.

We all know if we need information in today’s world, we Google it.  So here is some of what I found for definitions of the word fractal.

“Any of various extremely irregular curves or shapes for which any suitably chosen part is similar in shape to a given larger or smaller part when magnified or reduced to the same size.” (Merriam-Webster)

“An object whose parts, at infinitely many levels of magnification, appear geometrically similar to the whole. Fractals are useful in modeling structures (such as eroded coastlines or snowflakes) in which similar patterns recur at progressively smaller scales, and in describing partly random or chaotic phenomena such as crystal growth, fluid turbulence, and galaxy formation.” (Yahoo Dictionary)

So are you like me, and have to read the definitions slowly, and think about what you are reading?  (If you want to pursue the definition further, you can find a whole slew of similar definitions by going here.  thefreedictionary.com/fractal)

But I did find one definition that seemed to use more simple terms I could understand.

“A fractal is a natural phenomenon or a mathematical set that exhibits a repeating pattern that displays at every scale.” (Thank you, Wikipedia.)

So, putting all of this together, my understanding is that a fractal is a pattern which looks similar as a whole, but when examined at a deeper level, each piece is actually unique.

That brings me to something I have always enjoyed.

From the time I was a little girl, I am easily mesmerized by kaleidoscopes.  I just love them, and have continued to buy them, even as an adult. Imagine my thrill when I discovered there are actually videos of these images set to music! (The Splendor of Color Kaleidoscope) 

One day while watching one of these videos, I asked God why I love kaleidoscopes so much.  He so graciously shared these seven things with me.

• All the broken pieces are made into something exquisitely beautiful
• Constant change doesn’t have to be something bad to dread, but something wonderful if I have the eyes to see it
• The patterns created are limitless, just like He is limitless in my life
• The external movement of force creates the internal movement of beauty
• It causes me to pause from whatever I am in the middle of, and just rest in the beauty of what is in front of me
• The changing swirling colors are a way on earth to have a representation of the beauty of the colors in heaven
• If I do my part, I am rewarded with the beauty of the kaleidoscope doing what it was made to do

Sounds kind of like a fractal to me; irregular pieces coming together to make a beautiful pattern for others to enjoy.

It also sounds a lot like my life. No wonder I love kaleidoscopes and fractals.

How about you?  Do you see yourself as a bunch of broken pieces God is using to turn into a beautiful fractal?

And by the way, those who know me well, know that I am very naive and childlike when it comes to the “ways of the world”.  Some people (including Christians) believe that is a bad thing in today’s world.  I am thankful to be pure and innocent in so many areas most people are not.  I say this, because I was quite surprised to read below the kaleidoscope video that it is used mostly to enhance the experience of those on drugs.  I have no problem taking what was meant for the kingdom of darkness and bringing it into the Kingdom of Light!

How to Figure Out Your Unique God-Given Calling and Purpose in Life

This may surprise you, but I need to start by saying, I don’t believe God has created any of us with just one “royal identity” or one main purpose for God’s Kingdom (…and we’d better figure out what that is and do it!).  I believe God creates each one of us as a unique gift to the world, making us “multipurpose” beings, which flows from the seasons of our lives.  But I also believe underneath that flow, there is a foundation that all those purposes stand on; a common thread that ties them all together.

We all go through seasons.  I believe God uses each season as a time of learning, to prepare us for the next season He will be taking us through.  I also believe each season is a reflection of our Kingdom identity.  In all of these seasons, there is usually an underlying purpose that will manifest as a thread of our royal identity.

Some seasons are obvious, and a bit on the permanent side (such as being a parent).  Other seasons can be either much shorter, or not so obvious, as in the life of Cody, who is a furniture salesman while starting his own website business on the side, coaches his daughter’s T-ball team, and is part of the local jail ministry.

The first 20 years of my adult life was focused on ministry to children in various ways, and I was even a leader in an international children’s ministry for 10 years.  At that time I also started training those who minister to children.  I thought ministry to children (directly and indirectly) was my life-long calling.  But in 2014 God shocked me by calling me beyond that, which is when I began to fully step out into Crown of Glory Ministries, followed by the launching of GPS Hope: Grieving Parents Sharing Hope.

The season (or function) of my calling shifted, but the actual calling itself – my Kingdom identity – has remained the same.  Underneath all of it – the common thread of my royal God-given identity – is to encourage and equip the body of Christ to find their rightful royal place in God’s Kingdom.

What would be Cody’s royal identity?  Well, let’s find the common thread.  As a salesman, he is helping someone find the right product to match their need.  As a coach, he is helping children improve their skills.  As an entrepreneur, he is helping people by meeting their website needs using his skills.  As for the jail ministry, he is helping the inmates come to Jesus.  Do you see the common thread?  I would say his royal identity is helping people to improve their lives.

I have discovered there are seven things you can ask yourself, which will give you major clues to know the unique calling God created for you.

• What are some things I used to dream about doing or being when I was a child?
• Where has the enemy attacked me in my life the strongest and/or most often?
• What are my natural giftings and strengths?
• What kind of personality do I have?
• What are some of the satisfying and fulfilling things I have done in my life?
• What part of my life does God keep asking me to surrender to Him?

I highly recommend actually writing down the answers to each of these questions.  You will be able to see in black and white, right in front of you where the common thread runs.

Did you notice I only gave you six questions?  The seventh is what I personally find as the most intriguing and the most blatant clue.

• What is the meaning of my name?

Our culture has lost the importance of the meaning of names.  God takes it very seriously though, as seen throughout the Bible.  Even if your parents did not acknowledge God when you were born, there is a reason you have the name you do.  If your name has a negative meaning, ask yourself what is the opposite of that meaning?  This is usually an insight into your Kingdom identity, revealing what the enemy was trying to keep you away from fulfilling.

Cody literally means “helper”.  Guess what my name Laura means?  Victory! (It is taken from the laurel wreath crown given to victors in the Roman times.)  That is definitely a statement about who I am!  My husband is David, and means “beloved”. His whole life he has been determined to love others unconditionally, according to how God defines love in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, even before he knew what his name meant.  Amazing isn’t it?

Most names have more than one meaning, based on the different languages.  Keep looking until one just makes your spirit leap, and you find yourself shouting, “Yes!” That’s who I am!” (Or you find a meaning that shows exactly what the enemy has hit you with your whole life, which means you now know your Kingdom identity is just the opposite, and you can start claiming the truth over yourself.)

After gathering all the information you can from these seven clues, lay them all out before God.  Spend time sitting quietly, asking the Holy Spirit who lives inside of you to reveal the common thread.  Allow Him to whisper from within you to your very being – your spirit- what your royal identity is.

God is a perfect Father.  I fully believe He wants His children to live from the knowledge that He created each one of us as a unique gift to the world, as a “multipurpose” being.  He is also a faithful King, and once again, I truly believe He wants you to know how He wrapped up all that special uniqueness with a beautiful Kingdom bow, to give you the gift of your Royal Identity.

So how about you?  Do you believe God wants to show you your royal identity in His Kingdom?  Why not start by finding out the meaning of your name.  Post below in the comments your name, what it means, and how you see it as a clue to your royal Kingdom Identity.

 

Laura Diehl