Reading My Brother's Blog

Well, here I am again, responding to my brother's blog post and writing thoughts and (hopefully) insights to his post.  This time he was somewhat, questioning his "call" to ministry and this was my response...

I don't want you to think that you are not unique, because we all know you are, but you are not alone in your question of "call" and what that means.  Does it morph, of course it does, because, like Erin mentioned, we are not fully developed and mature at the moment we first hear "the call." 

I know that more than anything for me, it was a moment of complete surrender, to go and follow Him where ever that might be.  I said full-time Christian service...but for a woman that isn't pastoring, and I wasn't wishing to run off to Africa and become a missionary.  Jim is the same, he knows God "called" him but his only reference was pastoring.

I love him and he has many gifts, but pastoring in a church full time is not really where he's gifted.  He's a trouble shooter, he's an idealist, he's a new testament believer, a Kingdom thinker and at times, constraining him to the day in and outs of the "local church pastor" are limiting and frustrating for him.

He is a teacher, not that he can't preach, he can, but explaining and conveying ideas and illustrations for communicating God's word is what, I think, he does best.  I also know, that didn't come naturally, speaking was a struggle at first. Experiences aren't wasted, God uses the good and bad to build you into the person He wants to use.  Jim has become an amazingly insightful and discerning man full of wisdom when it comes to church health and  ministry.

It really is our devotion to God that makes the "call" clear. God uses us differently throughout our journey, we fill in gaps and pick up the slack. We open up to different ways of ministering to different kinds of people, old, young, piers, and sometimes to "church" and sometime to the world. He just wants us to take "one day at a time" devote it totally to Him, looking for opportunities to serve and glorify Him.  If it leads to a position in a church, great follow Him there. If it's living and working in a secular job, great, follow Him there.  But if your "call" is to full-time Christian service...that's you, where you are, devoting yourself daily to see, do and reach out to share His love and hope with a dieing world. 

Remember, even missionaries aren't just missionaries anymore, they have to have other jobs too.  Many times it's being an undercover agent for Jesus.  It's living and working with the people, building relationships and showing their concern, before even mentioning the "hope and peace" they have in the Creator of the Universe. 

Just do today what He wants you to do...look for where He is at work and join Him...(Blackaby)

Having a "call" on your life isn't always a clear and unchanging ministry.  And just because we aren't a "pastor" doesn't make the "call" any less real or serious.  Follow your passion, use your gifts and be open to the Holy Spirit in the small acts of kindness and love.