Called

Have you ever heard someone say they were called to be in ministry? I have. I remember going to a youth camp in 7th grade. It was one of those emotional deals, where the speaker brings down fire and brimstone. I remember his sermon. He spoke on doing something for God. And how sometime God can push you into doing something, but that you should jump in before He pushes you. I remember feeling scared. I didn’t want God to push me. God probably is jacked like a bodybuilder and what if He pushes too hard? I remember telling my youth group at the end of the service that I felt like God was calling me into ministry and I wanted to surrender my life to His plans. I bet I was probably crying while saying this. Hey, those emotional sermons can get to ya.

Now here I am. I’m 27 and selling advertising for a living. I am not in ministry. I am studying to be a counselor, but that’s not ministry. So what happened? Why didn’t I go to a seminary college or major in preaching? I don’t know. I think my views have changed a lot over the years about what God’s calling actually means.

I guess I don’t believe that there are those called to go into ministry and then the rest of us. I think we are all ‘called’ by God to do something in our lives. As since we are all called, then one calling is not more special in His eyes than another one. The thing is, some of us know what we are called to do, some of us think we know, and some of us have no idea.

I think the important thing is to be open for whatever God has in store for your life. Sometimes He can lead us places where we don’t want to go, but we will be better off if we follow. We are called to love God and to love others no matter where He leads us. Sometimes we like to point out the verse where God says that He knows the plans He has for us. I think it’s true; He does have plans for us. It just that most of the time most of us are clueless as to what they are.

The key here is to be willing to go and do and say whatever God wants from you. It’s much like Isaiah, when he over heard God asking who should He send; Isaiah volunteered. He was eager to do whatever God wanted Him to do. I think if our desire is to love God and to serve Him, then He will guide us to where He best can use us. He wants the talents He placed in us to shine. It may be ministry. But then again it may be business, or education, or music, or government. God calls us all, but in different ways.

Walk in love,
matt

In my Marriage and Family class last night we talked a lot about the importance of forgiveness. Of course, that forgiveness is a meaningful component when discussing aspects of marriage and family. (It’s really important in all relationships.) So ever since last night I have been thinking about what it means to forgive.

I have made my share of mistakes in regards to relationships. Probably more than my share. There are things I regret. There are feelings that I have hurt. And there are things I wished I would have not said (or said). But that’s a natural part of life. Screwing up and hurting others. I’m not saying it’s a great part of life, but nevertheless it still happens to everyone. There have been times I have beat myself up over the wrongs I have committed in my relationships. Sometimes it seems harder to forgive yourself than it does to forgive others.

Along with my own mistakes, there have been times where I have felt betrayed by others. People have let me down before and they will most certainly do it again. I have held on to grudges. Held on too tightly sometimes. It’s hard to forgive. I mean, this person did me wrong. I trusted them with a part of me and look what I got in return. How many times have we all had that thought? There have been times where I have wished justice on someone who turned their back on me.

Yes, hurting others and being hurt is something we have all experienced and will experience again. So we have to learn to deal with it, right? I know I have apologized to God and the ones I know I have hurt, and I think that’s where forgiving yourself begins. I have grieved deeply over my past mistakes and God has graciously taught me something from each situation. But I don’t dwell on my shortcomings. I think dwelling on these things forces us into a feeling of being trapped by our past. Thankfully, because of His love we don’t have to live in the past; we are offered freedom and love in the present.

I have learned (the hard way) that I can’t dwell on the hurt I have felt from others too. When I spend my time brooding over how someone did me wrong, I am giving that person’s action power over my own life. I am giving them control over my own thoughts and emotions and actions. Also, I know that other people are human just like me. We all screw up. I am no different from them. But you don’t know what this person did to me! I could never forgive them! True, but I know we are all capable of evil. There is no one who is righteous. There is no better way to show God’s love to someone than to forgive someone’s betrayal.

Walk in love…
matt