What is YOUR calling?

What is YOUR calling?  This is a question that I have been pondering for some time now.  My calling... what has God intended for me?  What has He asked of me?  What does He have for me?  


The reason for the introspection is just that I have been thinking these questions because a great friend (D.) just left today, with her family, for a hostile part of the world.  So hostile that it is only known by a few exactly WHERE she is going.  A few years ago her husband felt the calling to missions.  Being the submissive wife, D. went along with the calling.  And as a committed follower of Christ she said, "Oh yeah.  We'll go somewhere like a third world country and tell others about Jesus.  Somewhere like South America or Asia.  It'll be fun."  I remember her telling me that she was excited about the prospect of going to these places.  Places that didn't necessarily have a reputation for hostility toward the Gospel of Christ.  But God didn't call them there.  To those places.  God called them to a place of hostility.  Even extreme danger!  WOW!  

I think of her and her family.  Her husband and four children.  YES!  FOUR CHILDREN!   In a country HOSTILE to the GOSPEL!  Could I do that?  Could I live that?? They are so willing to follow what God has for them that they have sold all of their belongings except a few things and are moving, at least for the next three years, to this place.  All for the love of a Savior.  THE SAVIOR.  The Savior who loved us so much that He died for us... took our place on an ugly cross.  He took the HOSTILITY of sin and bore it on His very own shoulders so that we could have a friendship... a relationship with GOD.  


They, D. and her family, are going so that those who are hostile to the Gospel, might have a chance to know it and receive it. They are going with the HOPE that strangers may come to know JESUS who died for them... 

For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”    How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:


      “ How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
      Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Romans 10:11-15

Wow!  How much do I love friends?  Enough to feel uncomfortable?  How much do I love strangers here in the States?  Enough to receive a bit of ridicule for my beliefs?  How much do I love foreigners living in countries hostile to the Gospel of Christ?  Enough to lay down my life?    

John 15:13 says this, "Greater has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends."  D. is laying down her life.  She is willing to give up her life.  Her life in suburbia.  Her life of comfort.  Her life of safety.  Her life.  So that she and her family can tell others about Jesus' love.   I always considered that laying down your life meant dying.  It doesn't necessarily mean that.  It means surrender.  Surrendering your comforts. Surrendering your income. Surrendering your safety.  Surrendering those things that I hold on to so tightly sometimes.  D. is going.  She heard the call. She is obeying.  May I be so obedient when I hear God calling.  Whatever He asks of me  - I desire to do it because HE IS SO WORTH IT!

Ahhh!

For the past week I had been feeling especially overwhelmed... my husband was doing some freelance work which kept him working and away from the family for an extended period of time this week.  Ultimately, that meant that I was with my boys 24/7 for the entire week.  Because this was the week after Easter our normally scheduled activities that would have afforded me a breather were canceled.   So these things happening altogether left me feeling exhausted and overwhelmed. 

This morning, Jeremy headed off to the men's breakfast at church. I was left with the mommy role by myself again.  I love being a mom.  But I just needed a few minutes of being alone. To breathe.  A few minutes of refreshment. To regroup.  To collect thoughts.  To remember why I love being a mom.

My boys were playing wonderfully together in their room, and were even quiet.  I took the opportunity to call my best friend to chat.  We used to see each other all the time until 4 years ago. She moved north because of her husband's job.  Calling her was my breath of fresh air.  My opportunity to regroup.

It's amazing what chatting with a good friend can do.  God purposefully puts special people in our path to edify us.  Folks who are familiar with our station in life.  Individuals who know what its like to be in the trenches and have thrived, not just survived.  Those who can encourage us just by being there.    It's amazing how much better I felt after our conversation was finished.  I felt so good I went back to doing the dishes, washing laundry, and picking up after my blessings feeling much less overwhelmed.  Ahhhhhh!  Thanks for the chat, Heather. :) 

A mosaic of Grace

I was chatting with a friend of mine the other day describing to her what God has done with me and friendships.   Ever since I moved to this always transient area I have made incredible friendships, only for the LORD to allow the most special friends to be removed from proximity.  Most have been moved by the Navy, some for other jobs, or to be closer to their parents.  But after I finished the conversation, I realized not only do my circumstances make up the picture of who I am, but also those spectacular people that I call my friends shape me.

Lately, I've been feel like I've been going through the ringer.  I am more tired than normal due to a surprise pregnancy.  So especially in the early stages - you ladies who know - as soon as you wake up from 8 hours sleep you feel like you need to go back and get 8 more.  My two spirited boys that I have keep me going, and my poor husband, I'm sure, thinks the house has been hit by a whirlwind and my cleaning skills have left the building.   As a result of all of this excitement and physical change I have been stuck in a pit.  What a blessing that the LORD secured those gals as my friends, those who support me, pray for me, love me beyond myself, and just listen to my daily struggles and share their own, reminding me that I am not going through this roller coaster ride alone.  It may be an email, a phone call to check up on me, a stop by the house to drop off a special thing, or a quick post on facebook to ask how things are going.

 (And alas - I searched the internet to find a photo mosaic maker for free so I could illustrate my blog - but none that I found worked well... so sorry for the lack of illustration.)

So as I consider who I am, really consider who God has created me to be, I know that circumstances have made me stronger and shaped me, but I also am sure in my photo that there are the faces of those that have made a difference in my life.  Those whom I have the privilege to call friend.  Thank you.

Moving On???

Tonight I read the blog of my best friend. She's probably the only one who ever reads this. There are only a few invited to read. But I know that she reads faithfully.

After I read her blog I asked my hubby if we could move... to where she lives. He said "no". Then I had a brilliant idea. I told him that we could sell our house, buy the neighbor's RV that they are trying to sell and drive it up north to park it in my best friend's yard. I love her that much. He said "no".

The fact is there are so many places I would love to relocate, however, every place I'd want to go is not for a job, or the activities that happen there. It is for the people who dwell there. I'd move to Ohio, C-ville, Northern VA, Western VA, and maybe Pittsburgh - only cuz another friend just moved there, otherwise - I don't like Pittsburgh.

For now, God's plan is for us to stay here in our house, with our yard, and our jobs, and our church, and our family down here. But don't be surprised if in my prayers I'm requesting that God bring a new adventure to our family.... to move closer to the ones I love and miss so dearly. It's just not worth it without them. I love you.