God's Calling

God's Calling

There have often been times in my life where I raise my face to the sky and ask the lord " Father what is my calling? What am I called to be in this life? What great and wonderful things will I do in your name?

Like myself I have had many people throughout the years say the same thing to me. They ask, seek and wait for some miraculous calling to happen in their lives. I'm sure even you have had the same kind of questions. What was I put on this earth to do?

I'm not ashamed to admit that when I was younger I was sure that I was destined for greatness. Something big and noteworthy. Always looking and waiting for the day when all of god's plans would fall into place and shoot me into the spotlight.

Ha, let me tell you, that day did not come. And praise the lord for that.

Let me tell you though. We all have a calling. Whether it's something big and life saving like a doctor. Something life changing, like a social worker or teacher. Something loving and nurturing, like a parent. No matter big or small, in god's eyes every task that he sets before us is worthy of his cause.

I began to realise that we all have one calling in common. What is that you ask?

To love thy neighbour.

Luke 10, 30-37 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

This is one of my favourite scriptures in the bible. You see while we wait for something bigger, we sometimes miss the very simple and everyday things we can do in his name. It could be as simple as helping someone at the supermarket with getting their trolley to the car. Talking to that lonely person that sits at the back of the church every sunday. Mowing the lawn for an elderly man that lives on your street. Calling that person that god has put in your mind that day.

Often in life we over look people who really need god's reassurance that they are loved. We walk past that homeless person without a second glance. And I hate to say it but often I will remind myself even when I just don't have the heart to want to help anyone. What would Jesus do? 

So my point of the week is. Stop waiting for God's big time calling. Everything he does is in his own perfect time. Start with the small whisperings. The ones that tell us to love thy neighbour. You may one day become a missionary and help the less fortunate nations. Until then start within your family, friends, town. 

Embrace that calling

God Bless x

Take Up Your Cross

Take Up Your Cross.

This is something that took me a very long time to understand. Believe it or not when I heard people use the term Carry your cross I was scared. When I thought of the humiliation,shame and brutality that was inflicted on our saviour upon the cross, this was not a thought that was appealing to me.

My thoughts were along the lines of, why would people want to be persecuted? Why would we want suffering? Why would they want such burdens? and would that make me a better christian? I mean who would want that right?

Finally I got it! After years of battling with hurts and trials. Trying to be a good and loving person, putting others first and following God with my whole heart. I was still waging my way through storms. There would always be a breakthrough and the weathers would calm but before I knew it another battle would rage. Whether it was sickness, financial, other people using or hurting me, the pattern never seemed to cease. 

Then it hit me when a scripture came into the forefront of my thoughts

Luke 9:23. 

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

It continued to replay this scripture over and over like a record and I just had to study into it a little further. So in my own words this is what I got out of this study. 

When we take up the cross willing we are accepting that The situation whatever it may be calls us to be in the likeness of Jesus. He carried his own cross full well knowing what awaited him at the end of that trek. Was it death? No it was everlasting life. He carried that cross and gave Forgiveness and grace upon those who were undeserving. He went willingly knowing that his Father in heaven was behind him.

Eg. I'm sick, although the sickness is not welcome in my body I can turn from Jesus, be angry at him and ask him why would you allow this? or I could take up my cross, thank him for making me strong enough to endure, making me more dependant upon his promises in this tough time. Thank the doctor for bringing me a diagnosis and for the family that has my back.

Eg. Someone has said terrible,hurtful lies about you. You forgive them but they do it again and again. I could fight a losing battle, rely on my fleshly instincts and react in self defence, or I could take up my cross, walk away, forgive them and ooh here's the hardest part... ask God to bless them.

You see? That is what taking up the cross means to me. It's walking through what wars against us and instead of trying to handle any situation in the flesh and acting without thoughts to consequences or damage we ourselves can inflict. We need to think about the actions Jesus would have taken. That is obedience to the father. Through taking up the cross we allow Jesus to walk with us, to comfort us, to draw closer. When we reach the end of the Journey, Christ takes our Burdens from us restoring and gifting us with the new found strength we never knew we had. With new wisdom and Courage in preparation for when the next storm comes, where we can take it on and ultimately crush it.

What does Taking up the cross mean to you? 

God bless x