Posts with the category “mission”

My husband is a skilled musician. When we are at church, he’s often asked to play, sing, or lead worship for our congregation. He has a gift from the Lord that we can clearly see whenever he is at the piano.I don’t have one of those.This isn’t some backward attempt at humility. I don’t have a huge outward skill that follows me through life. I don’t have the gift of prophecy or preaching. How do we...  Read More

Do you know what God has called for you to do? Do you wonder, “Am I doing what God has purposed for me?” I often wrestle with these thoughts!As believers, we all have a cross to bear. “Then He said to them all: ’Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me’”(Luke 9:23 NIV). Although I sometimes struggle with what cross Jesus would require me to b...  Read More

Isn’t it wonderful how God puts people in our path to share the good news of Christ?One day at the dump, a man pulled behind my son and me. He walked up, asking if we were believers in Jesus Christ. This man appeared to be eighty years old.  He began to tell us how each day he shared with others printed salvation prayer cards about Christ. Before we left, he gave us a box. I will never forget this...  Read More

As a teen, I thought only preachers and missionaries had a “calling” on their life. I also believed that 99 percent of ministers received their calling before age 20. So, I spent my teen years trying to listen for the call. As I prayed, I had some advice for God; if you call me, please don’t make Africa my destination.That seems comical now. Me telling the God of the entire universe how to do His ...  Read More

Are you someone who has “the gift of gab”? Maybe you are that person who has always thrived in new settings and never met a stranger. I envy you, my friend. I have been that socially awkward person who would rather avoid anything or anyone “outside my comfort zone.” “Painfully shy” isn’t just an expression to me.  It was a malady from which I suffered most of my life. Dramatic?  Perhaps.  True? Sa...  Read More

Do you know what God is calling you to do for His glory?We all have a calling when we submit our lives to Jesus and surrender our will for His. You may have already had an inclination at a young age that God was revealing your special gift. I know I recognized it early but doubted it along the way.Since I can remember, people have always come to me to share their hurts and problems in their own li...  Read More

I felt so alone. Unheard. Unseen. My utter defeat and hopelessness were one of the worst parts of my struggle. It crushed the life from my bones.One morning I came to some verses in the book of Mark. I’ve read past these verses dozens of times to get to the story that follows. This day, the formerly nondescript verses screamed at me. Jesus said: “I have compassion for these people; they have alrea...  Read More

Each of us has a purpose. God has designed you with a purpose that will fit into His plan. It is not a sin to be successful. Why not be successful in your calling or purpose?We have the benefit of the whole Bible, where we can read all the stories of biblical characters we may have heard about growing up. Jesus called people to follow him, to fulfill God’s purpose. For example, two brothers named ...  Read More

Have you ever felt an “urge” or “calling” to do something helpful for someone?It was a cold, wet winter evening in the mountains. The rain was pouring down so hard I couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of my bumper, even with my wipers swishing across my windshield on high. It had been a long day at work, and I was tired. The heater was on. I wore layers, a scarf, a full-length raincoat, ra...  Read More

I always wanted to be a teacher. I played 'school' with my younger siblings from an early age, positioned at makeshift desks for lessons. My mother even has a recording of such classes. My heart was set on this vocation, and I could not wait for a class of my own. Where did this desire to teach originate? Perhaps you are wondering if I heard a clear call from God. There was no booming voice from H...  Read More

What is God’s calling for your life? Does that question bring fear or confusion to you at times? As Christians, we want to live a life that is pleasing to the Lord and use our gifts to serve Him in the way He designed for us.  I decided to follow Jesus early in life and strived to stay tuned in to the Lord and hear what He was speaking over me in those formative years.  One summer, I heard God’s v...  Read More