Doing what God calls you to.

I got this quote at a work conference the other week.  And being a missionary myself found it very fitting and challenging.  But I don't think it just applies to missionaries.  It can apply to anyone.

"If God calls you to be a missionary, don't stoop to be a king." -- Jordan Grooms

Whatever God has called you to is the best possible thing you can be doing.  Just because at some other job you could be making a lot more money or have a more comfortable life does not mean you are in the wrong job.  In fact, if God has not called you to that other job, you will be more happy and experience more of His glory/mercy/love if you stay where He has called you.

So for me, God has called me to be a missionary.  For me to do anything else, even if it were being a king, would be a step down, not up.

So remember, if you are doing what God has called you to then you are doing the best possible job available.

Why has God pardoned me?

For Your name's sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. - Psalm 25:11

Did you catch that?  Did you see for who's sake David asked for his sins to be pardoned?  It was not for David's sake that he asked.  It was not so that he would live, or go to heaven, or benefit in any way.  He asked for the sake of the name of our Lord.  David saw that it is God's name that benefits when He pardons us.  It brings glory to, and magnifies, His name.  


We live in a very self-centered, individualistic culture and I would bet that many of us have never even considered this before.  To me this is another reminder of how much God has done for me and that my life is His.


How do you view God's pardon of your sin?  Do you see it as for your own sake so that you can have eternal life?  Or do you see it as for God's sake, bringing glory to His name?  Does (or would) viewing it as the latter change the way you live? As you consider this, look at verses 8 through 11.

⁸ Good and upright is the LORD; Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.⁹ He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great.Therefore He instructs sinners in the way.⁹ He leads the humble in justice, And He teaches the humble His way.¹⁰ All the paths of the LORD are lovingkindness and truth To those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.¹¹ For Your name’s sake, O LORD, Pardon my iniquity, for it is great. - Psalm 25:8-11 

God's timing

Lately God has been reminding me a lot about His timing.  How it is almost always not my own.  How it is perfect.

The church I go to when I am in Portland spent the last year going through 1 Corinthians.  The first week I went there to check out church was the first week of the year long series.  At the time I thought it was a cool coincidence.  That was last September.  A few weeks ago I was in Portland briefly and happened to catch the final sermon of the series.  This time I knew it was more than coincidence.  God was teaching me something.

So while I am raising support I am trying to remind myself daily that God's timing is perfect and that He will get me back to Portland exactly when He wants to.

Random observation of the day:

At the beginning of this summer I got a new pair of black shorts.  I just noticed today that the button on them has a skull and crossbones on it.  Sometimes I amaze myself with how long it takes me to notice some things.  Anyway, just wanted to share that.

Sowing Seed

I am not sure if I have heard this before and just didn’t realize the impact this should have on me till now or if this was something new the other morning.  Anyway, I  was reading the Parable of the Sower in Luke 8:4-15 and my focus was changed.  Usually when I read this or hear it preached the focus is on the lost and those we are trying to reach.  There is nothing wrong with this.  It is important to know where you are sowing your Spiritual seed.  Though I think it is also important to scatter seed wide.  This man is a farmer and probably had been all his life.  Yet he still spread the seed wide over a mixture of terrain.  If you don’t scatter liberally, how are you going to find the fertile ground?  

But the other morning my focus was not on the lost.  It was on myself.  I found myself asking, “what type of ground am I?”  Am I the one who heard, but the devil came and took the Word away so I would not believe?  Am I the one who received the Word with joy but has no firm root so that I will fall away in time of temptation?  Am I the one heard, but was choked by worries and riches and pleasures and so ‘bring no fruit to maturity?’  Or am I the one who heard and holds it fast so that I ‘bear fruit with perseverance?’  

Go read the passage for yourself.  Then ask yourself these questions.  It is not wrong to focus on the lost, but we were all in that group at one point in our past (or maybe you still are).  If you are a Christian, consider where you came from, consider what you are now, and take an honest look at what kind of ground you are and the fruit you are bearing.

God is our Stronghold

To whomever may read this blog I first want to apologize for the lack of posts lately.  I have had a rather crazy summer.  I joined staff with Campus Crusade for Christ and was in Colorado most of the summer for that.  Now I am raising support so I can report to my assignment with Cru.  The result of this is that I have not had much time or energy to sit down and think about my blog.  Anyway, I hope to start posting more now.

Along those lines, I was reading in Psalms lately and in chapter 59 David calls God his Stronghold three different times (verses 9, 16 and 17).  It struck me that David truly believes this and probably lived like it.  As I was reading this I realized I don't see God as my Stronghold.  This got me to thinking, "if I took this to heart and lived it out, what would change in my life?"  Well, here are a few possibilities:

1. Courage:  Fear would be diminished in all areas of life.  It would by no means be gone, but with God as my stronghold, it would be easily overcome.  Since God cannot be beaten, I can take courage and shove fear aside.
2. My needs are provided for.  A stronghold is stocked for survival in case of attack.  So even though I may not see how I can make it I just need to look to God and take refuge in Him.
3. A stronghold is not easily overtaken.  Except when there is internal fighting or betrayal.  With God, I can be confident He will never be overrun.  The only time I am in danger is when I let something lure me out of that protection.

There are more, but that is just a sample.  If you were to live like God were your Stronghold, what would that change?  What is keeping you from living like that right now?

Friendships

One evening a little while ago, I went for a walk to help clear my mind.  While walking I was struck by a thought I had about friendships and time.  In my life I have made some friendships with people I knew I would only be around for a brief period of time.  And it is hard each time that period of proximity ends.  Sometimes even tears are shed.  But it has taught me a few things:

1.  If they are a Christian, then it is not really goodbye forever.  You will see them again in Heaven.

2.  (and this goes for any friendship/relationship you have)  Treasure every moment you have with someone.  You never know when/if you will see them again this side of Heaven.

3.  Never avoid making a friend just because you know you will only see them face to face for a short time, or because of the difficulties that come with distance.  From my own experience, it is worth it.

4.  As little kids we all did this a lot.  We would play with someone at the park for an hour, be great friends by the end, and then never see each other again.  If children can do that why can't we?  It should be even easier for us with all the technology we have that allows us to stay in contact with people.

5.  That friend, even if you never speak to them again, will have some sort of impact on your life.  If you choose to avoid making a friend because of lack of proximity, you will miss out on that impact, and that may be the only person God has to impact you that way.

Well, there are some of the reasons I have for making friends no matter how long I will be around them.  What are some of your reasons?  Do you avoid making friends because of a time frame?  Why?