Remembering and Re-Engaging Your Calling

A treat from a guest blogger today!
 
   As I type this, my little sister is having her second baby and I am traveling to see her. I am so excited for her! A mother having a baby always makes me remember. It makes me remember how badly I was ready to give birth when the time came. I remember the awe of seeing that little one that was mine and yet all together completely their own person--seeing that face, giving that name, counting those fingers, unswaddling them just to touch their sweet skin. I remember being filled with wonder that children are a reward from the Lord, they are His best gift. Why was He so generous with me? (Ps. 127:3) I remember all my hopes and dreams as a mom. I remember in a fresh way God’s calling on my life to be a mommy to these babies.

    Then there's real life. You know, look around you. Diapers, teething, tantrums, shouts of "mine!”, the budding artist’s crayon creations on your drywall, being their personal napkin-Kleenex-trashcan, and heaven forbid the independent will that comes with one unmistakable word, "no." There's also the peanut butter and jelly kisses, gifts of peach pits from the playground because he knows you like walnuts, her clip-clopping around in my heels, their mouths that still look like baby mouths when they sleep, little kid laughter at silly little kid things. Somehow in the midst of real life I think our God-given calling gets a little hazy. Our God-authored hopes and dreams that made up the horizon of a glorious sunrise of new life, are not often in sight when we have our faces down, working in the dirt of raising a family. It happens to all of us. It’s just real.

    Will you take two minutes with me as a mommy and remember your calling? How did God open your heart to motherhood? What was the big dream or the important work that was tied to motherhood? What did you hope and dream for your baby and for yourself? Lift your face and look at the bigger picture of your life right now. How is God using you right here, right now?

    When we remember His calling on us, suddenly our real life as a mommy takes on a refreshed, real meaning. All the small stuff of regular life becomes important again because it all unfolds into the big dream! Recalling our calling refocuses our eyes on God. It gets our faces out of the dirt and back onto the horizon of Hope. Remembering and then re-engaging your calling allows you to experience His best gift lived out, with more reward to come when you keep pressing ahead in His calling.

    Inhale the life-giving words of Ps. 62:5. "Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him."

- Ginny Fowler
http://www.aseedofmyfaith.blogspot.com/

Boldness Required

**Sit quietly, eyes closed and in silence for one minute before reading.**

    We are all called to certain purposes, during certain times and in certain contexts. Some are new callings while others have been a part of us for as long as we can remember.

    To live out these callings requires boldness. Boldness to step out in faith and to live into our calling. Boldness to go against the culture and the way things have always been. Boldness to stand for truth, goodness and justice. God calls you to a certain people, place and time. God is working His purposes through you and this requires faith.

    When your call requires faith do not be discouraged. God has called you and will empower you to live life in boldness.

**Sit again in silence for as long as is available to you.**

Comparison and Discontent

**Sit quietly, relax and close your eyes for one minute before reading.**

    Comparison is often the root of our most discontent moments. We have compared ourselves to what someone has, what they look like, what we do not have or what we want. We compare our real life to what we think their life is like and immediately move to discontent.
    We look around and we wish, we wonder, we pout (at least I do) and we struggle as we spiral into discontent. Comparison can cause us to rise up and to improve. Comparison can also cause us to plummet out of control into discontent.
    Rather than comparison consider calling. Who is God calling you to be? Who is He calling you to be today? Who has He called you to serve today? Consider the present moment, consider that God has created you uniquely and given you experiences and purposes that are hand-crafted for you. As you focus on calling, consider how God is calling you to walk forward rather than get caught up in comparison.

If you have longer than two minutes read John 21:20-23 in the Bible and consider Jesus' response to Peter.

**Sit quietly again for as long as is available to you.**

Peace and People-Pleasing

**Before you begin reading, sit down, breathe normally and be quiet for 1 minute.**

    I confess that I often care too much about what people think, whether they will be hurt by something or whether they will like me. I like being able to influence what people think of me. This is a form of people pleasing because I want everyone to like me! There are often times in life when we have to make decisions that will upset others. We have to make decisions that are not looked upon favorably or sometimes the direction we go is met with disappointment by others.
    Often when I am trying so hard to make sure everyone is “okay” I miss what God is calling me to. I miss what the Spirit is whispering in my heart. God’s voice is clouded out by my thoughts of my image. Everyone may be happy around me but I am unsettled, there is something that does not sit right with my soul. Oh, that’s right, I sought man’s approval and not God’s. As I received one set of approval I did not receive another and I can feel it. I do not have peace.
    Peace comes when God has captured my heart not when I have captured the heart of man. Peace comes not when I have won the approval of men but followed the call of God.
    How can you seek to please God rather than others? How have you sensed God’s peace in a difficult decision lately? If you have not sensed much peace lately, remember God’s great love and seek to do whatever He has called you to.

Have more than two minutes? Read Galatians 1:10 and process this challenging verse with God.

**Sit quietly again for as much time as is available to you.**