Your call to serve

Thanks Nat for the link... The Salvation Army - Australian Southern Territory.



http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/SALV/STANDARD/PC_62700.html


Mark 1:16-18

Jesus saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” They didn't ask questions - they dropped their nets and followed

How do we discover our vocation, our calling? How do we hear the call?

Sometimes it’s an unmistakable word from the Holy Spirit, maybe even a voice—the still, small voice of God, telling us what to do. But that’s not very common. In fact, it’s rare.

God speaks to us in a number of ways.

God speaks to us through His word
God speaks first and foremost through the truths set out in the Bible. There, as we read of the call of mission, service and discipleship, the Holy spirit may give special illumination to a passage or a verse. As we read we should pray, asking the Lord what it is He particularly wants of us.

God speaks to us through His people
The ‘call’ may come as a direct challenge from a brother or sister in Christ in response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It may come as an expectation that arises within a number of people … our family, our small group, our congregation. We should listen for His word.

God speaks to us through our circumstances and our character
We may be in a particular place at a particular time, and suddenly we know that it was ‘for such a time as this’ that God brought us to that place and to that moment. In this instant, we may realise that becoming an officer is the most obvious and logical thing to do.

God speaks to us through the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit speaks to us through our convictions and our passions. He arouses a sense of mission within us, and the desire to respond.

William Booth said, ‘the need is the call.’

As a young man, Albert Orsborn worked at The Salvation Army’s headquarters in London. One day on his way to work, he watched as the crowds rushed out of the train as it pulled in to the station.

Some went up into the daylight of the street, whilst others went down into the darkness of the subway tunnel.

He saw this as a strikingly clear metaphor for eternity. In that moment, he also knew that he had to become an officer and make a covenant to give his life for the salvation of mankind.





I particularly like the fact that Bible verses highlight

1 - Regular (ordinary) people

2 - Doing regular job / employment

3 - Followed with no questions asked.


Well I suppose I fit into category 1 - very ordinary.
I used to fit into category 2.
It takes a lot to move to category 3....

After picking up a new iPhone - I uploaded a Bible application. It has links to contributions by people from all over the world that share their thoughts on specific topics and Bible verses.



I came across this one last night from JArno1d - You would think it came straight from me - I couldn't have said it better !



After much thought and prayer after a week of struggling to really focusing on the word of God, I really wanted to focus on what it truly means to follow Jesus. So many times I get caught up in trying to please myself and others doing what I feel is good for God’s kingdom, but am I really doing it for his Glory?



This is a question I have to ask myself sometimes. Am I doing it to please myself, others or God? But as I realize now it is not about me, nor is it about anybody else. It is all for God and God alone. I am ready to rid myself and give it all over to God. Let all Glory go to God. With this let us listen to what God commands of us and follow Jesus daily.

Something that God has really laid on my heart lately is truly being a Disciple of Christ. God commands us to go seek after the lost and make Disciples of Christ. You can find this in Matthew 28:19 as it says,” Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” This is just one of the many verses throughout the New Testament with this commandment. The word disciple derives from the Greek word mathetes which translates to, a learner. A disciple is someone who learns from Jesus and strives to be like him. It is a follower of Jesus Christ.

Being a disciple of Christ I am still striving to learn as much as I can through God’s word and to follow Jesus as close as I possibly can. In Luke chapter 9 we can learn what the cost of following Jesus truly is. The first few verses I want us to look at are chapter 9 verses 23-24. It says, “Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.”” Reading along through verses 57-62 it has made me realize what God wants us to do in following His son. In verse 58 it reads, “Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”” After the verse the man Jesus is telling him to follow responds with him wanting to go bury his father. In verse 62 it tells us that, “Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”” I just want Christians, as followers of Christ, to understand that it does not matter what we have in this world.



The Greek translation for follow is akoloutheo. It means to follow, reach, or to be in the same with. We must take up our cross daily and follow Jesus. Reach and cry out for him. Philippians 2:2 reads, “then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.” We must give up everything for the Glory of God and follow him. With everything it can mean absolutely everything. We need to strive to be like Jesus. Live in the spirit not of your flesh. Do not live for the things of this world, but for the creator of the world. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. Preach the word. Be bold in your faith and let your works be for the Glory of God in your everyday life.



I pray that God allows us to realize that we really can do anything in Him who strengthens us. Praise God and let us rejoice for one another. Are you willing to give up your life for God and in the name of your Savior?

This is awesome ! Again - just what I needed to hear.

I am blown away in how God is communicating with me - I pray for wisdom and understanding - as I'm a little slow - and that His way will become clear and "service" has a new meaning n my life.

Frustration - Faith - Future

Frustration is a common emotional response to opposition. Related to anger and disappointment, it arises from the perceived resistance to the fulfillment of individual will. The greater the obstruction, and the greater the will, the more the frustration is likely to be.

Sound familiar ??

I particularly like the part "individual will".

As time moves steadily onwards and no signed letters of contract of employment, my needs / wants - my will are/is a continual source of frustration. How much negativity surrounds the process of looking for full time employment ?? It makes it very difficult to remain positive and enter interviews with a calmness and yet boldness to make the prospective employer want you. It casts doubts on your abilities and unfortunately increases doubts about you as a person of worth.

I read this week that doubt can lead to greater faith

I found myself looking at the following song in the Salvation Army song book that echoes my thoughts today.

SASB 488 (Bramwell Coles)

Strength for my weakness, Lord, impart,
Sight for my blindness give to me;
Faith for my doubtings, Lord, I would crave,
That I may serve thee worthily.

Here at the cross in this sacred hour
Here at the source of reviving power,
Helpless indeed, I come with my need
Lord, for thy service, fit me I plead.

Can increases in doubt - increase our faith ??

As frustrations increase and doubts get bigger, I guess it is conceivable that one should trust that God has it all worked out - FAITH - (Forsaking All I Trust Him) and he IS bigger than our failings, frustrations and doubts.

I guess in my case it's not necessarily that I don't trust, it's just that my patience/endurance is almost at an end. If I could see the future - all would be OK - A future whereby we (Nat, Imogen, Maddison, Willow and I) are living without the stresses of insecurity and doubts.

I know God has provided for us in the past and we are "getting by" in the present - but what does the future hold ??

I heard a song today that I had never heard before - by a band I had never heard of either.

I was reminded that what ever has happen in the past - whatever we are doing in the present - and what his has planned for me (us) in the future - He loves us.

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.

And oh, how He loves us oh,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all

He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

And we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If His grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And heaven meets earth like an unforeseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…

That He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.

Yeah, He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.
David Crowder Band