The Calling

[Born_Again]

Do you have the Calling? I personally like to write in my spare time. I have written in a few different genera's and have completed works but I'm too critical of my own work to attempt publishing. But, when I gave my life to Christ, I felt a calling to reach out to others. One night I was given an idea for a book that is for one, way outside what I had ever written in the past, and for the first time actually completed and entire outline and character layout. And, here's the doozy of it all, I have reached out to a subsidiary of Zondervan for publishing. I'm excited because I may have found my way to reach out to others. I believe I have been called to use my talent to bring others to Christ and speak to those already there. So that's my calling.... What's yours? Are you called?

 

[truthquest]

I don't know if it's a calling but I have made videos, slideshows really, to reach out to others that are on youtube and godtube. Those sites have worldwide users.

 

[Born_Again]

I have a GodTube account!!!

 

[John Zain]

Do you have the Calling? .... What's yours? Are you called?

I was called in the early 90's to be an evangelist to Bulgaria.
During my 10 trips there (of an average length of 2 months),
the Lord provided for me and protected me, and confirmed
His glorious gospel message with signs and wonders. Yes,
"I have fully preached the gospel of Christ" (Romans 15:19).

 

[aspen]

I believe we are all called for the same purpose to love perfectly; we can do this according to our talents and interests. I do not believe God has orchestrated an individualized plan for our lives or a specific soulmate.

 

[Born_Again]

I believe we are all called for the same purpose to love perfectly; we can do this according to our talents and interests. I do not believe God has orchestrated an individualized plan for our lives or a specific soulmate.

Okay, I'll bite, aspen. Soooooo, is it chance, fate??? Please, elaborate.
But I do support we are called to love perfectly. AMEN!!!

 

[aspen]

Well, I believe that we are living an object lesson of the Fall. We are discovering and living out our own tragedy and redemption through Gods intervention. So, it is fate because in a sense it has already happened, yet viewed by us, it is unfolding and we need to make real choices. In essence, God put us all in a room and gave each of us a big box of art supplies and told us to create......later we discover what God was apparently telling us all along...'dedicate your creation to me and give it to you brother'. It is our choice how we respond and what and how we choose to create and share our creation.

 

[clark thompson]

If we have came to Christ then we all have a calling.

 

[DanielGarneau]

This is an interesting and difficult question.

There are aspects of our Christian life that are clearly spelt out in Scriptures, such as loving others, sharing our faith to people who do not know about the Lord, and to encourage one another towards growth in Christ.

There are also those aspects which have to do with our special areas of interests and of giftedness, such as writing, painting, teaching, preaching, ministering to people in a number of ways, formally or informally, including pastoring churches, leading youth groups, doing construction work in ways that glorify God...

One of those areas for me is expressed through the material I write about in my web site where I show the relationship between learning, knowing, believing and doing, from a Christian perspective, as it applies to life in general, and to the Christian walk in particular. Perhaps my going on line with this site is part of my calling? All I know is that I have felt helped by God in doing so, and it is a great joy to me to do so.

 

[Born_Again]

For whatever reason I am not the best public speaker but when I write I can tell really good stories. When I came to Christ He told me to use that talent to spread His word and love. And that seems to be on its way!!! Like stated above, we are called to spread his word but I feel some of us have a deeper calling. Daniel, I really enjoyed your answer to the question. It made good points!!

 

[John Zain]

I was called in the early 90's to be an evangelist to Bulgaria.

I believe it will be interesting to delve into this CALLING thing a bit deeper!

From my 1994 evangelism trip diary ...
In 1994, while speeding on dangerous mountain roads (no guard rails),
I really sensed (3 or 4 times!) God saying to me:
"I raised you up for this purpose; I gave you the necessary
skills and abilities to do this work for me."

Later, this caused my wife and I to ponder the question (for a few years):
Does God create people with future callings in mind?
OR ...
Does God call people (when necessary) who just have the required abilities?

Years later, I happened to notice Jeremiah 1:
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

This blew me away!
Are many believers actually foreordained and given the necessary gifts
to fulfil their calling of the Lord?

Notice, this is not speaking of before the foundation of the world.
This is just before Jeremiah was formed in the womb.

The red is a different topic, butski I wish to testify that ...
IF the Lord calls you and sends you to do something for Him,
He WILL protect you and provide for you ... big time!

 

[Born_Again]

I believe it will be interesting to delve into this CALLING thing a bit deeper!

From my 1994 evangelism trip diary ...
In 1994, while speeding on dangerous mountain roads (no guard rails),
I really sensed (3 or 4 times!) God saying to me:
"I raised you up for this purpose; I gave you the necessary
skills and abilities to do this work for me."

Later, this caused my wife and I to ponder the question (for a few years):
Does God create people with future callings in mind?
OR ...
Does God call people (when necessary) who just have the required abilities?

Years later, I happened to notice Jeremiah 1:
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying:

5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

6 Then said I: “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth.”
7 But the Lord said to me: “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’
for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak.
8 Do not be afraid of their faces, for I am with you to deliver you,” says the Lord.

This blew me away!
Are many believers actually foreordained and given the necessary gifts
to fulfil their calling of the Lord?

Notice, this is not speaking of before the foundation of the world.
This is just before Jeremiah was formed in the womb.

The red is a different topic, butski I wish to testify that ...
IF the Lord calls you and sends you to do something for Him,
He WILL protect you and provide for you ... big time!

Excellent testimony!!! I feel the calling to do His works more than I have ever felt anything before! I absolutely hear Him saying I am to go out and spread the Good News to others!!! It has to be something awesome because the battle for my soul was an ugly one. I could literally feel the Holy Spirit and the devil fighting!! In the end.... tears of joy streamed down my face and Brother, I was delivered!!! God has big plans for me and my bags are packed and ready for the journey!!!! Praise His Holy Name!!!!

 

[John Zain]

God has big plans for me and my bags are packed and ready for the journey!!!!
Praise His Holy Name!!!!

I recommend that you get 2 or 3 confirmations from trusted godly Christians
before you commit to proceeding with what you feel God is telling to to do.
This is wisdom ... because we have an incredibly wise and intelligent enemy.

 

[Born_Again]

I recommend that you get 2 or 3 confirmations from trusted godly Christians
before you commit to proceeding with what you feel God is telling to to do.
This is wisdom ... because we have an incredibly wise and intelligent enemy.

That is true. I do plan to confirm with a pastor friend of mine. Good news is, it's nothing that entails actually moving or changing jobs.. It's more of a side project. But good advice non-the-less. Thank you!

 

[John Zain]

That is true. I do plan to confirm with a pastor friend of mine.
Good news is, it's nothing that entails actually moving or changing jobs.. It's more of a side project.

Okay, but I still suggest confirmations from 2 or 3.