Skip to main content

Called to Stay

I get jealous of people who get to GO and make disciples. Probably because I only hear the highlights and the "wow!" moments, I have this idea that it is the ultimate level of ministry. Somehow staying here in comfortable American just doesn't seem to be on the same spiritual level of going to a physically uncomfortable place and spending long hours on Bible translation or church planting.

But as much as I want to GO, I can't get past the feeling that, for now, I have been called to STAY.

In being called to stay, I'm saying that....

-I'm called to make Christ known everywhere I go, whether it's the bank, the grocery store, or the thrift store (actually, those are kind of the only places I do go... so... yeah).

-I'm called to disciple those around me who do believe.

-I'm called to care for the widows and orphans in my little world.

-I'm called to give sacrificially.

-I'm called to take risks by faith to bring people to Christ.

If I'm going to declare myself called to stay, it's only fair that I admit that I fail daily on each one of those points, and I get distracted from the important stuff with the pursuit of comfort.

If I'm going to say I'm called to stay, I have to stay with the same intention and diligence that I would go with.


Labels

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Note About My Siblings

The Original Siblings These are the "siblings". With the last three of the bunch graduating high school this year, I think it's an appropriate time to introduce them. On the left is Liz. An accounting major, she provides the common sense in the bunch. And thanks to her love of musicals, we all are a little more cultured. Next is Aaron. If you're ever in a jam, he'll be the first to help you out. And he'll make you laugh very hard in the process. Then Steph. Whether you've known her for 10 minutes or 10 years, she'll make you feel like an old friend. And she's often responsible for the-- never mind. It's classified. And Nick. Nick can hack your database or take a perfectly composed picture of a sunrise, depending on the day. And he's also got car ride composition covered. Abby. You'll know Abby's been there by the trail of little children tagging along after her. And she keeps us classy in word and deed. Finally Mica...
2 comments
Read more

Is Caution My Excuse for Convenience?

 If I truly lived to serve Christ with no regard for myself, today I would have... -Had a better conversation with the bank teller -Asked the elderly lady walking down the road in the cold dark if she needed a ride somewhere  Do we as a Christian culture train our kids improperly? Every time I see someone walking down the road, I don't see someone needing help, I see someone who is a potential danger to me. When the bank teller is grouchy, I am offended that they weren't more pleasant and conversive with me. Me. When is it time to stop focusing on the possible dangers of an action, and trust God for the possible encouragement and healing that could come from it? What things do we actually need to consider, and what to we use as an excuse to avoid doing something that's "inconvenient" to us?
1 comment
Read more

I Planned.

I think I realized the fundamental problem with my life. I generally begin statements with "I plan..." or "I will..." or "I won't..."  Notice a pattern?  " I ".  As long as "I" is the central part of my decision making process, I'm going to fail.  His power is made perfect when I am weak.  Which is now. Then I add qualifiers to those statements, especially when I'm talking to God: "I will.... if you would just.. ."  as if I can tell him that what I'm going to do that depends on him keeping a bargain he never agreed to. When I actually pay attention to the details of the biblical "heroes", I realize that they're not heroes at all.  They are humans with many, many faults.  Moses had a speech impediment, and God called him to be the spokesperson for the entire Israelite nation.  Gideon was a coward, and God chose him to lead an army.  How ever reluctantly it happened, they allowed God to work ...
1 comment
Read more