Sharing Our Calling

About a year ago, I was asked to preach for the first time at church. Let me be the first to tell you that I never thought I would be this guy --->

Boy was it a challenge.

But stretching opportunities are always good, and I learned a lot about myself and about how much I really did not enjoy speaking. Writing is much easier and I enjoy it much more.

So when our Pastor asked me to speak again this year, I was unsure what to think.

Obviously, much has changed in the past 12 months, and what God has called us to do, is going to involve this type of thing. So trying to balance our new reality with my past experiences was an interesting challenge.

So, on Sunday, June 12th I spoke about my personal testimony, our journey and calling into full time ministry.

Let me tell you, it was a blast.

I know without a doubt, that it is God continuing to confirm our calling. I had so much fun, I accidentally went 10 minutes longer than I was supposed to. Afterwards, I was ready to go again. There was a thrill to speaking to people about what God is doing. The Holy Spirit was present and powerful and truly provided the words of the message that God wanted delivered that day.

So if you are at all interested in listening to how and why God called us to serve the orphan child, you can check it out here:

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Asking The Question

It was Wednesday night during youth group that God spoke really loud into my ear and made me feel desperate. Andrew was almost done with his lesson and I couldn't wait for him to be done. I was about to explode, I could feel God's desperation for their lives and I knew that that night was going to be only the beginning.

Andrew was ready to start praying to finish with his message when I interrupted him. I asked the youth to write the answers to two simple questions:

*What would happen to you if you died tonight? and
*If you were in the presence of God and He asked you, "why should I let you spend eternity with me?" what would you say?

They gave their papers back to me and we all went home.

"I don't know."

"I don't deserve it."
"I try to be a good Christian and I help people in need."
"I have done too many bad things."

My heart was filled with compassion and I understood why God had made me feel that way. He wanted me to pray for their lives and ask for time. For time so that they could hear the truth about the reason they were created.

About a year ago our church moved to a new building and recently new youth groupers started joining on Wednesday nights. Andrew and I are the leaders of the junior high.

It was Thursday during my devotional that I began to pray for them. I asked for an opportunity for them to make a decision and for me to know how to do it.

You know I grew up in a Christian family, my dad is a pastor, but I had never led anyone into making a decision for Christ. This was going to be my first time and I didn't know how to do it.

I asked my mom for guidance because she has a lot of experience with this. I wish I could say that about myself, but I was happy and excited to start participating in expanding God's kingdom on Earth.

Wednesday night came and I started speaking. I felt nervous at first but then I felt in tune with the Holy Spirit and words started to come out of my mouth almost without thinking.

I ended the message telling them that if they wanted to give their lives to God they only needed to ask for forgiveness of their sins and tell Him that they believed what Jesus did for them and that they were thankful for it. I let them do it on their own with their own words and that was the end of the message.

After everyone left Andrew and I stayed alone in the room. I became overwhelmed by what had just happened. Insecurity started to fill my mind with thought of not having done enough and then Andrew reminded me that it wasn't me, I wasn't the one doing the work in them, but that it was Him who called me to do so.

The next day, during my devotional, God spoke again very clearly and this is what He told me:

"For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe." 1 Corinthians 1:21

I did my part.

The rest is His.

I just needed to be willing for Him to use my foolishness to achieve His plan.