Request Some Biblical Guidance

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Y

yfollower

Guest
#1
I asked this question in chat but this needs to to asked again on a forum that I can refer to later.

My wife and I are both sensing a strong pull to the desert, almost as if the desert is calling out to us. Every time I see images of the desert, my heart pounds with a longing to be there. Of course, we won't be living in tents in the middle of nowhere. There is a small Nevada town in between Reno and Las Vegas with a nice Baptist church that we would probably plug into (I've already reached out to them on Facebook). We currently live in the piney woods region of East Texas.

MY QUESTION is does this sound like something God would do? To call someone to a geographical location, such as a coastal region, a mountainous area, or the desert? Where would I find that in the Bible?

** There's more to share about this decision later but for now I'm looking for Scriptural references. Plus I need to go out with my wife for a few hours so I'll be back.

THANK YOU ALL!

- Michael
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
113
#2
I'm allergic to heat so even if God called me to...

naww, it's all good wherever God is calling you. He needs his servants in all sorts of places.
 
C

Chuckt

Guest
#3
Why don't you visit a couple times and see what the opportunities would actually be. You can pray about it but you would also need to know how you were going to live, what you would need and what kind of resources are available there.

1 Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: keep thyself pure.

Sometimes making instant decisions are not the best things to do because having a plan is better and allowing God to be in His plan but sometimes God also gives us one step to do at a time and doesn't give us the next step until we are obedient.

I know in other countries, a missionary was telling me that there wasn't a church for the locals to attend so they had to travel to some far away places to bring church to them.

Who would you find in remote places? Indians? The homeless?

I remember visiting a midwestern town and residents feel differently because friendships are a commodity because there aren't enough people around and in high populated towns, people don't love each other because they can always get another friend because they aren't starving for friendships. So you could have better results in a small place but it can also be limited because you won't reach a greater number of people.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#4
I asked this question in chat but this needs to to asked again on a forum that I can refer to later.

My wife and I are both sensing a strong pull to the desert, almost as if the desert is calling out to us. Every time I see images of the desert, my heart pounds with a longing to be there. Of course, we won't be living in tents in the middle of nowhere. There is a small Nevada town in between Reno and Las Vegas with a nice Baptist church that we would probably plug into (I've already reached out to them on Facebook). We currently live in the piney woods region of East Texas.

MY QUESTION is does this sound like something God would do? To call someone to a geographical location, such as a coastal region, a mountainous area, or the desert? Where would I find that in the Bible?

** There's more to share about this decision later but for now I'm looking for Scriptural references. Plus I need to go out with my wife for a few hours so I'll be back.

THANK YOU ALL!

- Michael
You are talking about my part of the world, Michael. I'm unaware of anything in the Bible that specifically addresses your situation. If you have to move to Nevada, you have to move here. Apparently you've been here before, if you are aware of a good church. If you haven't been here, I'd pay a visit here before moving. It is awfully desolate between Reno and Las Vegas. I'm curious which town you are referring to.
 
Dec 19, 2009
27,513
128
0
71
#5
I'm allergic to heat so even if God called me to...

naww, it's all good wherever God is calling you. He needs his servants in all sorts of places.
It isn't all that hot north of Las Vegas, till you get close to Las Vegas, though I've seen it hit 108 a couple of times up here in Northern Nevada.
 
Jan 7, 2015
6,057
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#6
Study your Bible and see how many times you can find where God's saints like Moses, the children of Israel, and even Jesus Himself being called out of the world (Like in Egypt) and were then drawn into the wilderness. I myself after receiving the Holy Spirit was also drawn into the wilderness. I left my job, my house, and even my family, sold most all my stuff and moved out into the wilderness.

I built me about 500 sq. foot shack, and the Lord has been feeding me angels food ever since. :)
 
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
#7
\
I asked this question in chat but this needs to to asked again on a forum that I can refer to later.

My wife and I are both sensing a strong pull to the desert, almost as if the desert is calling out to us. Every time I see images of the desert, my heart pounds with a longing to be there. Of course, we won't be living in tents in the middle of nowhere. There is a small Nevada town in between Reno and Las Vegas with a nice Baptist church that we would probably plug into (I've already reached out to them on Facebook). We currently live in the piney woods region of East Texas.

MY QUESTION is does this sound like something God would do? To call someone to a geographical location, such as a coastal region, a mountainous area, or the desert? Where would I find that in the Bible?

** There's more to share about this decision later but for now I'm looking for Scriptural references. Plus I need to go out with my wife for a few hours so I'll be back.

THANK YOU ALL!

- Michael
Things to think about.
Are you going to be a part of the ministry of the church you mentioned, or just attend.
How are you going to support your family?
Most important-----is it a physical desire or a spiritual calling to service?
 
J

JesusIsAll

Guest
#8
\

Things to think about.
Are you going to be a part of the ministry of the church you mentioned, or just attend.
How are you going to support your family?
Most important-----is it a physical desire or a spiritual calling to service?
Right! We're not going to find in the Bible personal advice on what state to live in. One simply weighs the matter, and, if there are no moral hazards or otherwise, go live where you want. In my experience, if God wants something He makes it happen, we follow the trail of opportunity we find ourselves in. I can think of a couple instances I didn't famously do the best thing, for having a desire to do something and working it out it was alright with God, when God likely had nothing to do with it, just my choices. Other choices have worked out quite well. The Lord probably didn't say yes or no, that I know of: had He shown His will in a firm way, I'd have done His will. Whatever, you do what you can do with the best conscience and common sense, some choices ours to make, like what we choose to eat for breakfast, only some decisions a bit bigger.
 
C

Chuckt

Guest
#9
\

Things to think about.
Are you going to be a part of the ministry of the church you mentioned, or just attend.
How are you going to support your family?
Most important-----is it a physical desire or a spiritual calling to service?
Sometimes I think a team is more effective.
People who want to be missionaries in our last church had to have a mental health evaluation.
I've met people on the mission field who are lonely and I think it is harder to cope outside of your environment.
How far will you to go to have to get medical care?
Will you have running water?
Will you have cell phone service?
Will you have phone service?
How often will you visit the dentist and another health care provider?

What is the threat of rattlesnakes?
 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,034
1,473
113
#10
Remember this.

If God is calling you to go, he will provide a mission for you, the resources for you to go and accomplish the mission, and a burning desire to go.

Take a few weeks. Spend the time together in prayer and fasting. Missionaries are close to our heart. We will keep you and your decision in our prayers.
 
C

Chuckt

Guest
#11
Remember this.

If God is calling you to go, he will provide a mission for you, the resources for you to go and accomplish the mission, and a burning desire to go.

Take a few weeks. Spend the time together in prayer and fasting. Missionaries are close to our heart. We will keep you and your decision in our prayers.
Missionaries in our church usually build up support and have to raise incredible amounts of money like upwards of $300,000.
 
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
#12
Missionaries in our church usually build up support and have to raise incredible amounts of money like upwards of $300,000.
Thats rediculous.
What is the reasoning for such foolishness.
Show me one scripture where any man of God raised support or a chest of money before he went out to do God's will.
This is not faith in God's provision but trust in man and money.
 
C

Chuckt

Guest
#13
Thats rediculous.
What is the reasoning for such foolishness.
Show me one scripture where any man of God raised support or a chest of money before he went out to do God's will.
This is not faith in God's provision but trust in man and money.
Some places in the world have nothing. Try going out and fixing something simple as a faucet in a place like Cambodia and you will know what I mean.

In many places of the world, parents are giving their children into prostitution to make money because there are no real other means.
 
J

JesusIsAll

Guest
#14
Where did the gentleman say he and his wife were going to be missionaries? I read the OP again, and apparently he is enthusiastic over pictures of the desert, his wife likes the desert, but, unlike the Bible, I must be failing to see where moving to a town in Nevada and maybe plugging into a Baptist church equates to Moses.

Alright. Put it this way. What if they like the desert, and the Lord isn't pushing anything, at all? Do we hype ourselves into thinking we're on a mission from God, when He hasn't moved in our lives in some definitive way? I'd say a resounding no. There are places a lot of us would perhaps rather live, but this doesn't mean it's here or there to God. Lastly, emotions are about the worst reason to make any decision, as well as the source of a whole lot of fake spirituality people mistake for the Holy Spirit.
 

Dino246

Senior Member
Jun 30, 2015
24,555
13,320
113
#15
I asked this question in chat but this needs to to asked again on a forum that I can refer to later.

My wife and I are both sensing a strong pull to the desert, almost as if the desert is calling out to us. Every time I see images of the desert, my heart pounds with a longing to be there. Of course, we won't be living in tents in the middle of nowhere. There is a small Nevada town in between Reno and Las Vegas with a nice Baptist church that we would probably plug into (I've already reached out to them on Facebook). We currently live in the piney woods region of East Texas.

MY QUESTION is does this sound like something God would do? To call someone to a geographical location, such as a coastal region, a mountainous area, or the desert? Where would I find that in the Bible?
Yes, it definitely sounds like something God would do. Whether it is God is a different question, and I would encourage you to be in prayer and ask others in your circle to pray with you about it.

As to relevant scripture, others have touched on some passages; I'll add some more:

Genesis 12:1 Abram called to go to Canaan
Joshua 8:1 Joshua called to take Ai
Judges 6:14 Gideon called to conquer Midian
1 Kings 17:3 Elijah called to the Cherith brook
Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah called to be a prophet
Hosea 1:2 Hosea called to take a harlot for a wife
Amos 7:15 Amos called to prophesy to Israel
Matthew 2:13 Joseph called to go with his family to Egypt
Acts 8:26 Philip called to witness to the Ethiopian official
Acts 9:11 Ananias called to witness to Saul
Acts 16:9 Paul called to Macedonia

I share all these to illustrate that God can use many different methods to call His people to a specific task. It is commonly stated that God doesn't do things the same way twice (I'm not arguing that, just quoting a saying). He is creative, so it is well within His character to call you the way you have shared. Maybe ask the Lord for clear direction, rather than just going with the first thought of where and when. At this point He may just be getting you to consider the idea, and may give some refinement of the call later on.
 
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
#16
Some places in the world have nothing. Try going out and fixing something simple as a faucet in a place like Cambodia and you will know what I mean.

In many places of the world, parents are giving their children into prostitution to make money because there are no real other means.
No, I don't know what you mean.
Are you talking about taking the Gospel to the lost or doing humanitarian work.
When you do something in the name of God, you must base it on the WORD.
Where is your faith?
 
3

3Scoreand10

Guest
#17
Where did the gentleman say he and his wife were going to be missionaries? I read the OP again, and apparently he is enthusiastic over pictures of the desert, his wife likes the desert, but, unlike the Bible, I must be failing to see where moving to a town in Nevada and maybe plugging into a Baptist church equates to Moses.

Alright. Put it this way. What if they like the desert, and the Lord isn't pushing anything, at all? Do we hype ourselves into thinking we're on a mission from God, when He hasn't moved in our lives in some definitive way? I'd say a resounding no. There are places a lot of us would perhaps rather live, but this doesn't mean it's here or there to God. Lastly, emotions are about the worst reason to make any decision, as well as the source of a whole lot of fake spirituality people mistake for the Holy Spirit.
Well said.
How often do we do things to please the flesh while saying God is leading me.
If you want to move to the desert and can find a job and a church to be a part of than go.
May God bless you and your wife.
 
J

JesusIsAll

Guest
#18
Well said.
How often do we do things to please the flesh while saying God is leading me.
If you want to move to the desert and can find a job and a church to be a part of than go.
May God bless you and your wife.
Better said, 3Scoreand10! Less words. Yes, if there's no reason not to, go and God bless, but just don't mistake emotions for a burning bush. Spirituality is spiritual awareness, not goosebumps.
 
C

Chuckt

Guest
#19
No, I don't know what you mean.
Are you talking about taking the Gospel to the lost or doing humanitarian work.
When you do something in the name of God, you must base it on the WORD.
Where is your faith?
Depends on where you are and what you are going to do.

I looked it up online for average costs. This link quotes about $100,000 a year so it could be $300,000 if you are going to be somewhere for three years:

http://www2.crcna.org/site_uploads/...xpense_Breakdown_Missionary_Costs_2011-12.pdf

It costs about $75,000 to be a North American Missionary:

Christian Aid Mission :: Cost Comparison between Native Missionary and a North America Missionary
 
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3Scoreand10

Guest
#20
I understand that God oftens leads men to go into foreign lands to preach the Gospel and I thank God for those who go.
But we should all realize that there is a great mission field right outside our front door.
The state, the city, the community we live in if filled with people who are lost and bound for Hell.
Be a missionary. Go preach the Gospel to your neighbors.
Do what God instructed you to do.
Don't pass the buck to your Pastor or the missionary you or your church sends or supports.