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C
I know that what I'm about to 'say' won't be very popular but the Lord showed me early on in my Christian walk that He was very disappointed with the modern Church, particularly the Church in the United States.
He was disappointed with how many believers must have Christianity their own way even when their way conflicted with His way. That is why you can find 30+ churches, many of the same denomination, in a small town of less than 2000 people.
He was disappointed with how many Churches have become 'self serving' using tithe money to provide for their own self interests - building huge seminaries, gymnasiums, cafeterias, coffee shops, swimming pools, activity centers, purchasing expensive sound and lighting systems, etc. in the hopes of attracting existing upper and middle class believers - rather than using the tithe to provide for the orphan, the widow, the homeless, the hungry thus ministering to the needs of potential new believers.
He was disappointed with how many believers will not associate with much less embrace someone who doesn't believe a certain way, act a certain way, dress a certain way, etc.
He was disappointed with how the Church sits idly by, planning their next big event, while the youth of our nation is being molested, raped, neglected, becoming addicted to all sorts of drugs and other dangerous habits, as well being murdered and committing suicide.
The Lord had shown me that He was heartbroken.
He had also shown me that He was about to do something about it. That He was about to raise up a generation of believers that might not look the part, who might not be as well spoken or as educated - BUT - they will love the Lord with all of their hearts and with all of their actions. A generation that won't be afraid to minister on the street corners, in the crack houses, in the mental hospitals, in the prisons, outside of the dance club or the gay bar, in front a Muslim Mosque or a Buddhist temple.
The Lord assured me that prayer would again be answered, that the lost would be saved, the sick will be healed and the bound will be delivered.
He then asked me if I wanted to be a part of such an awakening even though the organized church would go out of it's way to persecute and demonize this new generation.
To which I answered; "Where do we begin?"
..........
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K
Very good thread Jullianna....makes me reflect on some things.
Im trying to find my call but I have so many interests that I sometimes wonder which one comes from the Lord....or maybe everyone of them comes from him idk. I have noticed that I have a heart for the lost ones (but shouldn't we all have a heart for them?) I really enjoy giving reason of my faith, I feel like I could do anything just to spread the gospel and reach out to people. I've thought about becoming a missionary, or working in some place where I can touch many people someday, but i'm waiting for my time...and my call.
I'm currently in a new season in my life, I just started going to church after a crazy year, the Lord has taught me so many things <3. I kinda feel like this last year was my '' year in Arabia'', just like Paul was lead to Arabia to learn directly from the Lord after his conversion, having no church after I was born-again due to some circumstances, I felt like the Lord taught me a lot from him directly. (btw I'm not by any means saying that I had a revelation like Paul's or that I saw the Lord or something like that, it is a metaphor only ) Of course, I'm still learning and I still have LOTS to learn, but now I feel like I'm not just learning by lecture only , I'm also discovering things with my own hands.
One of the things I have discovered and that deeply disturbs me is how many christians are out there, how many churches, how many people which have been christians ''all their lives'' and yet....besides going to church often, you don't see the difference in them; that light that is supposed to shine through them like you thought ( or I thought) it would it's not there...or it's so weak that it's about to extinguish.
Am I being overly critical? I'm not expecting everyone to be the same nor am I sayin that I want people acting pharisee-like (eww), but sometimes is dissapointing how talking about the Lord is easier with a non-believer! and I'm being serious....Do christians hear so much about God at church that it becomes an annoying or boring topic outside the church? I'm not saying I'm a sparkling fairy reflecting God's light always....but...well I hope someone gets what I'm saying
Anyway....I feel like my calling is something related with the spreading of the gospel however God wants me to do it, he will let me know. If God puts a man in my life, I think it wouldnt work if he doesnt feel a passion for God or if he believes in having a comfortable christian life ( if that even exists), that's why I think that if I get married according to God's will, and if my husband is someone who wants to serve the Lord, I would feel totally pleased in supporting him!( I see now what's so wonderful about marrying a believer, working together means working FOR GOD) if he wants to be a missionary, that would be cool too!
After reading what I wrote I just realized that I didn't actually answer to your question haha....sorry.
Im trying to find my call but I have so many interests that I sometimes wonder which one comes from the Lord....or maybe everyone of them comes from him idk. I have noticed that I have a heart for the lost ones (but shouldn't we all have a heart for them?) I really enjoy giving reason of my faith, I feel like I could do anything just to spread the gospel and reach out to people. I've thought about becoming a missionary, or working in some place where I can touch many people someday, but i'm waiting for my time...and my call
.I'm currently in a new season in my life, I just started going to church after a crazy year, the Lord has taught me so many things <3. I kinda feel like this last year was my '' year in Arabia'', just like Paul was lead to Arabia to learn directly from the Lord after his conversion, having no church after I was born-again due to some circumstances, I felt like the Lord taught me a lot from him directly. (btw I'm not by any means saying that I had a revelation like Paul's or that I saw the Lord or something like that, it is a metaphor only
) Of course, I'm still learning and I still have LOTS to learn, but now I feel like I'm not just learning by lecture only , I'm also discovering things with my own hands.One of the things I have discovered and that deeply disturbs me is how many christians are out there, how many churches, how many people which have been christians ''all their lives'' and yet....besides going to church often, you don't see the difference in them; that light that is supposed to shine through them like you thought ( or I thought) it would it's not there...or it's so weak that it's about to extinguish.
Am I being overly critical? I'm not expecting everyone to be the same nor am I sayin that I want people acting pharisee-like (eww), but sometimes is dissapointing how talking about the Lord is easier with a non-believer! and I'm being serious....Do christians hear so much about God at church that it becomes an annoying or boring topic outside the church? I'm not saying I'm a sparkling fairy reflecting God's light always....but...well I hope someone gets what I'm saying
Anyway....I feel like my calling is something related with the spreading of the gospel however God wants me to do it, he will let me know. If God puts a man in my life, I think it wouldnt work if he doesnt feel a passion for God or if he believes in having a comfortable christian life ( if that even exists), that's why I think that if I get married according to God's will, and if my husband is someone who wants to serve the Lord, I would feel totally pleased in supporting him!( I see now what's so wonderful about marrying a believer, working together means working FOR GOD) if he wants to be a missionary, that would be cool too!
After reading what I wrote I just realized that I didn't actually answer to your question haha....sorry.
C
Very true, there are several and I could name a few that are leading the charge (Bethel & The Ramp). However, I personally have encountered hardships from Churches that I have been associated with on a local level simply because they had to have things their way. People in leadership roles at their own churches, whom I know personally, which had never taken authority seriously in the their own lives yet insisting that others must bow the knee to their authority. They have no concept of honor, unity, humility, surrender, team work.... I could on. A shame really seeing as we are working toward another reformation, not a rebellion.
I work with a lot of teenage guys & men who are young adults so I can relate. Nothing thrills me more to work with young people who are hungry for the things of the Lord. As their mentor, their hunger inspires me to delve deeper into the things of the Lord for myself. They're hungry for biblical truth, not man's own carnal, interpretations which means those of us who lead have to lean on God heavily in order to lead the way. It's can be a challenge at times but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's about God, not me.
Anyways, take care and I pray that God will bless you mightily in your ministry. I feel that the stakes a very high thus nothing is more important than what you and I are doing.... discipling tomorrow's leaders.
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J
Praise and worship is my main calling.
Teaching children/youth was my calling for a very long time, but in recent years I've felt myself pulled away from it. I love to write and I enjoy listening to people. I think that listening is a ministry in a way. There are so many lonely, hurting people of all ages in the world who just need someone to care. This seems to be where the Lord is leading. Maybe this will turn into counseling someday. Who knows...
Teaching children/youth was my calling for a very long time, but in recent years I've felt myself pulled away from it. I love to write and I enjoy listening to people. I think that listening is a ministry in a way. There are so many lonely, hurting people of all ages in the world who just need someone to care. This seems to be where the Lord is leading. Maybe this will turn into counseling someday. Who knows...
G
Very good thread Jullianna....makes me reflect on some things.
Im trying to find my call but I have so many interests that I sometimes wonder which one comes from the Lord....or maybe everyone of them comes from him idk. I have noticed that I have a heart for the lost ones (but shouldn't we all have a heart for them?) I really enjoy giving reason of my faith, I feel like I could do anything just to spread the gospel and reach out to people. I've thought about becoming a missionary, or working in some place where I can touch many people someday, but i'm waiting for my time...and my call.
I'm currently in a new season in my life, I just started going to church after a crazy year, the Lord has taught me so many things <3. I kinda feel like this last year was my '' year in Arabia'', just like Paul was lead to Arabia to learn directly from the Lord after his conversion, having no church after I was born-again due to some circumstances, I felt like the Lord taught me a lot from him directly. (btw I'm not by any means saying that I had a revelation like Paul's or that I saw the Lord or something like that, it is a metaphor only ) Of course, I'm still learning and I still have LOTS to learn, but now I feel like I'm not just learning by lecture only , I'm also discovering things with my own hands.
One of the things I have discovered and that deeply disturbs me is how many christians are out there, how many churches, how many people which have been christians ''all their lives'' and yet....besides going to church often, you don't see the difference in them; that light that is supposed to shine through them like you thought ( or I thought) it would it's not there...or it's so weak that it's about to extinguish.
Am I being overly critical? I'm not expecting everyone to be the same nor am I sayin that I want people acting pharisee-like (eww), but sometimes is dissapointing how talking about the Lord is easier with a non-believer! and I'm being serious....Do christians hear so much about God at church that it becomes an annoying or boring topic outside the church? I'm not saying I'm a sparkling fairy reflecting God's light always....but...well I hope someone gets what I'm saying
Anyway....I feel like my calling is something related with the spreading of the gospel however God wants me to do it, he will let me know. If God puts a man in my life, I think it wouldnt work if he doesnt feel a passion for God or if he believes in having a comfortable christian life ( if that even exists), that's why I think that if I get married according to God's will, and if my husband is someone who wants to serve the Lord, I would feel totally pleased in supporting him!( I see now what's so wonderful about marrying a believer, working together means working FOR GOD) if he wants to be a missionary, that would be cool too!
After reading what I wrote I just realized that I didn't actually answer to your question haha....sorry.
Im trying to find my call but I have so many interests that I sometimes wonder which one comes from the Lord....or maybe everyone of them comes from him idk. I have noticed that I have a heart for the lost ones (but shouldn't we all have a heart for them?) I really enjoy giving reason of my faith, I feel like I could do anything just to spread the gospel and reach out to people. I've thought about becoming a missionary, or working in some place where I can touch many people someday, but i'm waiting for my time...and my call
.I'm currently in a new season in my life, I just started going to church after a crazy year, the Lord has taught me so many things <3. I kinda feel like this last year was my '' year in Arabia'', just like Paul was lead to Arabia to learn directly from the Lord after his conversion, having no church after I was born-again due to some circumstances, I felt like the Lord taught me a lot from him directly. (btw I'm not by any means saying that I had a revelation like Paul's or that I saw the Lord or something like that, it is a metaphor only
) Of course, I'm still learning and I still have LOTS to learn, but now I feel like I'm not just learning by lecture only , I'm also discovering things with my own hands.One of the things I have discovered and that deeply disturbs me is how many christians are out there, how many churches, how many people which have been christians ''all their lives'' and yet....besides going to church often, you don't see the difference in them; that light that is supposed to shine through them like you thought ( or I thought) it would it's not there...or it's so weak that it's about to extinguish.
Am I being overly critical? I'm not expecting everyone to be the same nor am I sayin that I want people acting pharisee-like (eww), but sometimes is dissapointing how talking about the Lord is easier with a non-believer! and I'm being serious....Do christians hear so much about God at church that it becomes an annoying or boring topic outside the church? I'm not saying I'm a sparkling fairy reflecting God's light always....but...well I hope someone gets what I'm saying
Anyway....I feel like my calling is something related with the spreading of the gospel however God wants me to do it, he will let me know. If God puts a man in my life, I think it wouldnt work if he doesnt feel a passion for God or if he believes in having a comfortable christian life ( if that even exists), that's why I think that if I get married according to God's will, and if my husband is someone who wants to serve the Lord, I would feel totally pleased in supporting him!( I see now what's so wonderful about marrying a believer, working together means working FOR GOD) if he wants to be a missionary, that would be cool too!
After reading what I wrote I just realized that I didn't actually answer to your question haha....sorry.
Your Signature verses are amazingly awesome, they drip with incredible things of servanthood and missionary work, which can be martyrdom too, God will bless you for going ANYWHERE, that willingness, maybe peace corp a good idea, I don't know, just suggesting. The Lord leads
“Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.”
Proverbs 3:3
Proverbs 3:3
The LORD is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear? ♥
Yes, when we are doing work in a role of servanthood, the blessings just flow. I just encourage you, AAAPlus, to be cognizant of God in your ear as you will KNOW by what you are doing to help others is His call for you by the way God leads your life in mercy (not getting punishmenbt I deserve) and grace (getting rewards I do not deserve.). These, grace and mercy, are ways God quickens our faith in Him and will go on outside the church and inside.
I speak from experience, I did blessed work for 20 years in the writihng field, helping young people improve in life was my goal through my work and my OUTSIDE work life was JUST what I needed, provision for. I got to a point though and WANTED To leave, I was just not having fun with it anymore and, by that, 'fun,' for me is HELPING OTHERS improve in sports and, in no small way, in life too . But God said NO for a year or two after that and I STUCK with God and kept writing and it was great to see Him still blessing me as I did that work and felt things I didn't feel with my writing before and God just got me through in sooooo many ways
God bless you, AAAPlus, for doing your best to follow Him .
Very true, there are several and I could name a few that are leading the charge (Bethel & The Ramp). However, I personally have encountered hardships from Churches that I have been associated with on a local level simply because they had to have things their way. People in leadership roles at their own churches, whom I know personally, which had never taken authority seriously in the their own lives yet insisting that others must bow the knee to their authority. They have no concept of honor, unity, humility, surrender, team work.... I could on. A shame really seeing as we are working toward another reformation, not a rebellion.
I work with a lot of teenage guys & men who are young adults so I can relate. Nothing thrills me more to work with young people who are hungry for the things of the Lord. As their mentor, their hunger inspires me to delve deeper into the things of the Lord for myself. They're hungry for biblical truth, not man's own carnal, interpretations which means those of us who lead have to lean on God heavily in order to lead the way. It's can be a challenge at times but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's about God, not me.
Anyways, take care and I pray that God will bless you mightily in your ministry. I feel that the stakes a very high thus nothing is more important than what you and I are doing.... discipling tomorrow's leaders.
I work with a lot of teenage guys & men who are young adults so I can relate. Nothing thrills me more to work with young people who are hungry for the things of the Lord. As their mentor, their hunger inspires me to delve deeper into the things of the Lord for myself. They're hungry for biblical truth, not man's own carnal, interpretations which means those of us who lead have to lean on God heavily in order to lead the way. It's can be a challenge at times but I wouldn't have it any other way. It's about God, not me.
Anyways, take care and I pray that God will bless you mightily in your ministry. I feel that the stakes a very high thus nothing is more important than what you and I are doing.... discipling tomorrow's leaders.
And, those that we WORK with in the church will see that the idea of servanthood, as Jesus did by washing the disciples' feet, is about being HUMBLE and unselfish to the utmost.
And, IF we are talking sword terms of some great medieval scabbard that would please Nods to speak of, we would say, you need to be unselfish and humble to the hilt
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B
i work with teens (boys) and i find it that it's God's calling for me too to listen to them. some carry such heavy burdens. He uses me to liberate them from those burdens..... it's such a wonderful experience to see them being touched when they realized that God loves them despite all that they have done and most of all offers forgiveness.
C
I agree with you, Crossfire, the Church needs to step up to the plate in today's generation and the future generations to have any hope at all. God has been calling me for a year now to minister through song and testimony in the local churches and schools to children / adolescents / adults about cancer awareness, bullying, judgment, etc as they are all things I have faced in my lifetime and had to overcome.
B
I have a God-given passion for young people that have struggled with abuse, depression, suicide, addictions... And all kinds of other things that I've also been equipped to relate with and will be able to use as a means of building a relationship with them, and then ministering the truth of the Gospel to them I'm a firm believer that the key to effectively ministering is relationship! If someone can't relate at all to you then they likely aren't going to listen to what you have to say. In addition to that I like to help out with worship-I have a bit of a knack for picking up an instrument and figuring out how it works and playing scales within about 20-30 minutes...Everywhere I've helped out has loved me having that ability, haha
I'm a firm believer that the key to effectively ministering is relationship! If someone can't relate at all to you then they likely aren't going to listen to what you have to say. In addition to that I like to help out with worship-I have a bit of a knack for picking up an instrument and figuring out how it works and playing scales within about 20-30 minutes...Everywhere I've helped out has loved me having that ability, haha
C
I have a God-given passion for young people that have struggled with abuse, depression, suicide, addictions... And all kinds of other things that I've also been equipped to relate with and will be able to use as a means of building a relationship with them, and then ministering the truth of the Gospel to them I'm a firm believer that the key to effectively ministering is relationship.
I'm a firm believer that the key to effectively ministering is relationship.
Well, I'm still defining it actually.
I could probably write a small book on all the pieces to this, but fear not! Contrary to popular belief, I can exhibit restraint!
In a basic sense, (like responding to all that happens on Earth as 'life'), God--to the best of my understanding--has called me to be a minister. Now, this has often been as a worship leader, but I did hear His call on my life to be, as I believe, an ordained elder. (Methodist denomination)
Now, I'll go where He wants me to, and be who He wants me to. So I might be a missionary, college professor, global ministry volunteer speaking associate of yada yada...I don't know.
All I know is, I love and trust Him, and we're fleshing those things out as I go. ^_^ So basically, musician, teacher, preacher, businessman, servant/follower/friend of Jesus. That's me! (partially, lol)
I could probably write a small book on all the pieces to this, but fear not! Contrary to popular belief, I can exhibit restraint!
In a basic sense, (like responding to all that happens on Earth as 'life'), God--to the best of my understanding--has called me to be a minister. Now, this has often been as a worship leader, but I did hear His call on my life to be, as I believe, an ordained elder. (Methodist denomination)
Now, I'll go where He wants me to, and be who He wants me to. So I might be a missionary, college professor, global ministry volunteer speaking associate of yada yada...I don't know.
All I know is, I love and trust Him, and we're fleshing those things out as I go. ^_^ So basically, musician, teacher, preacher, businessman, servant/follower/friend of Jesus. That's me! (partially, lol)