Tuesday, December 1, 2009

CALLED

When I was younger I heard a sermon about being "called". At the time, in my minds eye, I envisioned 3,000 people being led to the alter. Today I realize God calls each of us. He doesn't expect us to lead 3,000 people to Him, at least not all at once. But HE does expect us to listen to HIS voice. When HE calls us, and HE will call you if you are listening, it may be in a more subtle way. There are hundreds of ways we can serve Him. Hundreds of ways we can answer HIS call. If you knit or crochet, you can always make baby blankets for the Linus Project. During this Christmas season, visit a nursing home with a box of Christmas cards. Sit down with one of the residents and address them for her/him. Some of them would love to send a card to a friend or relative, but don't have any way to get to the store to buy a card, or their hands may be so crippled with arthritis it is no longer comfortable to write. Sing in the choir. While driving through McDonalds or Starbucks for your morning coffee, hand the clerk an extra ten dollars to pay for the order in the car behind you. There are so many ways to serve the Lord. Don't wait for the waters of Jordan to part. Seek God's plan for you. Don't know what it is? God has promised He will instruct you. Psalms 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Pray for HIS guidance. Remember HE reminds us of HIS plans for us in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. By the way, I was in the car behind you at Starbucks when you paid for my coffee. You made my day.

4 comments:

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

Wonderful words, Katt. A miracle in the making. Just has to pay attention. Which reminds me that when I was a kid, my teachers were constantly saying, "Joylene, pay attention!" I was, just not to them. lol.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Oh my gosh--were you in my class? I thought the teacher was talking to ME!!!!
One time in high school my lab partner (I had a HUGE crush on him) and I almost blew up the lab. Our teacher said Miss Neff---PLEASE pay attention----I was laughing about something Tom said!!!!

Carol J. Garvin said...

Great post today, Katt... so timely! It seems like people are more inclined to do kind deed during the Christmas season but we'd be so much more obedient to listen to His call and respond whenever and wherever it comes.

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

Someone asked me just recently "how do I know" if I've been called. That seems to be a question I've heard from teens in our class lately too. I always tell them, if it's going to make other people feel good, it's probably a call from God. If it's something mean or evil---or you are trying to "pay back evil for evil" you KNOW it isn't HIS call.