(This was written before I saw that Brad blogged on almost the exact same thing, not in response to it.)
When you feel passionately about something, when you can't let go of a burden in your soul about it, when you are consumed with reading every book on the subject, when you pray and your prayers keep coming back to it, when God speaks so clearly you can hear HIS voice.....
That's when you know, you're called.
That word is quite a word to use. Using it means you may have to explain yourself, but you shouldn't have to. No one knows the extent of that word and the power within it, except the person that is specifically using it to explain the longing in their soul. Abram didn't question God in Genesis 12 when he called him to "Go", the next sentence says...."So Abram went." (I wonder if any of Abram's friends questioned him.)
We have been called to start a church in Halstead, Kansas.
And then there's that "We" word. I married a man that passionately loves me and even more passionately loves Jehovah God. He was called long ago to serve God with his life and he doesn't do ANYTHING halfheartedly. I go where he goes, his people are my people, his God is my God.
I remember this summer, surrendering my life once again to absolutely anything that God would bring into my life. He was preparing me for the rain. Rain is a beautiful thing. It's on it's way here right now. We need it. It's necessary for life, for growth, and renewal. I love rain, but it disrupts the routine of life. It means things change, and the seeking of shelter. There are many emotions involved, but because I was prepared, and gave my life to Him, I'm believing God and His plan has blessings in the sacrifice. The unknown is a scary thing. It's how I know WE've been called to this.
It's taking sacrifice, faith, belief, surrender, obedience & courage.....all things that only God would be able to do within me. We're called because we're His and for all that He's done and going to do, we believe.
God doesn't call the equipped, He equips the called.
More on the words, "start", "church" and "Halstead"...another time.
