It's Mother's Day and I'm at work... Now that is not a complaint, I'm very thankful for the overtime that has opened up. It is God's provision for me and I'm only here a few hours before I head back to spend the day with my mom and children at my childhood home. I'm writing this because when I left the house, the whole rest of the world was still asleep, I opened up the front door and the first thing I saw was the pink cherry tree had blossomed - as in overnight! Stunningly beautiful pink blossoms hanging off each limb. I stopped in my tracks because of its sheer breathtaking beauty. Honestly, it made me think, how can ANYONE not believe there is a God? His presence and glory is ALL around us! I felt as if He was giving me flowers! Wishing me a "Happy Mother's Day."
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." (Romans 1:20)
I found myself thinking about the seasons, how God woo's us with his love through nature. He gives us bouquets of flowers, flowering trees, wonderfully distinctive plants! He sings love songs to us through the birds! He caresses our cheeks with the wind! So many of us are so busy that we don't notice the obvious ALL around us! He wants our attention and lovingly surrounds us by His creation and glory. I thought - my goodness!!! I'm blown away by the beauty in this cherry tree - can you imagine the beauties we will see in Heaven? What an amazing, creative, loving, wonderful God we have and ALL He wants is our love! It is so easy to love Him, if you allow yourself to. You can't "out love" God.
Perhaps we are like that tree? You were made for a purpose. It is up to you to prayerfully figure out what that purpose is for your life. To discover it. But you have to want to. You can needlessly go through life, not meeting the full potential that God has for you. He never "makes" anyone do something. You have to want to. You can go through life merely "existing." But God has so much MORE in store for you. When we "merely exist" we are just going through the motions of life. There is something lacking. There is a place within us that is going unfulfilled. I know you know what I mean - even if you don't admit it to yourself. There is a void. Maybe you are feeling like there is something MORE - you just don't know what it is. Maybe you are trying to fill that void with other things - but the truth is; the VERY truth is that void was meant to be filled by your God given purpose. Something God had in mind for YOU to do from the very time He created you and until you choose to seek what that thing is you will never live life to the full potential God intended you to. How do you find out what that is? PRAY. Communicate with Him as you would someone you loved very much and wanted to know better. He is there! Silently waiting for you to give Him your undivided attention. There is nothing about you that will surprise Him. So if you are going through a prodigal time in your walk, admit it - bring your concerns, faults, sins and all before Him. You can't hide from God and He knows it anyhow. So come to Him as you are. He desires to show you the purpose He has made you for. Now I'm not saying it will be easy, or that that purpose will be fulfilled overnight - it is a life time effort and a life time calling - whatever He has called you to do. Part of it is discovering what it is.
I remember when I was in my 20's prayerfully talking to God. I had been on the stage since I was 3 years old and just knew that my life's passion was to become an actress. I studied theatre, I went to auditions, I did a few independent commercials. I just knew I was going to become a famous actress, but as I talked to God and prayed and asked Him what my purpose in life was to be, just waiting for Him to say back to me "why silly girl, it is acting of course..." He surprised me. These are the exact words He quitely said, and I say quietly because God has never yelled at me. His voice is always quiet and gentle.
"It is as plain as the nose on your face."
"How is that Lord?" I responded puzzled.
"I've called you to write."
"To write? But Lord, that is something that I have always done." I said incredulous, brushing it off.
"I know." He responded.
"But I've always written... That's nothing... I've kept a journal since 3rd grade. I've written stories and poetry for as long as I could write."
"Yes..." He reiterated what He had said.
It all began to make sense to me. He had not called me to act (although that is a fine profession). He had called me to write - and it was so obvious I hadn't even seen it. Is God calling you to do or become something that is so obvious YOU may have missed it? Maybe something YOU have done all of your life? Sometimes it can be so obvious you don't see it. Hence the reason He said to me, "it is as plain as the nose on your face..." Sometimes we are looking so hard - we miss it.
With a calling, once you have discovered what it is - there is a responsibility to walk in it. True fullfillment comes only when you know what that calling is and then obeying God by walking in it. This may mean honing your talent. Learning your trade so to speak. I write well, but make a lot of gramatical errors. (LOL) Still once God gives me inspiration, I have to write. It comes from the Holy Spirit, through my heart and out of my fingers! I believe it is the reason God has made it so that I type 95 wpm! I truly believe I am a "finger" in the body of Christ. (Grinning). There are times when I get caught up in the things of the world that I don't take time to fulfill my calling by "applying the seat of my pants to the seat of my chair." It is during those times when I feel at my lowest because I am not doing what I was made to do. When I am obedient to my calling and I take the time out of my busy day to do what I'm suppose to be doing, I feel fulfilled. I pray that the writings in my blog can be used far and wide to glorify God. That it will move, encourage or help someone in some way (whatever God sees fit) to help someone grow closer to Him. This is my calling, this is my purpose.
I am a divorced mother, a cancer survivor someone who's life has changed dramatically over the last 4 years, but while my life has surprised ME, it hasn't surprised God. I work a full-time job because I have to provide for my children. Remember, the Bible tells us Jesus was also a carpenter... I may work a full time job - but that is a means to an end, it is not my purpose. It is not my calling. (And this does not mean you should not work any position as if you weren't working for the Lord - because everything IS for His glory, and remember people are watching you closely, especially if they know you are a Christian...) I moan and complain to God (every morning) asking Him why I could not have been "born rich. I express to Him how my dream is to own a small simple cottage off the ocean, where I can spend my days with someone I love and with my children, spending my days writing for His glory..." (I'm still believing Him for that, by the way...) He smiles at me indulgently, as He is use to my rantings and just like that child who has a temper trantrum on the floor of the grocery store because his mother won't buy him that piece of candy, He lets me have my daily morning temper trantrum, waits for me to finish and then asks me calmy:
"Are you done now?"
"Yes Lord," I say wiping my eyes and hiccuping.
The truth of the matter is - we make time for what we want to make time for. God is not always our priority, nor is the calling once we know what it is. The Bible says:
"To much is given, much is required." (Luke 12:48)
Once you know what your special calling is, you have a responsibility to walk in that calling. God is only asking you to plant or to water. Providing the increase is His responsibility - not yours. I don't write for my "own glory." I write because I am called to. I NEED to. There is someone, somewhere who God is using the Holy Spirit to minister to - and this word will drift over there way and hopefully encourage them in whatever means God deems it. My responsibility is only to do what God has asked. The rest is up to Him. I may not know how many people the words God has given me through my walk, through my writings will or has encouraged until I am perhaps on "the other side." I am okay with that because like that cherry blossom tree. When I utilize the skills God has given me and walk in my calling - I blossom in His love. There is no greater feeling than to know that you are being used by God, for His purpose.
It's time for you to blossom. Just like that cherry tree - there are undercurrents occurring and changes that are taking place in you below the surface of your outward self... Let God allow you to come in season. To blossom in His love. To fulfill your calling. It is why He created you. He has a purpose for your life that only YOU can fulfill. Don't merely exist from day to day - walk in the fullness of His love. Blossom like only YOU can. The time is now.
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