(Part Three) Spiritual Gifts, God's Will (Calling), and Fish Vomit

I'm not sure how many of these the posts I'm going to write, but I fear it's going to take a few more to get them out of my system. I hope that you'll bear with me as I continue this journey away from religion towards relationship. My biggest fear in all of this is that you may think I'm here to bash every organized church and pastor. Nope. That is in no way my intent. Let me clarify the type of religion that I'm running from: Rigid, burdensome, man-made pomp and circumstance. Or: Complete devotion to oneself. The latter one seems to be a lack of religion, when, really, it's you making up your own rules, doing your own thing, and working towards your ultimate goal: You. (Generic Example, "You." I'm not literally pointing at you.) Neither of these things are good. Both will eventually weigh you down, squeezing the breath out of you. God never wants us stumbling around, shoulders bent, neck strained, ears throbbing from all the "noise."He doesn't want us to clam up and go it alone either.

"For my yolk is easy, and my burden is light." (Matthew 11:30)

(Note that the Christian life will never be easy. It is God's grace that carries your burdens and lightens your load.)

One Scripture describes "pure and undefiled" religion in this way:

"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world." (James 1:27)

Pretty straight forward, no?

Micah 6:8 is another good one:

"He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love *kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
*Some versions say, "mercy".

Lastly (though there are many more examples):

Jesus replied: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39)

Love God.
Love others.

Pretty simple.

There are definitely some things concerning organized religion that I have problems with, but that isn't what I feel led to discuss. What I do feel led to address are things that may be keeping you from a relationship with Jesus. Perhaps you already have a relationship with Jesus, yet still feel burdened, weary, and confused by all of the noise. There are a host of trendy books, blogs, and opinions flying around. It's enough to make your head spin! I have no interest in joining the noise. I'm truly sharing what I've been sorting through, wrestled with, have learned, or am still learning. I don't want to follow any trends, but I do want to follow the Shepherd.

When sheep follow their Shepherd, they know wolves don't have a chance.

Turn off the noise, the hot topics, and the hoopla. Let's be real and willing to admit we make mistakes. Let's ask questions and seek answers. I'm not about to claim that I have all of the answers, so please follow the Spirit's leading and not mine. Read your Bible...in context...front to back. Pray. Listen. The answers will come.

Okay...

back to the topic: Spiritual Gifts, God's Will (Calling), and Fish Vomit

Who here is wondering what God's will or calling is for their life? Who here has at least wondered about it in the past? Who was told that they should follow their talents/gifts/gut/interests/dreams?

Who took the Spiritual Gifts test on paper? *I'm raising my hand*

Who's still confused or conflicted? Why? Didn't you take the test? ;)

I wonder if Jonah took that test? You know, while he was chillin' in his hammock, sipping an ice cold goat's milk smoothie (or whatever):

Are you a good listener? 
Do you enjoy traveling?
Would you jump at the chance to prophesy to rebellious people? 
Do you feel confident in stressful situations?
Do you follow directions?

Ummm...NO.

Are you a sprinter?
Do you spontaneously board ships with people you don't know?
Are you a sound sleeper?
Can you predict the cause of certain storms?

Check. Check. Check. Check!

Do you speak Whale?

Wha???

 My point? Sometimes God calls us to duties, ministries, and places that we don't want to do or go. We might even be lousy at whatever He is calling us to do, because we aren't naturally gifted in those areas. Perhaps we are simply baffled by a calling. Think about how Noah must have felt. He couldn't Google his "boat" or "rain" queries. Talk about faith and following God's lead! Often we are privileged to serve in ways we are naturally gifted. It's possible that your, or my, current calling is to be content with where we are (for now). Holding patterns happen. The point is, we shouldn't limit God's will or calling in our lives to a check list of our Top 10 Spiritual Gifts. Life if full of seasons, so we are going to need to gear up for "weather" changes, which will include awkward situations!

It appears that Jonah wasn't exactly thrilled to jump at the calling to crash Ninevah's party, however he was able to follow through because God was with him. God wasn't going to let him snooze through or run away from that mission. Nope. He made sure Jonah heard Him loud and clear.

Sometimes it takes a nasty storm and fish vomit to get us back on track.

Growing up, I had lots of friends, but only one best friend. One. Nobody else stood a chance for that title. It didn't matter where I had to go, or what I had to do, so long as she was there. I could be terrified, nauseated, and 100% sure that I was going to hate the next day's activities (insert piano competitions), but as long as she was with me, I had strength. Plus, when it was all over, we gasped the mutual collected *sigh* that only those who've crossed uncharted waters together can sigh.

We understood each other because we walked together.

 We always knew what the other was thinking. I never had to explain my side of things, or how awful that camp teacher was, or how mean that click of girls was, because she had experienced it too.

That is why following Jesus into uncharted territories is worth it. Because you will never find another Best Friend who'll ever come close to Him. You can trust Him to include you in His perfect will. 

(Pssst! If you are His, you've already been called to ministry.)

The only gift you need is the Holy Spirit. He'll provide whatever is necessary along the way, often at the last minute. Then your faith will explode, and you can throw your head back and laugh or cry! You won't even have to say a word, because He walked through it with you.

He gets it.


Cheering you on & checking the fuel gauge,
Layla