eBook Introduction

You have a purpose. You have been intricately designed by the Creator of the universe who loves you wildly and is completely involved in your life. He has gifted and sent you to into the world to live out what is means to be fully loved. This “sending out” is what I like to call our callings. These callings take many different forms and can often lie dormant as we go about our busy lives. But one thing I know for sure, is that we are called and we have the opportunity to either follow our callings or completely ignore them.

The concept of “calling” is a tricky one because we can make it more about ourselves than the calling itself. The temptation to form our identity around our personality, story, strengths, and gifting is quite impossible for us to avoid however if we can walk this journey with humility and a gospel-centered self than we can certainly keep our eyes on God and less on us.

I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ. Philippines 3:8

A Biblical Foundation For Calling

Now for the skeptics (some of my favorite people really…) I want to help form a basis that shows us that “calling” or “purpose” is very much a part of the Christian life.

God Calls People To Specific Tasks

• 1 Samuel 3:1-10 – God calls Samuel as a young boy to be a prophet
• Luke 5:1-11 – God calls ordinary men to be His disciples
• Acts 9 – Paul was called to begin preaching the gospel after years of persecuting the church
• Acts 16:14-15 – God calls Lyida and her whole household was saved

God Equips People For The Work of the Gospel

• God calls His people to different roles in the church and equips each one of us to work in unity – Ephesians 4:1-16
• God gives us specific gifts for the common good –  1 Corinthians 13
• Our gifts are different and are not in competition with one another – Romans 12

God Calls Us To Specific Commands

• We are called to repent and turn to God – Mark 1:15
• God calls us to the ministry of reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:11-21
• We are called to love God and our neighbor – Matthew 22:36-40
• Jesus commanded us to make disciples – Matthew 28:16-20

 

3 Callings

In order to make greater sense of our callings I would like to address a few distinctions that you may find helpful. Many of us have found our “calling” to almost feel like chasing a chicken in a pen, it feels impossible to catch! The problem with some studies on helping you “discover your purpose” or “calling” is that they are either too narrow and we are constantly fearful that we are “missing the mark” or they are way to board and are not helpful. In order for create more clarity I would like to break our “callings” into 3 different types. These 3 different callings are mostly happening simultaneously which can contribute to our confusion and once we can differentiate between them the more we are able to walk in them as God intended.

Daily Callings

Each and every day we are being called into the simple tasks of life. This simply means our call to steward our lives well. From our relationships to our finances. To the simple tasks like washing the dishes to investing in your marriage. Our daily callings are what make up most our our every day life however they can also dominate our overall calling and make us feel like we are stuck in a never ending cycle but these are ultimately the practical ways that we serve our families and the world.

Spiritual Callings

We are created to be spiritual beings. I believe it is essential to have a spiritual practice wether it is simply meditation or being apart of a spiritual community.  As Christians, this calling is two fold: we are called into relationship with Christ (our initial conversion) and called to be part of Christ’s body, the Church. Our spiritual calling continues in the maturing and nurturing of our and to edify the faith of others (make disciples). This calling is both personal and corporate. 

Unique Callings

We are also called to serve the world in a unique way and we are gifted to engage this calling. This specific calling can be seasonal and may change over time. Our unique callings come through many different channels as we follow both the daily, and spiritual callings that are placed in our path each day. These type of callings get formed over time through our story and as we discover how we are built and what breaks our heart, creating a passion to serve the world.

Coming This Fall!

This fall I will be publishing my first ever ebook! I will be addressing our unique callings and what it means to live out your calling in your every day life. Here is what you can look forward to:

• Calling & Clarity – Discover your calling through story and gifts inventory
• Calling & Seasons – How to live out your calling in different seasons especially in seasons of suffering and pain.
• Calling & Confidence – Strengthening your faith in God and in your calling
• Calling & Resilience – How to fail well and not loose heart
• Calling & Courage – Discover what it means to brave forward in your calling

My dear sister, you are called by name by a God who has created you with gifts and personality, and has empowered you with the Holy Spirit. I am excited for us to dive into this topic and keep me in your prayers as I embark on this endeavor!