The Call of God...

“God did not direct His call to Isaiah— Isaiah overheard God saying, ". . . who will go for Us?" The call of God is not just for a select few but for everyone. Whether I hear God’s call or not depends on the condition of my ears, and exactly what I hear depends upon my spiritual attitude.”
― Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest: Traditional Updated Edition

In determining God’s call on your life, it can be difficult. Sometimes it is difficult to understand what God has called you to. Eugene Peterson writes in his book “My Utmost for His Highest” that if we can clearly point out a single specific time where God’s calling to us was clear, then he questions If we really heard God’s call on our life. I think what he means here is that, when God calls us to do something he is persistent. He will place opportunity after opportunity and drop hints left and right as to what he wants for our life. Sometimes we realize this calling but we struggle with following his call. Often times he requires that we do things that are uncomfortable. He requires us to do things that we don’t fully understand, that we aren’t fully sure we can do.

For the past three summers I have had the opportunity to serve at Ridgecrest Summer Camps in North Carolina as a camp counselor. Going into this job my first summer I would have never expected what an impact this camp would have on my life. The past few years I have been thinking about what am I going to do with my life? What am I called to? I realized a couple of years ago that God had called me into the Ministry. As I continued to work at Camp, I realized that that was something that I wanted to do full time. Knowing that those jobs are hard to get and they don’t pay a lot were stumbling blocks. I went back and forth as to if I wanted to do it, or if I should go into Youth Ministry in a traditional church setting.

I will graduate from Strayer University in May with a B.S. Business Administration. I am applying to Touro University Nevada and will be pursuing a M.S. in Camp Administration and Leadership. I am planning on returning to Ridgecrest this summer. After the summer is over, I will be looking for a job in North Carolina in the Asheville area. I will look for a job in the camping industry so I can gain experience while I work on my Master’s Degree.

I have lived in Alabama for the past 22 ½ years. I have never moved out of Madison. I have been thinking for the past couple of years how I would like to move to North Carolina. It has just been a far off dream though. The realization has set in though within the last month that I have made the decision to move to North Carolina next fall. I have had mixed feelings. I don’t feel like I am making the wrong decision at all, however, it will be a new start, away from family and long-time friends. I will be leaving everything behind to start something new.

Most importantly though, I feel that this is what God has called me to. His calling has never been stronger in this decision. There is a lot of uncertainty in moving forward in this decision and at times, it feels uncomfortable. But I truly believe in my heart that this is what God has called me to. He will provide if I trust him and follow him and he will be glorified through my actions.

I know the next several months will be filled with many mixed emotions as I make plans to move to North Carolina. At times already it seems so unreal, like man, I’m really going to do this. It’s exciting, but scary at times too. There are things that I know I am going to miss here. But in the back of my mind is the words of Jesus “Drop your nets, and follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” To follow Jesus fully, means to give up everything you have to him, when he asks for it and to follow him, surrendering it all for his name.