Circumstance or Calling?

Today has been a rather hard day for me...
Over the past couple of weeks (I guess it is closer to correct to say that for the past year... but even more so the past few weeks)  I have been "Burning the candle at both ends" and it has officially caught up to me.

Today my parents and I had a conversation about the next "STEP" for my life.

My goal for all of my life has been to become a missionary to small children. I have never known where exactly in the world I would go, but I always knew that I would and that I WILL one day be used in that way.

My Dad (the Wisest man I will ever know) asked me... "Caleb, Are you living for circumstance or for your calling?"

WOW

What an AMAZING question!
No... I'm not living for my calling 100% I wish I could say that I was.  My current circumstances are dictating my actions... NOT my calling or my passion for Christ and his LOVE!

You can imagine the moment that I experienced when I thought this through.... DEEP to say the least.

I should let my passion for Christ and what he has for my life dictate my actions, plans, goals, time, spending habits, EVERYTHING!
I have now "turned a new leaf in life!" I am going to live for my CALLING!
And you should too!

So... "Do you live for circumstances or for you calling?" If your not living for your calling, what are you going to do to change that?

We all need to take  a "STEP" in the right direction...
S- Stand back and observe your current location in terms with your calling.
T- Thank God for getting you where you are and for helping you get to where you are going.
E- Evaluate your next move towards your 100% Calling Life.
-and-
P- Push on to complete the task that God has given you in Christ Jesus.

I need accountability partners to keep me on track (as we all do, if you want them or not) YOU are my accountability partner! Keep me accountable to my calling! Ask me when you see me or send me a message here if you don't ever see me... Together, With YOUR help and JESUS as my Guide, Inspiration, Aide, and Strength I will live a 100% Calling oriented life!

LET IT BEGIN!

The Author of all stories...

God is SO cool! Did you know that?

Let me just tell you how God showed me just how cool he was today!

Well, after a long day of work I went home and talked to an AMAZING friend and was completely refreshed and encouraged by my loving friend and sibling in Christ.
Then, I went to a new restaurant near my home. Taco Mac. It was delicious. I enjoyed every bite of it.

While I was sitting there (by myself) enjoying my yummy soft taco and sweet potato fries (weird combo, i know... but AMAZING) I couldn't help but notice a pair of women who were sitting a few tables away from me.
It was a Grandmother and her Granddaughter. The Grandmother had enjoyed quite a few "adult drinks" and was quite enjoying her time on the patio with the rest of us.
She got up and spoke to a young family in the corner of the patio for a few minutes then made her way over to my table.

This was MY opportunity to be CHRIST to a stranger. Bring it on...

"My name is Myra!" She said. "And you are?" as she leaned over my table extending her hand to shake.
"I'm Caleb... It is very nice to meet you Myra!"
"I was just tellin' my granddaughter, over there, that you should have been sitting with us... instead of eating all alone!" she said smiling.
"I agree... you both seem like you would be amazing company!" I said

throughout our conversation I learned that she was an Author and had published several books (Myra, if you are reading this... don't hate me)

I told her that I enjoyed writing and was working on three books at this moment. She asked what they were about so I gave her a brief synopsis and she gave me her publishers information (PRAISE THE LORD!!!)

Our conversation carried on and we got to the topic of Theatre. We both share a love for this.
She asked if I was working on anything at the moment and I told her about an idea I had for a play.

     -Young girl who gets pregnant and is un-married.
     - The hardship of breaking the news to parents and friends
     - the hardship of going to school and facing the peers she has
     - The difficulty of choosing life or abortion
     - The joy of finding the love for her unborn child and deciding to keep the child
     - Breaking the news to the father
     - Being excited for the child
     - Losing the baby during the final stages of the pregnancy
                    BUT
     -Finding the true value in every life. (Because of Christ!)

This is where we finally get to the whole point of this blog.

By the time I had finished telling the outline for my play... Myra was crying... and I don't mean small tears... full on sobs from this wonderful woman.
When she finished crying she told apologized and told me that... "That is HER story"

The granddaughter that was with her is the daughter of her second child (after she married the first baby's father)

We were both extremely touched by this.


At this I came to a VERY cool thought.

Everyone has a story...
God is the Author...
We all play a part in each person's story...
We never know how we may be used to touch another person's life...

Myra and I shared a connection for a love of creative writing. THROUGH that God was able to use me to touch her life and to help her with the grief and guilt she had been carrying for YEARS.

How is GOD using YOU in HIS story today?

Are you the Protagonist or the Antagonist?

Will you be a hero or a villain?

What Chapter are you in for your life?

Christ will author a story better than you could ever imagine! He is the Author of the BEST love story... Christ's LOVE for us.

Be CHRISTS LIGHT!

... and Thanks Myra, for touching my life and adding a beautiful chapter to the pages of my memory!


My song for today?

"CHRISTIAN"  (I have no clue why this is stuck in my head)

"I am a C
I am a CH
I am a CHRISTIAN
and I have CHRIST
in my HEART
and I wil LIVE ETERNALLY"

Sirens of LIFE... Check YOUR vital signs!

The thought occurred to me today, as I was being passed by a whizzing Ambulance on my way to work, that the siren and the flashing lights are one of the most important features about this vehicle.

The Lights pull your eyes (focus) away from whatever else you may be focusing on. So that you can see the oncoming emergency vehicle and react accordingly.
The Siren draws your conscience mind to the fact that something either happened or is happening that you need to be aware of.

With out these things (sirens and lights) we would be ignorant of the emergency or we could even get into one ourselves.
The Ambulance (as you know) carries the injured or person in danger to safety. It is a forceful method of getting to safety and correcting a dangerous issue.


I applied the concept of the Ambulance and it's siren and lights to our spiritual lives.

Spiritual danger is all around us... each and every day.

The BIBLE acts as our Ambulance. It is our flashing lights that tell us to get out of the way of danger. It is our blaring siren that draws our conscience to a harmful situation.
in these ways the BIBLE helps us to be aware of dangerous things and alerts us of their vicinity.

The BIBLE is our Ambulance in another way as well... If (and when) we are in danger and/or are harmed. The BIBLE is one of the many methods that God uses to get us out of it.
A little time in God's word can get us right back on track. It helps us to check our "Spiritual Vital Signs" and it points out our areas that need immediate attention.
GOD is our Master EMT and he is our Master Ambulance Driver. He mends us and he directs our paths in the ways that we need to go.



In what ways do you need a Spiritual Ambulance today?
Don't be afraid to go before God with your request for Emergency help... A prayer can be much easier than a call to 911.

Check your Spiritual Vital Signs everyday and keep in HIS word. He will transport you from weak and wounded sinner to strong and whole child in HIS word.



My song for the day:

OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART:

"Open the eyes of my heart, Lord

Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You

I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Open the eyes of my heart
I want to see You
I want to see You

To see You high and lifted up
Shinin' in the light of Your glory
Pour out Your power and love
As we sing holy, holy, holy

Holy, holy, holy
We cry holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
You are holy, holy, holy
I want to see you

Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy
Holy, holy, holy,
I want to see you"

Shaping your thoughts...

This morning a young mother came in with her five month old son. He was precious and one of the happiest babies I have ever seen.
We went back and forth in our various small talk and through the course of our conversation I found out that her son has a "defect".
His skull, the side of his head, is flat. Apparently this is not very uncommon but it is still something that needs to be addressed.
He ha to wear a helmet of sorts to reshape his head to the correct size and shape. If he were to not have the helmet, the issue could eventually change his ability to hear correctly by changing the shape of his ear canal and he could have orthodontia issues as well.
This small child has to go to the doctor every week and have the helmet tightened or adjusted to correct the defect of his skull.
I can only imagine how uncomfortable and even painful this must be, BUt he has to have it done. Obviously, the Doctors do small changes to the helmet at a time so as to not cause great discomfort... Again, this small pain is to avoid much greater pain. He will eventually be a very happy and healthy boy!

This made me think... We as Christians are to have the renewing of our mind. The reshaping of our thoughts.

We are just like this baby.
We are Spiritually defected because of the sinful fall of mankind.
It will be uncomfortable at first, and sometimes almost more than we can bear... Then it will become less painful until the next "adjustment".
We have to have it to avoid future hardships and pains. Our sinful minds are evil and will damage vital spiritual aspects of our life if allowed to.
AND we do not just get ONE adjustment, oh no... It is a constant change and correction that we must go through... BUT it is administered by our heavenly Doctor... CHRIST... We know just what we need and how much we can take at one time.

I encourage you to identify your "helmet" and to find ways to encourage the "reshaping" of your mind until it is just the right shape for your healthy spiritual growth...

What is your helmet for this season of life?


My song for today?

- "Change My Heart Oh God"

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

You are the potter
I am the clay
Mold me and make me
This is what I pray

Change my heart oh God
Make it ever true
Change my heart oh God
May I be like You

Blazing like the SON...

This morning, at work, a lady came in to get a gift card. She was no ordinary customer... She had been burned... I would say over 90% of her body. Every aspect of her that I could see showed signs of being melted and marred by flames.
She had no finger nails, but she painted the tips of her fingers (where the nails would have been) a bright sky blue.
Her eye brows and lashes were gone, but she didn't try to hide that fact in any way.
Where her lips were there was nothing more but curling flesh that showed her pearly white teeth against the inner walls of her mouth.

She was beautiful.

Maybe not physically, but her personality would make you smile in every way.

During the entire transaction that I shared with her, I couldn't help but think... "don't stare, don't stare..." over and over.
Then I thought about how awkward it must be for her to see me. I wondered if she was thinking to herself, "Don't stare... Don't stare... Don't stare..."
It was an amazing thought to have.
The tension was cut when she complimented me on my eyebrows and eye lashes... and said "someone like ME would do anything to have those..." in return I said, "someone with as big and bushy eyebrows like ME would do anything to give them to you!"
We both chuckled at this.
Out conversation became much more natural after this... We commented on the beauty of the day and the joy of the coming seasons.

Before she left she said, "have a GrEAT day! And GOD bless!"

She was full of joy and love for God.

Even though her body was tarnished with the scars of a fire she never once was ashamed of them. She showed them with pride.

The fire which engulfed her body may no longer be lit... But the fire of her love for God is burning more than ever... And it is contagious.

As Christians we are called to be "On fire for God!"
Is your fire for God so great that it engulfs your entire being? If so then there will be signs/scars... Don't hide them! Show off your love and zeal for Christ!
Take pride in the new form you have... Paint your nails blue...

Be like Christ and set the world ablaze with every person you meet!
Show off the scars/signs of you brilliant faith! Be proud of Christ impact on your entire being.

My song for today???
-Refiners FIRE!

"Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold

Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You, Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You, my Master
Ready to do Your will

Purify my heart
Cleanse me from within
And make me holy
Purify my heart
Cleanse me from my sin
Deep within"

Life is a song... you just need to learn the words!

Anyone who knows me knows that music is my life... well maybe not my whole life... but it has a HUGE place in my life.
You can find music, or the beat of life, in any thing. The tap of a spoon against a bowl of milk at the breakfast table, the blinking of a turn signal as you sit at a red light, just about any and everything has a beat and a tune.

WHAT IS YOURS?

     Is the most common beat to your life the grinding sound of a complaining person? Or, is it the sound of a joyful and hearing heart as it shouts praises to the Lord?

More often than not it is something closer to the first option.

We are called to live for Christ and to be HIS light unto the world. How can we do that if we are showing the same attitude, or BEAT, as the rest of this lost and dying world?

Each day is as special and unique as a snow flake (again if you know me then you know how much I hate talking about SNOW... at all... you will all know better how much I hate snow as this blog goes on, anyway) God designs and shapes each day for a purpose.
For me, there is a song for every day, A tune for every hour, and a lyric for every moment.

I challenge you to pay attention and to find yours for today and for the rest of the week. Then... Live out your song.
You are the soloist... God is the Judge... and the World is you audience... No matter what the audience thinks in the end the Judge has the final say as to if you are worth listening to.

Here is my song for the day...


"I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength,
But sometimes I wonder what He can do through me;
No great success to show, No glory on my own,
Yet in my weakness He is there to let me know . . .

-CHORUS-
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect.

We can only know
The power that He holds
When we truly see how deep our weakness goes;
His strength in us begins
Where ours comes to an end.
He hears our humble cry and proves again . . .



-CHORUS-
His strength is perfect when our strength is gone;
He’ll carry us when we can’t carry on.
Raised in His power, the weak become strong;
His strength is perfect, His strength is perfect."


-His Strength is Perfect... By: Steven Curtis Chapman


Live every day with deadly intent.