DO & BE
|| made for more than an ordinary life ||
In high school, I had this terrible disease. (I call it that) I had to have my phone and I had to check it as often as possible. Not because I was obsessed. But because what if something happened? What if someone needed me? And I wasn’t on my phone when they called? Now at 17 / 18 years old, you wouldn’t think this would be the case. But for me, it ran my life. I was always afraid someone out there was going to need me and I wouldn’t be able to help because I was sitting in class. (If you know me, you might have just had an “ah ha” moment)
My whole life I’ve been worried about what’s going on with the outside of the classroom, not the inside. School is important, I wholeheartedly agree. (Though I need a lot of reminding) Even this week, I was asked if I was a college student and I said “Lightly!” Three years later, and I’m still just trying to find my place in all that college/academic stuff. Auburn was all that I needed at 18 years old. Being away taught me how much I loved home. I spent most of my middle school and high school years bashing Montgomery. Saying I’d live anywhere but here. Just a year later to find myself right back in the middle of it. Most of all, being away taught me that home is who your people are. “My people” have grown to be this most incredible group people that I’ve ever known. My most favorite saints.
Most of you know my story, I came home from Auburn and started Girl Talk with all intentions to go back to Auburn that fall. God had other plans. I have been on a journey ever since. And boy, what a journey it has been. After two years of online schooling, with a semester of classroom courses (just for Beck the rock star), I have soared and I have fallen. [mostly fallen] School is not my strong suit. To miss a ministry opportunity with my middle school girls (and now high school too) or to not be able to do what God is calling me to do because of school has never made much sense to me. I don’t believe I’m on this Earth to go to school. Some people are. Most 6-22 year olds are. But I really don’t think I’ve ever been.
So what’s my point to this post?
I think I have two.
1. Find out what you’re being called to do. And do it.
Don’t let what the world tells you to do stand in the way. I will have my degree and I will go to seminary. Nobody said I won’t do that. But I’m not going to let something the world tells me I need stop me from what God is calling me to do now. I can’t take a degree or a masters to Heaven. But I can take the fruit I produce, the people I disciple and the love I share. That won’t happen studying a book. Not even the Bible. You can study all you want.. but if you’re not doing something about all that you’re studying. You’re just going to be a head full of knowledge with a dormant body.
“faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” James 2:17
“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35
Live your faith, don’t just know your faith
2. Find out where you’re called to be. And be there.
I leave for Honduras on Saturday. My first international mission trip. I have wanted to go overseas since I was in the 3rd grade. I have begged God. Begged my mom. Prayed, pleaded, prayed and pleaded. But I had to find out what Montgomery meant before God could send me internationally. God knows I’m going to want to stay in Honduras and Haiti and Africa and Europe. He knows that. I fully believe I had to know where God was calling me first before I could be sent somewhere else. Not saying that I will always be called to Montgomery and that I’ll never be called to Honduras. Honestly, after this last month’s supreme court and every other thing, I still might not come back. (Just kidding) But, right now I know where God has called me and I can go to Honduras and be okay with that. So know where you’re called to be, and be there. BE ALL THERE. The best advice I’ve ever gotten was from Jay Wolf asking me “Where are you?” When I proceeded to say “I’m right here.” He said “Exactly and that’s where you’re called to be. BE ALL HERE!”
Wherever, you’re called. BE there.
So I’m leaving. Leaving for Hondu. Leaving behind my fear of being needed. My fear of getting what the world says I need to be in order to do all that God is calling me to do. And I’m doing what God has called me to do now and I’m being where He has called me to be now. What will you do? Will you listen to the world on what you need, where you need to stand, who you need to be? Or will you listen to God telling you that you can be all He is calling you to be right now, right where you are, exactly who you are. God loves you to take you and use you just as you are but enough to not leave you that way!