Chosen To Do Something

I’m having a hard time finding any purpose in my schooling right now. My dad says it’s preparing me for life (like how to manage when you have to get a million things done in a day). I suppose he’s right, but I still feel useless as a person right now. All I do is work, sit in a classroom, and do homework. I mean, I’m really involved in youth group and stuff, but there’s only so much I can do through that one avenue.

I want to do something at college. I don’t want to go and coast by like I’ve always done. I want every step, every breath, every conversation, every hand raised, every question answered to be done with a sense of a purpose beyond just getting by. I want my life to mean something. I want to accomplish things for God’s glory. I want to witness miracles, see people saved, lives made better, hearts reawakened, freedom embraced…

It’s just that the love has been stirring in me; the yearning to spread the compassion that’s overwhelming me. Like when I suddenly had an urge to adopt a family of African brothers. Honestly, I don’t care who I adopt or where they come from… There are so many children that need love. But it is ridiculous regarding some of the reasons there are so many kids needing adoption. In Africa, millions of people die every day from preventable diseases like diarrhea and malnutrition. Parents are dropping like flies and leaving whole groups of children to provide for themselves, who in turn end up dying as well. Then we look at China where they are throwing away kids just because they’re trying to manage crowd control. And if you’re not a boy, you’re even more likely to be tossed aside. And in Russia—oh man—you’re lucky if you even make it out of the birth canal alive. Know why? Because the women’s form of birth control there is to have an abortion when you’re pregnant and don’t want to be. Seriously, it is normal for these women to have between seven and thirty abortions in their lifetime! Can you imagine having the blood of thirty children on your hands?! It’s amazing what’s going on in this world!

My heart… my heart is so broken over the hurt and pain that so many people endure. I just wish I could hold every crying child, every hurting mother, every dying elder… Everyone. The list goes on… There is so much pain that everyone—man, woman, child, teen, elder, etc.—goes through. It breaks my heart. I wish that somehow I could make people see what amazing freedom and life can be experienced through Christ. He saves. There are so many people who need saving, so many who need rescuing from the pit of despair, hopelessness, anxiety, fear, shame, hate, addiction, poverty, condemnation, slavery… So many troubles and so few people know how to break free from the chains that hold them down. If only I could tell them, show them—I am a freedom story. Once bound by fear, condemnation, shame, and hopelessness; I am now rebirthed, reawakened, alive, made new to breathe the air of freedom; chains broken and left to decay beside the road as I walk boldly into a life of wonder with the Spirit of God and His majestic omnipotence to do all things. I am chosen. You were chosen. We all are chosen; set apart, purchased to be set free, sent to declare the coming of the Lord. The war has been raging. The battles keep coming. Evil was taking over. Its battles destroyed cities, families, lives. We must stand up and fight. We cannot just sit and wait for Him. He is here. The battle is now. We must fight, fight, fight. Keep winning, until the final battle is upon us and the glory of the Lord will flood down on us from the Heavens for victory of eternity.

But we still must fight—we who are chosen.

Isaiah 61:1-3 NIV

The Spirit of the Soverein Lord is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

What am I going to do about it? I’m going to listen. I’m going to wait. I’m going to follow the call. I’m not going to be afraid to talk to people about Him. I’m not going to allow myself to be held by insecurity and lack of confidence. I’m going to act. And I’ve already started…

A couple Christian girls and I went around our college today asking people if they were Christians, went to a church, or if they knew someone who did. Then we invited them to the Christian group we hold once a week. We’re doing it through the Campus Crusade for Christ ministry…

My point: I’ve finally broken the barrier of fear. Now my love will lead me. Now my freedom will overcome. Now I walk the path of the chosen. I am chosen.

If He Calls You to Walk on Water... DO IT!

It's Friday morning. Heading to work. Beginning my usual prayer. "God, give me grace and favor today. May everything go well, according to Your plan..." Then I added something: "God, I pray for divine appointments to bring glory to Your Kingdom."

Work went well, then I spent the afternoon preparing a new resume to get a better paying job, then I went out applying. Afterwards, I headed over to Wal-Mart to pick up some necessities like deodorant and socks, things like that. I decided to cut the shopping short and began to head home early. It was about 7:00PM.

Then it began.

I was driving and I suddenly realized how hungry I was. I considered going out for some fast food, but thought better of it. I'd be home in 30 minutes. I could wait. Besides, it would be better to save my money.

But then I had a strange urge to go to Tim Horton's. Suddenly, their sign loomed up ahead as I was driving.

Stop at Tim Horton's.

"Huh? I thought I wasn't going to spend money. I can wait. I'm not THAT hungry."

You have an appointment.

"Are you kidding? That's just me wanting food. Maybe I've been listening to too many stories about people having great conversations about God at places like Starbucks and stuff. God likes going there. But Tim Horton's? C'mon. I'm just hungry. God doesn't want me to go out to eat."

So I kept driving.

You were supposed to meet someone there. Someone was eating by themselves. You were supposed to meet them, talk to them...

"You're kidding."

No, I'm not.

"God, this can't be you."

Yes, it is.

I kept driving. I was uncertain--still convinced that it was my hunger that was driving me. Then I saw a road I could pull into and go back. But I didn't... I kept driving...

There's still time. Turn around.

Still driving... By the time I was on a one-way street, I heard what devastated me to tears.

You missed it. It's too late.

All the way home I worried about the fact I had CLEARLY heard God speaking to me, but I didn't obey the call. Then the rest of the way I kept on having urges to go to the Chinese restaurant in town, but I went straight home instead. Yet again, I missed it. Even as I veered my car away from the road to town to follow the one to my house, I realized I was deliberately fighting the heavenly pull.

When I arrived home, I made up my mind to go into town. I was on a mission. I had already missed my appointment at Tim Horton's. Maybe it wasn't too late for any in town.

But it was...

I went on an unsuccessful treasure hunt, driving around in circles. I kept ignoring the pulls. I told myself they couldn't be from God. But the more I resisted the urges, the more I realized I was losing this game called 'follow God.' I had failed Him.

Condemnation overwhelmed me. "God, will I ever get another chance?" Full of sorrow and regret, I prayed for forgiveness...

Now, today, I was beginning to get into my homework when I felt like the Lord was telling me to read my Bible. "Are you sure, God? Can't it wait 'till I'm finished?"

What's more important? School or Me?

"Is that a trick question?"

I relented. I put my school book aside and got up to get my Bible. Opening where I left off, I began to read today's assigned reading for the plan I was on. At first, I had other things on my mind, so it took effort to focus. Towards the end of the reading, however, I felt oddly intrigued by the content. I wanted to read more, so I kept going into tomorrow's reading. It ended with the story of Jesus walking on water. I'm familiar with the story, but today I read at as I had never before...

Jesus came walking on water to meet the disciples. They were afraid. But Jesus immediately said to them, "It's me, Jesus. Don't be afraid." Peter then sought reassurance. He wanted to test this man who claimed to be the miracle worker. "Lord, if it's You, tell me to come to You on the water." So Jesus said, "Come." Peter obeyed and got out of the boat. He was walking on water! How miraculous and wondrous must it have been! But then he noticed the wind rushing around him as he stood in the middle of the sea. He hesitated. How could this be happening? How could he be walking on water? He must have thought: surely this was not real! He lost faith. He stopped trusting. And he began to sink. "Lord!" he cried out in terror of what was happening, "save me!" Jesus immediately reached out His hand to Peter and caught him. With His strength, He held him up. Tenderly, He said to Peter, "Why didn't you trust me? If I called you to walk on water, did you think I would let you drown? I love you too much. I want you to do great things. I called you to step out and do the impossible. But how could you if you doubt My abilities? How could you if you don't have faith in Me?" Jesus and Peter returned to the boat, and the wind died down. [Paraphrased from Matthew 14:22-32 of the NIV]

I heard the call. But I was hesitant. I feared failure and ended up failing because of that fear. If I had only trusted, I could have done great things in His Kingdom.

Now my prayer is that no matter how hard the wind is blowing may I never give up trusting in Him. I want to do great things, so next time I'm going to act on that trust.