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Freedom on the Road to Calling

07.10.2020 by Tracy Stella //

Welcome friends! We’re so glad you’re here! This month  we’re talking about freedom and calling, two things Jesus is very concerned about for us and others.  We hope you’ll check in each week to see what He’s placed on our hearts.  We trust this message is His message, and He has freedom planned and purposed for each of us as we engage with Him.  For those of us walking free, we pray a deeper level of freedom.  For those of us still captive, we pray He sets us free through our calling.

Christ has paid the price of our admission to enter through freedom’s gates.  Let’s walk through every gate He opens.

What is a calling?  According to Merriam Webster, it is a strong inner impulse toward a particular course of action especially when accompanied by conviction of divine influence.1

As God’s children guided by divine influence, we have a high calling on our lives. Each of us is placed where we are with whom we are for a reason. Our location and vocation are not accidental; they are providentional.  If God establishes our steps (and He does), each paver we walk upon is there for purpose.  Sometimes, the steps He has us take lead to freedom for ourselves.  Other times, those steps are intended to liberate someone else.  Captives are set free along the way in God’s efficient nature─a bit of me, you, we all at once.

Freedom on the Road to Calling (T. Stella)

Recently, I had a client unexpectedly pass away.  It was like a spiritual slap in the face, a wake-up call.  The volume of my tears was large, and I was in absolute shock.  As I processed my feelings, I thought to myself, “I need to pray with more intention.” I always pray for my clients, but this kind man’s passing made me realize I need to pray more and more specifically for them in light of eternity.  Maybe the person we encounter and pray for never comes to know Jesus. But maybe they do.  What if God brought them to me for that specific purpose? What if He’s put someone in your path for that divine reason too? I don’t want to miss that high calling.

Faith is a personal choice. As believers we need to respect where others are on their faith journey. Force feeding someone Jesus is likely to have the reverse effect. Like a baby being coerced to eat smashed squash, they could spit Christ out because we didn’t let them taste and see His goodness for themselves.  But that doesn’t mean we can’t pray for those God has placed in our path, nor does it mean we can’t try to walk out our own lives in such a way as to create curiosity in others.  Side note:  Jesus gave us free will because He wants us to choose Him. Let’s stay out of God’s way and give others the choice to choose Him. Pray and stay out of God’s way. He’ll let us know if and when we need to take action.

I meet a lot of people doing what I do.  I’m a REALTOR®. To say buying and selling a home is an emotional process is a bit of an understatement. The stakes are high and even if the person’s home sale or purchase is for a happy reason, it can be a bit of a roller coaster ride.  Often my job is helping level out the peaks and valleys.  I love getting to celebrate with clients as I’m let into a very treasured life event. It’s sweet and special much of the time. Tears of joy, laughter, and happy dancing, they’re all part of the calling.  (Who said calling had to be all work and no play?)

What I’d never given thought to before becoming a REALTOR® is the amount of ministry opportunities within this career path God has placed me on.  Honestly, until something impacts us (or at least me) we can be oblivious.  As I got into things, I realized people die and their estate needs to handle the selling of their loved one’s home.  Hard! So hard! Those folks need a compassionate person to sit with them in their grief. They likely need someone to help them make decisions, because they’ve already had to make some pretty difficult ones that weigh heavy on the heart.  They need someone who can help them navigate dark waters, with many people often involved who are all dealing with the loss of their loved one in different ways.  Sometimes, we just have conversation human to human. We can leave the home sale talk for later if need be.  Maybe what’s called for in that moment is a shoulder to cry on or ears that can hear their favorite memory of their loved one.  It’s a sacred space.

What sacred space is God calling you to enter?

God gives me women who have had to navigate divorce and need help finding a home.  I’ve made a personal choice I will not proactively market to women or men getting a divorce, because it feels contradictory to the calling God has placed on my life to help married couples work on their marriage and stay together.  But before I was a believer I did get divorced, and so I can certainly understand many of the emotions my clients experience.  It’s another very hard season that needs to be grieved, even if we don’t realize it.  I try to point them to hope.  Hope helps!  I remember one time I was talking with a client in a vacant home for so long Sam got worried for my safety and came to check on me. I was okay, but the one God had placed before me wasn’t. She needed to be heard and God wanted me to listen.  When He uses bits from our bio, His desire is for us to connect.  Those “me too” moments can make all the difference in the world to someone going through something God already helped us through.

What “me too” moment is God calling you to share with someone in need of hope?

There are joyous occasions, newlyweds in need of a home, excited about what the future holds.  It’s so much fun to help them dream and envision building their life together.  Sometimes, they need advice, occasionally it’s about real estate. (Wink, Wink)  Helping people buy homes, in particular, creates a close connection.  You get the opportunity to know someone exceptionally well through the process.  Along the way in the course of natural conversation, people tell you things, personal things.  I have had the best time getting to know people’s stories.  Isn’t that something Jesus would want us to do?  Whatever you do for a living, maybe God is leading you to ask someone to share their story (even if that feels far outside your comfort zone).  You learn some pretty amazing things about people.  Entering others’ story changes ours jobs from a career to a calling.

How is God nudging you to shift your mindset from career to calling?

God once placed it on my heart to do something kind for a person who had been a bit difficult.  Okay. A lot difficult. I’m glad I listened to that still, small voice.  He knew what that person had been through in life.  I had no idea. Clueless with a capital C.  So, I did this thing God asked me to and it caught the person off guard.  Unexpected kindness created an opportunity for another human being to feel safe enough to open up. A lot. Hearing that person’s story softened my heart faster than melting ice cream on a 90 degree day.  I’d say, “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”  But perhaps we should in that if there is difficulty dealing with so and so, there must be a reason. If the outside reads hard, the inside is probably hurt.  Life’s tribulations can lead to prickly people, because they’re just about protecting themselves at this point.  That’s what God showed me.  This person was in deep pain. From that point on, I had a completely different thought process about this person.  They hadn’t changed, but I had.

Who is God calling you to see from a different perspective?  What act of kindness can you engage in on their behalf?

If you like to be in control of things, don’t become a REALTOR®.  This job has sanctified me about 1000 times over!  I have control over my actions (on a good day), but I have no control over anyone else’s.  If you play poker but only have half the hand and have no idea what the other player’s cards are, that’s real estate.  I know things to look out for.  I know what SHOULD happen. But I only get to see my client’s piece of the transaction.  I try to have order and process for the things within my control, but there are a lot of players in this real estate game: buyer, seller, 2 agents, 2 attorneys, home inspector, appraiser, sometimes extra family members, and occassionally interfering neighbors. (Oh, the stories I could tell.)  All those other people and their actions, I can’t control one little bit.

God has brought me (and continues to bring me) freedom in this job.  Freedom from letting my emotions boss me around.  Most of the time I do a pretty good job of that now.  Occasionally, I need God’s grace to rush back in and point me back on the path of freedom.  This job has helped me to trust God on a whole new level. We do what we can and give the rest to God. The things that I know to do, I do them. The things I can’t “make happen” make me pray even more fervently.  Sometimes, I get inspiration and direction on how to proceed.  Sometimes, I’m called to sit a spell and let God do what only He can do.  It is a gift (and a relief) to know and believe in my heart that God’s the One in charge of the outcome.

What’s something within your control God is asking you to take action on?  What is at least one area of your calling God is asking you to relinquish control of and trust Him with the outcome?

Just this week I had a moment where I let fear creep into my calling. It wasn’t good.  I was concerned that this or that wouldn’t happen.  And then if that didn’t happen, then this, and this, and this might happen.  My momentary setback was a good reminder that as much as I want to be like Jesus, sometimes I’m like the leper and need some healing along the way myself.

How does God desire to bring healing to you through  your calling?

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance  and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?  Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”  Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Emphasis added)

Luke 17:11-19 NIV

 

My prayer is that more times than not you and I will look a little more like Jesus. As we travel along the way walking out the calling God has on our lives that we will never be too busy to pause and “take pity” on someone. We don’t want someone to have to stand from afar off shouting for attention. Like Jesus, He’d want us to be attentive to the ones He places before us.

What if others are “cleansed” because they encountered the love of Jesus through us?  Maybe that means salvation. Maybe that means healing (or the beginning of that journey for them). Shouldn’t we stop?  Jesus was busy, but not too busy to stop for lepers like you and me.

What will we do if we help a lot of people and we don’t always feel appreciated? Remember, the scripture above. Ten were cleansed, but only one came back to thank Jesus.  I’ll speak for myself in this, but I wonder how many times Jesus has done things for me that I never bothered to say “thank you” for. I thank Him, but do I thank Him for everything?  No.

So another person’s gratitude can’t be our motivator if we are Christ’s children. We need to stop because Jesus stops. He stopped for each of us (and He still stops for us when we need to catch up to Him).

What if in that process we are like the leper ourselves?  As we go about our calling and connecting with people along the way, what  if He leads us to someone intended to help bring healing to us? Wouldn’t we hope someone would stop?

As we are going, let’s not forget our high calling to STOP for others.

———————-

Consider spending time with God processing the questions in this piece.  Grab a notebook, pray, write the question, and journal a response.  I pray God will reveal His heart for you and others during that set aside time.

Join the conversation here or on our Facebook page. (INSERT LINK)

1 “Calling.” Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster, www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/calling.

Categories // Uncategorized Tags // As we go, Calling, Career, Control, Death, Difficult People, divorce, fear, Freedom, grief, hope, Jesus, Joy, Kindness, Leper, Life Events, Listen, Luke 17:11-19, Me Too, On His way, Perspective, Pray, Sacred Space, Salvation, Stop, Story, Trust

A Purifying Perspective on Fire, God, and Life

11.30.2018 by Kim Findlay //

This month at Facets of Faith we’ve been taking a look at what we believe to be God’s most precious attribute. You will want to check out Tracy and Jen’s posts as well as our guest this month, Erin. 

Attribute: Refining Fire (K. Findlay)

I have to be honest, this topic gave me a run for my money. I’m a week late and wrestling with each word I’m about to share. Not just because I struggle to narrow it down to one aspect of his vast character, but because of this season of life I find myself in right now.

Hard. Lonely. Intense.

It ranks up there with the death of my daughter and the slow decay of my first marriage. I feel like I’m in the furnace of struggle and God is burning off the excess, separating the impurities of my life with what is precious and most valuable.

Perspective

As I sat with the idea of identifying His most precious attribute, I was surprised when the words refiner’s fire came to mind.

I don’t like fire. I’ve seen its destructive power firsthand when fire destroyed my home in 2005. I know the suffocating effects it leaves in its path as my daughter, Emma, died in its wake.

But you don’t have to have firsthand experience with your own fire these days to glimpse fire’s power. Just turn on the news and you’ll see the destruction in places like Paradise, California and through the path of the Camp fire.

So it’s curious to me that as I pondered this month’s question that I didn’t choose his peace, his hope, or his faithfulness —all of which are true. I circled this other answer, words I’m almost fearful to whisper but have been buried in my soul for years.

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 your my Master

Ready to do your will

I first heard this song by Brian Doerkson back in the early 2000s. Before fire destroyed our home. Before my daughter took her final breath. Before life as I knew it smoldered with suffering. I remember singing the words and longing for them to be true in my life, I just didn’t realize the cost.

Remembering

I remember the moment my heart, my soul, and my mind converged in longing to see God move in a mighty way through my life. I witnessed the devastation of a former co-worker’s life. His story impacted me greatly as he stood before our staff and shared not only the destruction, but the hope and the intimacy he experienced as God restored his life.

I want that. I remember thinking. I want to know Jesus the way I see he knows Jesus now. Then I prayed, Lord, do whatever it takes so I might know you better, so I might live and long for you as my one desire.

to him who led his people through the wilderness; His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:16

The Furnace

The very next day, fire broke out in my home and everything changed as I plunged into the furnace of suffering. I had no idea what I was supposed to do or how I would survive. My worst nightmare had become my reality as the heat of sorrow and grief suffocated me. I felt alone and afraid and so very lost.

I see now that I wasn’t lost. Not really. Nor was I alone. God sent reinforcements from the moment smoke began to billow in the sky through the gift of a neighbor. He reminded me through my daughter’s funeral director of a very different yet slightly similar story I’ve know since I was a child.

There were these three guys, maybe you’ve heard of them? Shadrach, Meschach, and Abednego, three guys who made a decision to not worship King Nebuchadnezzar despite his declaration that all must bow down before the image of gold he had set up. You can read more of their story here (Daniel 3:1-30). But their decision to stand firm and worship the one true God had dire consequences: “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a blazing furnace.” Daniel 3:6

Into the furnace they went, bound and tied. 

This kind funeral director didn’t leave me standing in the flames alone, he led me straight to the truth. “Didn’t we tie up three men and throw them into the furnace?’ ‘Yes, your Majesty, we certainly did,’ they replied. ‘Look!’ Nebuchadnezzar shouted. ‘I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!’” Daniel 3:24-25

Jesus was with these three men, and this gentle man reminded me that Jesus was with me as well.

So Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the fire. Then the high officers, officials, governors, and advisors crowded around them ands that the fire had not touched them. Not a hair on their head was singed, and their clothing was not scorched. They didn’t even smell of smoke!” Daniel 3:26b-27

The Ashes

I wish I didn’t carry the scars of the fire, but I do. Deep scars of loss and grief and suffering beyond what I ever imagined possible. But just like these three men, I’ve stepped out of the fire and survived. But I’ve not only survived, I’m being refined to resemble Jesus. I still have a ways to go, but it’s happening. And others see it, too, as I shared thoughts and experiences that could only be offered through the gift of Jesus’ presence.

I’m learning to be grateful for all of the hardship that’s happened. I’m not a fan of it, let’s just set that record straight. But I see what He’s doing in me, and through me. I see how He’s been transforming me and how I’ve learned more about Him over the past 13 years than I ever thought possible.

He remembered us in our low estate His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:23

Purifying Perspective

A refiner’s fire purifies. It separates the precious from the impure. Because of the fire, I’ve learned that God’s mercy has no limits and His grace never runs out. Because of the fire I’ve experienced the depth of His love, true and everlasting love from which I can never be separated no matter what happens or what I do.

Because of the fire I faced my biggest fears and, by His strength, I survived. And I’ve not only survived, I’m living and breathing and enjoying this life He’s entrusted to me.

Because of the fire I can say with certainty that God is good no matter what. His goodness has absolutely nothing to do with me or the circumstances that happen to me. They have everything to do with Him —His character, His essence, simply put —His is good.

Because of the fire my desire for God’s kingdom to come has grown exponentially. I long to see Him now, not just the hope or wish of heaven in the future. I experience the gift of His Spirit now. But I also have the promise of heaven, knowing that all of this pain and suffering and sorrow and tears will end. I will see my sweet girl and I will see Jesus!

Because of the fire I learned to see the battle —the very real battle that is happening between the kingdom of heaven and kingdom of darkness and I know, without a doubt, that Jesus is victorious. I tasted that victory in the darkness of grief. I tasted hope that defies my circumstances.

Because of the fire I learned to see beyond myself, my selfish desires, and my eyes have grown accustomed to see God throughout my every day. I learned to recognize His voice, His promptings, His gifts —so much of what I could not see before.

No, while fire is certainly not the most precious thing, it has led me to all that is precious. It led me to Him. And while I still long to see my girls grow up together, to celebrate the 13 birthdays I’ve missed, to not feel the stabbing pain as my precious girl danced into heaven, I can’t help but see the tenderness as God heal my heart and restores my soul.

And just like Shadrach, Mischeck, and Abednigo, I walked with Jesus through the fire and there is nothing more precious than that.

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:26

What attribute of God is most precious to you? Join the conversation by posting below or jump over to our Facebook page to share.

Signature: Kim Findlay

Categories // Kim Findlay's Perspective, Precious Attributes of God Tags // God's goodness, grief, healing, hope, Kim Findlay, Perspective, perspective shift, suffering

Desperate for Acceptance

03.27.2018 by Abby Johnsen //

We’re answering the question – what are you desperate for God to do? this month. Tracy, Jen, and Kim have shared their thoughts. You can catch up by clicking on their names. This week I’m (Kim) super excited to introduce a dear friend of mine –Abby Johnsen. She is married to Josh and they recently welcomed their sweet baby girl, Lucy, to their family. Abby is smart and kind and insightful far beyond her years –this is a must read for anyone longing to be loved just as they are.

That question isn’t an easy one for me. I’m not supposed to need something so desperately from God, right? He saved my life through the death and resurrection of Jesus, what more could I ask for? Why do we live our lives from supposed to’s and we should’s? Is that just a me problem?

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Growing up, that was my walk with the Lord —I thought I was supposed to do everything right and should never mess up. I picked up the rules like a diligent “Christian” girl and not only tried to follow them, but encouraged (read: told) everyone to do the same.

At age 8 or 9, I attempted to evangelize my Muslim neighbor friend. In middle school, I brought my bible to school and read it proudly. In high school, I decided not to date so I wasn’t distracted (Don’t be fooled, I still was. But I tried real hard). I had it together ya’ll. At least I thought I did.

I put tons of expectations on myself and I never lived up to them. My relationship with God was never personal —it was a to-do list. I always felt like I was missing something. I was longing for more but never knew how to get there. I was stuck in this cycle of not knowing but trying anyway. Of forcing any kind of answer or movement from God.

I would hear of other people who would “hear from Him” and “see Him move”, but I couldn’t figure out why it wasn’t working for me. What was I doing wrong? Maybe I’m messing up somewhere I didn’t know about? And so I tried harder. But nothing worked. My failure constantly weighed on me. I tried to persuade a God who, I thought, cared more about my doings to give me what I was desperate for . . . acceptance.

Unfortunately all my work was going to get me absolutely nowhere. I focused on doing all the “right” things while not turning my gaze towards Jesus. I thought I wasn’t worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice. It seemed too easy. What I didn’t realize that what I was desperate for was actually right in front of me.

It was a looooong time before it clicked in my head: the guilt I struggled with took over everything. There was always something I did wrong, something I didn’t do enough of, something that I should’ve done but didn’t. I carried the burden of my sin EV-ER-Y-WHERE.

I played right into the enemy’s lies. I was the lone person Jesus’ blood couldn’t cover. I was the exception. Over and over this would play in my head without me realizing.

Until . . .

It. Is. Finished.

By his wounds you have been healed.” 1 Peter 2:24b

And those lies got turned upside down.

You’re not worthy. I make you worthy.

Why would God want to be with you? I made you so that I could be with you.

You can’t even go a day without messing up. My strength covers your mistakes.

See, your prayer doesn’t matter to Him. You always matter to me.

You’ll never be enough and He’ll never accept you. You’re more than enough and I’ll always welcome you in.

It is finished. I don’t need to make up, catch up, or make myself worthy. It is finished. Jesus made me worthy.

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Ya’ll Jesus is EVERYTHING! He gets in our mess. He doesn’t hold it an arms length away, He gets down in the dirt with us and cleans us off, picks us up, and presents us as new creations.

So now, instead of working for His acceptance, I’m desperate for Jesus. The Creator and Savior. Our Brother and King. For time spent with Him. And I’m learning He’s desperate for that too.

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.” Psalm 145:18

If you’d like to continue the conversation, comment below or head over to our Facebook page and jump in!

Categories // Desperate for God to Do?, Faith, Guest Perspectives Tags // Abigail Johnsen, acceptance, hope, Perspective, unconditional love

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