Month: May 2019

Why have I called you…

I am reading through the book of Isaiah and I came across some verses that caught my attention…

“And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don’t even know me, so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other.” Isaiah 45:4-6


I grew up with the understanding there was different types of work. There were those who worked jobs around the community. They were considered secular jobs because they were among the people of the world. There were those who worked in the church and they were somewhat separate from those of the world. Then there were those who were really radical that went to other countries to be missionaries. They were willing to leave everything to tell others about God. 

I always admired missionaries. I considered their passion and selflessness something I longed for. To leave this culture of entitlement, to be free from the things of this world, and to lay up treasures in heaven by telling those who never heard about Jesus of His power and love! 

There was a separation in my thinking.

People here in America do secular jobs, missionaries do godly jobs.

I now see that this way of thinking goes against everything God says in His word. 

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

I finally realize there is no difference in the work we do. If we belong to God we are called to leave this culture’s ways of thinking, be free from the desires of this world, and lay up treasures in heaven by telling others about the power and love of God found in Jesus!

As I spend my days behind a desk, answering the phone, and cleaning the office, I am learning to change my thinking about what I do.

Because the way I think about what I do greatly affects what I do and the impact it has on those around me. 

So when I read this verse in Isaiah, God whispered into my ear that He has called me to this work so that others all around me will know that He is God and that there is no other!

I’m finding it difficult to understand what that looks like. But I know in the depth of my heart that this is what God has for His people. He has placed His people all throughout this world so that we shine His light in all we say, and in all we do because we are surrounded by people who live in the darkness of not knowing Him. It isn’t only the people in far away countries that don’t know Jesus, but in every corner of this great world! 

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Matthew 5:14-17

 

 

A New Room

Wow, I have missed this! Sitting down to write here is definitely a happy place for me! I can’t believe it has been several months since I wrote my last blog entry. The topic of my last blog, An Open Door, is the very thing that has kept me too busy to write. God opened a door for me to work at Cordes Printing. An employee retired and Mark needed someone to fill her place. These last several months I have been learning many new things as I receive and process orders for prescription pads, Digi folders, and answer phone calls. It isn’t something I would have chosen. It isn’t something that I’m passionate about. But, I know it is where God has called me to. This season looks very different then any other season of my life, and honestly I never thought I would find myself here. Here, meaning behind a desk in an office, using a computer, answering phone calls… It just never looked like me. For many years I have worked on and off helping Mark with work that needed to be done at Cordes Printing. I have done a lot of finishing work, folding, glueing, shrink wrapping… Generally mindless work with flexible hours. And that was perfect to fit around the other things I did in life. But now, this job is different. I need to use my brain to learn so many new things, so many details, so much new information, every day.

So these last several months I have been mourning the loss of my time. The flexibility I had for so long is gone and now I have the challenge of working some of the things I once enjoyed, like writing, around my work schedule. But, with all that said, I am completely convinced this is what God has for me in this season. I know He has opened this door to me and I am thankful for all that I am learning. I have needed to face my fears of making mistakes, my fears of answering the phone, my fears of not knowing enough and am finding that God’s perfect love and power have been helping me to do the very things I thought I could never do.

The thing about walking through the door you never wanted to walk through is that it positions you in a room where you can’t do it alone. And in that room you realize you don’t need to. As a matter of fact, you were never meant to.

In this room of working at Cordes I have needed to rely on God for so much. I have been humbled as I have made so many mistakes, but I am learning that others are gracious and that it is okay to make mistakes and learn from them. It has caused me to be patient with others as well, for perhaps they are just learning or are having an incredibly hectic day. I am more aware that the Holy Spirit is always with me and wants me to ask Him for help. He has alerted me of things and reminded me of details I didn’t remember on my own. I am learning to trust Him all throughout my day. I have learned to pick up the phone afraid, and found that I don’t need to know all the answers. There is are several great options, the Hold button, and the Transfer button. But I have also found that I enjoy talking with the customers and find it very pleasant to help them with what they need. And I am learning that it is good to learn new things. I am finding business is interesting and I enjoy working with Mark and being in an environment where we can produce products for the needs of others. So much of what we do at Cordes is producing products to promote other businesses.

And as we work to produce product to bring material increase, it is my prayer that we work in such a way as to bring spiritual increase, both to those we work along side, and to those we service.

I pray that in this new room my reliance on God becomes deeper, that my trust in Him becomes stronger, and my faith in Him becomes greater.

For every new room God leads us into has opportunity to remove our fears, to humble us, to increase our trust, and to develop our character so that we become like Jesus, displaying the power and love of God wherever we are!