as if there were any doubt

Well, talk about God's ordering of things. Last night at work I remembered how when I visited California, specifically Hollywood, as a boy, I was so bent on staying there that I snuck onto a studio lot hoping to make myself useful. Never mind that the friend of the family under whose care I was would catch it from my parents if he were to return without me. Ever since then, maybe even before then, I've been bent on Hollywood. Watched movies all my life, been fascinated by them even when I was trying to tell myself I was a writer more than an actor. This while, during college, I watched upwards of 1400-2000 movies. And still I balked at choosing acting over writing. Then I finally said yes to God's calling, and he reminded me of how this desire's been in me ever since childhood, and I've prayed about it and seen God confirm it. Af further confirmation, that remembrance came last night, washing away the last of my doubt.

Well, today, this was the devotional from Kenneth Copeland ministries:

December 21 - Stick to Your Calling

"Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God.... Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."
(2 Timothy 1:6,9)

Are you doing what God called you to do?

If you haven't ever thought about it before, that may sound like an odd question to you. You may be tempted to shrug it off and say, "Oh, I'm not really called to do anything. I'm not a pastor or a teacher or a minister of any kind...I guess I'm just what you might call a little finger on the Body of Christ."

Let me tell you something: No matter who you are, God has put a holy calling in you. He's designed you and called you to meet a need in the Body of Christ that nobody else can meet quite like you can.

You may be called to be so successful in business you can finance the gospel worldwide. You may be called to a ministry of prayer and intercession. You may be called to a ministry of healing right there in your own neighborhood. But no matter what that calling is, it's important and you need to follow it!

If you're like many believers I know, you may have let your life become so overgrown with other things that you just don't have time to pursue your calling. You may be so overwhelmed with the cares of life that you can't imagine how you can fit in anything else.

Over the years, a pastor friend of mine got involved in so many different areas of ministry that he was about to fold up physically under the strain of it. The overload was actually about to kill him. Finally, the Lord spoke to him one night and said, "John, it's not your calling that's nearly killed you. It's everything else you've added to it."

I've had to deal with that in my own life. I've had to quit doing things just because they need doing. I've had to discipline myself to sticking to what I'm called to do.

Make up your mind to prayerfully trim away the extra things you've added to your life. Stir up the gift God has placed inside you. Get back to what He has called you to do.

After all, that calling is vital. It's holy...and it's yours. Don't ever let it slip away from you.

Scripture Study:Acts 9:1-20


Kenneth Copeland Ministries
Fort Worth, TX 76192-0001

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Pretty cool, huh?

My testimony

I don't know that I have much of a testimony in terms of a single, watershed event where I got saved and all. I am saved (I've gotten saved and affirmed that I don't know how many times). What I can say is that I don't remember any part of my life growing up, or ever, when I was not saved. It's always been this thing, you know. I was just raised by Christian parents, so God has always been part of my life.

What's exciting is the trip to maturity and enlightenment (knowledge) that God's had me on all of my life and that that can accelerate or decelerate that based on the quality of my relationship with God (meaningful time spent with Him).

I've seen so much in my life so far. Done so many things, things which may have had such bad consequences were it not for God's influence, intervention and favor. He's basically not just saved my soul but saved my natural life I don't know how many times. I don't say this to say that I owe God my soul but just to say he's had my back and still does and that I appreciate it so much. I don't suppose I'll know how much he's saved me from in this natural world until I pass on to the spiritual world. I think it would be overwhelming to try to realize in this world.

God's always been there for me. Steady. Solid. Always loving. Drawing me closer, encouraging me to get to know him better. Even when I haven't been there for him. And he always will be, and I love him for that.

I love you, God. Thanks for letting me share.