Looking for your calling?

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I cannot believe I haven't written in almost two months. It is not that I have not had anything to write about, the Lord surely knows I have. I just have not had the time to sit down and let it all out of the tips of my typing fingers. 

However, this morning is slow. And sweet. And I am on my second cup of coffee...and ready to write. 

Have you ever felt the Lord calling you to something,  a stirring of sorts, but you just could not uncover what in the world He was asking you to do?

I find myself in this place. 

My journal is filled with pages of this burning desire to serve...to do....something. 

Yesterday was one of those days. I sat on my back porch watching the birds flit and flitter, and I just felt this overwhelming sense of calling for something. 

I ran inside and grabbed my bible. The Lord led me to the book of John. This is the third time He has led me here in the past month. To the exact same scripture. 

 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:1-6

Ok, Lord, I get it. You are telling me to remain in You. But, what do you want me to do??

I read further on in the passage. Something I had overlooked before. 

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other. John 15:16-17

I read the last line over and over and over. To love each other. 

Something became crystal clear in my heart. Jesus told the questioning disciple that the greatest commandment was to love. Beyond serving, and ministering, and teaching, and preaching....

To Love. 

It has to be at the base of whatever it is we set out to do. 

I wonder how much we miss out on in our calling because we forget that one simple command. We miss the mark when love is not present in our relationships and dealings with others. 

With all of my beating heart, I believe that He will not use us if we do not know how to love others. The end. 

I think of David, the shepherd, the King.  The bible describes him as having "a heart like God's."

Since John 4:7 tells us that "God is Love", then David must have had a HUGE heart of love for others. 

God made David King of His people not because he was smart, or handsome, or a great leader. But, because David knew how to love others. 

We will never ever be able to serve others well unless we love them well. 

We can have the greatest talents in the world. A great speaking voice. Great writing skills. Great leadership skills. But, if we don't love others well....it doesn't amount to a thing. 

This can be a hard pill to swallow when we feel like everywhere we turn there are "difficult people." 

Lord, how can I love these people that are just so unlovable?

And, then I remember that He loves me. The most unlovable of all. 

In that same scripture, He tells us: so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

This scripture is not promising a huge ministry. Or something supersized and impressive for the world to witness. 

No. 

It promises that if we remain in Him and love others well....we will bear fruit that will last. 

Whew. 

Sink your teeth into that. 

Talk about leaving a legacy. 

This is what we truly desire, right?

Long after we depart from Earth into Heaven, the seeds that we were sown in LOVE, will go on producing and producing and producing. 

As a mother, I see this Promise able to happen through my children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and so on. 

Friends, maybe we need to stop asking the question, "What is my calling, Lord?" 

And start asking "who are you calling me to love, Lord?"

I think I am finally starting to get it. 

looking to love, 

jill