arise, GO.

the women's Bible study at my church right now is doing Priscilla Shirer's Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted.  

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you probably know the story of Jonah...he was an Old Testament prophet that God was calling to GO to Ninevah, but he didn't want to.  so he went as far away as he could - to Tarshish.  while on the ship, God caused a storm.  Jonah knew the storm was because of him - because he was running from God, so he told the mariners to throw him into the sea so the storm would stop.  then you know what happens...Jonah is swallowed by a whale.  you can go here to read the rest of Jonah's story.

the whole time we were watching the dvd last night, I kept thinking of how God had kind of hit me with this story before.  almost a year ago, Andy Stanley did a Jonah series at my church I attended during college.  after church that day, I wrote this post. 

I don't want to be Jonah.  I don't want to still be right there...scared of what God's calling me to do.  I don't know that that's exactly where I am - I don't quite feel like I know what God's calling me to...but when I do know, I want to be ready to arise & go...no matter where or what that means.

that being said, can I ask you friends to pray for me?  I have a hard time dealing with the fact that I have no idea where I'll be a month from now.  It's exciting...but also terrifying.  I have been encouraged several times lately on my job hunt, & I hope one of these will lead to something...& I think I'm ready for that.  of course, I'm ready to have a full-time job.  I graduated from college almost nine months ago...I'm sure ready to do something.  though these last nine months have not been at all a part of my plan, I am confident that they were a part of God's plan.  but this is not His plan forever - I know that.  I'm ready for what's next.

Priscilla Shirer says that this study is "primarily about helping us to redefine interruption when it comes to our relationship with God."  I want to view these last nine months as an "esteemed opportunity to participate in kingdom purposes," just as Priscilla writes.  & I also want to view the next step that way, too...whatever it may be. 

now...I just want to share with you a few tidbits from this study that really resounded with me:

the greatest hindrance to doing what God calls you to do, is the last thing He called you to do.  it's easy for us to become comfortable with where we are [a place where God called us to be].  but just because He called us to be there, doesn't mean you're going to stay there.

when you feel surrounded on all sides, you can know you're in the presence of God. 
*think Moses & the Red Sea...

"Our commitment to obedience cannot be subservient to our feelings."

we want "cookie cutter Christianity" & think our calling should look like everyone else's calling.  if everyone else is getting married, I should be getting married.  if everyone else finds a job a month after graduation, I should have a job then, too.  

"When God places an abnormal calling on your life, it is because He has abnormal results He wants to produce through you."

Moses, Nehemiah, Noah, Esther, Paul
...all abnormal callings, all were equipped to carry them out.

"You've been given what you need for the weather He's given you to handle."

"God requires a response to His commission."