Posts
“The problem with teachers is that what kid is going to learn from someone who decided their best option in life is to become a school teacher? Be honest now
Well, the answer depends on what you’re working for, and WHO you’re working for. Taylor is passionately committed to teaching. We may not be called to be teachers, but we’re called to be something. Whatever it is we feel called to do it brings up a few questions:
Is this passion or calling attainable? Do I have what it
takes? Am I the right one for the job?
Mary was called to be the mother of Jesus. The Apostle Paul was called to
evangelize, teach, and plant churches. This was not easy stuff. Imagine being
Mary thinking how in the world is this going to be possible? My parents are
going to kill me when they hear I’m pregnant, especially when they ask who is
the father. It was not easy.
After Paul had persecuted and killed Christians he came to faith in
Christ. Naturally, most Christians did not believe in his conversion, doubted
His sincerity, and could not trust him. Amid constant extreme opposition from
both Jew and Gentile, God’s calling on Paul had not changed. It was not easy.
When we engage with what we feel passionate about we dive in, pray,
strategize, plan, and dedicate time. We do what God has called us to do! God
always has the end in mind when it comes to you and me. He already knows the
outcome of our efforts. In our life journey, we are part of His Story, the
bigger story, and as Christ's followers being part of His story means He’s
working in us.
For we are God’s workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus to do
good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
As God was working in Mary and Paul in the midst of what He called them
to do and BE, He will also do the same within you and I, in making us into
what he wants us to be. That’s not easy. He’s continuously painting
His masterpiece one stroke at a time.
And thank God He is not done with you and me!
I love what author John Ortberg said, "Living the adventure God
planned, becoming the person God created you to be, is not one pursuit among
many. It is why you were born. It is worth wanting above all else.
Mary’s heart willingly surrendered to her call saying to Gabriel, “May
it be to me as you have said.” Notice she didn’t ask why, but how? Paul had
a tremendous sense of determination. Being warned by his friends of his
upcoming imprisonment Paul responded by saying, “I consider my life worth
nothing, if only to complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me –the task of
sharing the gospel of God’s grace! Acts 20:24
If Mary and Paul were around today I don’t think they would post on FB, “Am
I not awesome?” In our passionate pursuit or call it’s not about one person
doing all the work or getting all the credit. It’s about us ‘together’ doing
our part.
Ephesians 4:12, 16
Several years ago while interviewing applicants to write radio commercials I
asked one guy, “Why do you want to write commercials for us?” He responded,
“Well, I’m writing obituaries for the Gazette Telegraph and I never get any big
story assignments, just the obits and I thought if I could write some killer
commercials, then maybe I can get recognized for my ability.”
I responded, “Nothing you’ll write here that gets on the air will be read
any more carefully than the obits. If you misspell a name or mess up a date,
someone will be hurt. When you do justice to somebody’s grandmother or mom
you’ll make a difference, they’ll sing about you.” I didn’t hire him, but he
continued to write obits with a little more enthusiasm.
Regardless if we get noticed by others or not, when we do things for the
audience of ONE we do get noticed by Him. According to the
prophet Zephaniah one day God will rejoice
and sing over us and we’ll be glad we were part of the Master’s plan in doing
the impossible with the ordinary.
Footnote: In 2000, Taylor Mali, set out to create 1,000 new teachers through "poetry, persuasion, perseverance, or passion." He did.
