calling | Revelations From The Road

The Plan

December 9, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

The Plan

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11).

This verse is probably familiar to most of us. God said He formed us in the womb and planned out our days, (Psalm 139:13-16), so He has a plan, The Plan. Are we aware of God’s plan for us? God gave us special gifts, talents, abilities and desires in order to accomplish His plans for us. Those plans are different as we grow from “glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18), and I don’t think God will ever say, “OK, you’ve completed My plans, go do what you want now.” No, we need to keep working to accomplish our mission until He calls us home.

The Bible has examples of those who God had plans for: Adam, Noah, Moses, Rahab the harlot, David, Saul of Tarsus, Jesus…and us. Some, like Jonah, messed up on God’s plan but repented and got back on track. In one of my devotions, I read this quote, “Chances are, there’s a God-idea inside you right now.” God has provided everything you’ll need. It may take some work and time, but He will guide you and help you through the process. We need to take action and move with God’s plan for us.

I heard of a vision of a man bowing and weeping before his blank tombstone. Beside him was another tombstone engraved with the plans God had for him. He had not completed the plans! I’m sure we have missed some opportunities God had planned for us but it’s not too late, He has more. Submit to God, repent and say, as Isaiah did, “Here am I. Send me!”, (Isaiah 6:8). Someone needs you.

Chosen

September 25, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

This message is for anyone who thinks lowly of themselves because of their past, their current weaknesses or what others think about them.

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the LORD who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1).

This verse is spoken to Jacob, the ancestor of the people of Israel, by God through the prophet Isaiah. But God is “the same yesterday, today and forever,” (Hebrews 13:8), so we can hear and accept the same promise for us today. We are a chosen people, (1 Peter 2:9), called and well known by God. As God told Jeremiah, in chapter 1 verse 5, He knew us before we were even born and He has plans for us, (Jeremiah 29:11). We have been chosen. You are chosen.

I used to teach Health and Physical Education and I’ve been reminded of some days in gym class when we were preparing to play a game, (after exercise and running of course). As the teacher, I would choose two students to pick teams. They would come out in front of the class and begin picking those they wanted on their team. Of course, they’d choose the best players first and go on from there. It always bothered me somewhat when they got down to the last few kids left in the crowd who weren’t very good. I’m sure they knew their game skills didn’t match up with those chosen first. But they got chosen anyway. Maybe you were one of those in the back. Maybe you think of yourself that way now.

Well, I got a vision once of a different scenario when people were being chosen for a mission. I saw the people all in a bunch on the gym floor but Jesus was standing out front and He was going to be picking His team. Just recently, I envisioned this scene again but with this exchange: Jesus looks over the crowd, points to the back and says, “You, back there, I choose you.”, as He points out a person in the back. The person says, “But Jesus, I’m weak, I’m filthy, I’m a mess!” Jesus replies, “I know all that but I’ll take care of it.” Come up here and join Me.” The person shyly makes their way through the crowd and stands before Jesus. He says, “Now, take off those filthy rags and put on these clean garments.” Isaiah 61:3 says God will give us, “beauty for ashes and a garment of praise for despair”. God will also make us the guest of honor at His gathering, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; (Psalms 23:5). The person accepts Jesus’ offer and becomes “Chosen”. Can you see it?

So, if you’re one of those in the back of the crowd and messed up, know that you’re God’s mess and He’ll clean you up and prepare you for His mission if you’ll accept His invitation. You have been CHOSEN! I wrote a blog post in 2006 from a vision I received which speaks to this topic. You can read it here, The Great Exchange. Be blessed as you step out and be a part of God’s team. You are chosen!

Spiritual Gifts

August 14, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” (1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT)

If you read the teaching of the apostle Paul about Spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12, you will see that there are several gifts and each is given at the discretion of Father God. We know He formed us in our mother’s womb, (Psalm 139:13), and had plans for us from before our beginning. God sees us all the way through our lives and He has things for us to do. That’s why He gave us gifts; talents, abilities and desire to help Him on this earth. My question is: Are we using the gifts God gave us? Do we even know what our giftings are? Everyone has at least one gift and some have more than one. Look around your congregation. Paul said that, in the church, there believers, unbelievers and inquirers and we should be using our gifts for each type, (1 Corinthians 14). Are we as “the church” reaching out to these folks? Each of us have been given a gift to do that in some fashion. Are we?

Think about it: If someone gets a valuable gift at Christmas that can be used to help people but they put it away in the closet and never use it, how many people are not helped? And think of a musical instrument. It was made to produce wonderful sounds that are “music to our ears”. But what if no one ever plays that instrument? It’s of no benefit until someone uses it to fulfill its purpose. We are like that. We must use ourselves and our gift. Until we allow the Holy Spirit in us to use us to display and trumpet our gifts, we are little benefit to those around us.

I played all sports in high school and decided that I wanted to be a coach. My attitude was, “I want to be a coach but to do that, I’ll have to be a teacher. So, if I have to, I’ll be a teacher.” I didn’t know at that age anything about Spiritual gifts. But I found out later in life that my #1 gift is teaching. God knew and He led me to that profession. And I still use that gift in many forms.

If you’re reading this and are not sure what your Spiritual gift is/are, this assessment will let you know: Spiritual Gifts Survey . It will take some time, it has 108 questions to answer, but it will be well worth it to get you on the right track to fulfilling your destiny. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10). Let’s get to work.

Conversation With God

July 30, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

Maybe someone can identify with this conversation.

“Lord, I can’t do this. Can You please help me? Can You do it for me?

“Well, let’s talk about that. Sure, I can help you, (“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1), and I want to but here’s the deal. Awhile back, you asked if you could be in the advanced class and I said yes. I’ve got some great plans for you, (Jeremiah 29:11), but I wouldn’t start them without your cooperation. And you agreed.”

“But Lord, it’s hard!”

“Yes, I know but you have to go through some training and preparation in order to accomplish what I have for you.” And you know the devil is always out there trying to trip you up.”

“Would it be easier if You just did it for me?”

“Well yes but if I did that, you wouldn’t grow and be ready for the next trial. In order for you to grow, you have to go through some trials that will build your strength.”

“But Lord, I just can’t do it.”

“Now listen, I’ve provided you with the strength, (2 Corinthians 12:10), the tools, (2 Corinthians 9:8), the weapons, (Ephesians 6:17), and the wisdom, (John 14:26), you’ll need. And I’ve given you the authority, (Luke 10:19), to handle any situation we encounter. Oh, and you know, I’ll always be right there with you, (Hebrews 13:5).” “But your problem is that, even though I’ve given you all these things as an advanced warrior, YOU HAVEN’T USED THEM!” “Come on!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry Lord, thank You for reminding me and encouraging me. I want to do Your good will.”

“Like I said, I’ve got great plans for you but it’s going to take some work on your part. Are you ready and willing to go on from here?”

“Yes Lord, I can do all things through You who gives me strength!” (Philippians 4:13).

“Okay, let’s get this done.”

Have any of you had this conversation? Do any of you need to? He’s waiting…

Testing

June 26, 2021 by Bill 1 Comment

“But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10)

Years ago, I was in a singing group and one of the songs we sang was, “I’m Yours Lord” by the Gaither Vocal Band. The chorus went like this: “I’m yours Lord. Everything I’ve got, everything I am, everything I’m not. I’m yours Lord. Try me now and see, see if I can be completely yours.” Recently, I remembered this song and it made me think of our commitment as a Christian. We can say, “I’m yours Lord.”, but what does that mean?

Let’s think of this in a practical way. Say you’ve come out for a sports team and you want to be on the first team. Are you willing to do all that the coach requires of you, to go through the drills and training even though it will be very hard? And on the day before the first game, will you say, “Coach, try me now and see, see if I can be first team material.” Or, let’s say you are at work and there’s a position opened up that you want. You want to be promoted so you tell the boss, “Look at my past performance and test me to see if I can be the best for the job.” It’s sad that some athletes and employees would just be satisfied to not go through the hard testing and just stay where they are. What about us Christians?

Imagine we come to the Lord and say the things that are mentioned in the song: “Here I am Lord; I submit to You. I give You everything I now have, everything I am now and everything I’m not so You can make me into what You’ve got planned for me.” Take me Lord and try me out to see if I can be completely Yours, all of You and none of me.” “…make me willing to obey You.” (Psalm 51:12). If we’re really willing to give ourselves wholly to God, He’s going to accept us, train us and test us in order that we can go, “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). Are we willing to do that?

We can say, “I offer my body a living sacrifice, wholly and acceptable which is my reasonable act of worship.” (Romans 12:1). “Here I am Lord, send me. How can I serve You today?” “Prove me, O Lord, and try me; test my heart and my mind.” (Psalm 26:2). Are we willing to go all the way with God? Or are we satisfied with just being on the team? God has a plan for each of us but we have to be willing to accept it and be tested. Let’s go! “knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:3 NASB).