Conference yukon::christian_v7

    Wow!  Isn't God neat?  He knows our requests before we even ask.  It's
    things like this that just strengthen our faith in Him.
    
    I will be praying that God would confirm His calling upon you as you
    seek Him and abide in Him.  I don't know what God's call is upon you,
    but I do know that His strength is perfected in our weakness.  If He
    has called you, He will speak through you and His perfect love will
    cast out all fear.
    
    Love in Him,
    
    Bing

    Ummm...I only have a New Testament with me, but wasn't Moses afraid and
    didn't he try to talk God out of using him?
    
    In His love,
    
    Rebecca

    RE: Moses - Yes, he gave several excuses as to why he could not be
    God's servant, slow of speech, not eloquent....  The bottom line is God
    said GO and I will be with you.
    
    RE: .0 -
    
    One of the things that I am convinced of is that when Paul and Barnabas
    received their commission to begin their missionary work by laying on
    of hands and prophecy that they already knew from God that they were
    called.  The prophecy was a confirmation.  You said that you have felt
    that you were called but unsure (and afraid) of this calling.  I can
    relate to both of these things.  When I was 14 I 'knew' that God had
    called me to ministry but at that time I took it as an indication that
    I was supposed to evangelize my school.  While very zealous my
    ignorance of the Word got me into a lot of trouble.  Years later God
    brought this sense of 'knowing' back to me.  In a way saying, "Okay,
    it's time now."  All I can say is that if you are called to ministry
    you will be miserable if you don't.  There is within me a drive (I call
    it a sense of urgency) that compels me to ministry.  God has confirmed
    this ministry and given me direction through the years through the gift
    of prophecy but nothing is as important as that inward witness of the
    Holy Spirit that you are called to public ministry.  My advice is to
    prepare for ministry, study to show yourself approved, get on your face
    before God and seek His will, direction and anointing, look for
    opportunities where God has opened doors for you to begin ministering
    and don't lose focus on what God has called you to.  If Satan can not
    stop you from going into ministry then he will surely try to guide you
    away from God's perfect place of service.  Finally, let me remind you
    Moses was scared, Gideon was scared, the disciples were scared but God
    said that He would be with them.  Never be afraid that you are not able
    because you're not (none of us are) but God is faithful and He will do
    it through you.  Trust Him, rest in Him and He will direct your path.
    
    In Him,
    
    Kent
    

    Richard, 
    
    Praise God for this calling on your life.  I agree with what Andrew has
    written regarding a pastor... but went back and re-read your note and
    you said called into preaching.  Perhaps it's semantics, but a preacher
    can be an evangelist too!  Which doesn't require the shepherding.
    
    Know your heart and while God can change anyone into anything he wants,
    ask for wisdom to use your God-given talents to their fullest
    abilities and let God add the rest! :-)
    
    Love in Him,
    Nancy

Hi Nancy,

The prophesy was to be a pastor, which Richard read to mean preaching.
I was in part trying to clarify the distinction. 

						love
								Andrew

    Sorry Rew... :-)  I love you too!

    I second what Andrew said, pray for confirmation in your heart.  Also
    pray that God will prepare you for whatever calling you have and that
    the opportunities will be presented so that you can serve Him.
    
    It's funny how God works in the lives of believers.  Over the past few
    months, I've felt God placing a calling on my heart.  Looking back, I 
    can see Him preparing me.  I've even had a couple opportunities to serve 
    Him in that capacity.  Call me slow, but sometimes I feel like I could 
    use more confirmation ;-)
    
    Mike

    The reason I focused on the reference to Moses' experience in Richard's
    note is because I think it brings up an important issue. So often, we
    want a direct "word from God" - I've often wished He'd pop a note in my
    mailbox. But, Moses had a conversation with a burning bush and still
    tried to talk God out of what He wanted Moses to do, and Jonah also
    had direct direction from God, and he ran, was swallowed and spit up by
    a big fish and still had an attitude about God wanted Him to do...would
    it really make a difference if I found a letter from God in my mailbox,
    or would I question whether that was really God's handwriting and maybe
    it was supposed to be addressed some other Rebecca Sinatra, or maybe I
    was reading into what it *really* meant....
    
    In reading Richard's note I see these things - that he has thought
    about and even seen himself as a pastor, that he is seeking after God,
    that he went forward with a specific question which was answered before
    it was even asked, and in note 599 I see questions raised for him about
    why various people in pain have come to him seeking support and
    counsel. I also see fear. I agree with everything that's been said
    here, about prayer, about taking steps in preparation, etc. I would
    also encourage you, Richard, to really look at and meditate upon the
    things God *has* been telling you and to confront your fear. We know
    that fear is never from God - so take it to Him and ask Him to expose
    it for what it really is. 
    
    A calling is a calling specific to that individual, which is why no one
    but you can answer the question of whether you have one or not. You
    must trust yourself, that you are able to hear His voice, and you must
    trust Him, to move you forward and to guide your every step.
    
    To second something Ken said, one of my favorite passages is from George 
    MacDonald's children's book At the Back of the NorthWind. In it the 
    mother ask Little Diamond how he knows what his work is. His reply 
    goes something along the lines of "I know it's my work because when I do 
    it, I feel all right, and when I don't I feel all wrong."
    
    Rebecca  
    

      Hi Richard,
    
        How ya doing?
    
        Well, Andrew's and Kent's replies certainly appear like good
        wise counsel to me!
    
        The only thing I want to say is that a lot of times I think
        we all get a conviction and we can suppress it by filling our
        minds with a lot of our own thoughts.  Its my 'bet' that now and
        then you might catch yourself in a moment where your mind is
        free of your own ideas and in that moment, the conviction of the
        Lord is often so plain that you can't really deny it.  Identify
        those experiences if you can.
    
        Let your mind be as empty a vessel in terms of your own anxieties
        etc. and in that experience be open and honest as to what the
        convictions are in those times.  And acknowledge them!
    
                                                  God Bless,
    
                                                  Tony

    Hi,
    
    Firstly I would like to state that the prophet would confirm what God
    has given you in your spirit before hand.
    Now depending on what it is, that which God has placed in you, would be
    confirmed by the prophet.
    However some say God called me to marry 20 women and have children from
    all of them then I will question that, But if the Lord said You Are
    called to preach the gospel then he will equipe you to do just that.
    
    
    You can also ask God to confirm it, there is nothing wrong with that.
    
    God Bless you.
    
    Frank Reid-Robertson
    Johannesburg JHB South Africa

Amen, Frank - and welcome!  I don't think we've met before - in fact I
don't recall anyone coming in from Johannesburg before, so I believe you've
got a first there!  Good to see you!

Agreed that any call or command from the LORD must first be tested against 
scripture...

 					God bless you
							Andrew (in the UK)

    Hi Frank!!! Welcome!! How exciting to have someone from Johannesburg in
    here!  Can you introduce yourself in topic 5???
    
    Thanks,
    Nancy