Lower Your Nets....

"His radical obedience to Jesus' simple request ultimately resulted in him discovering the calling of his life."  Wow, can I say these words struck me like a ton a bricks when reading What Happens When Women Say Yes to God this week?!  You see, I am slowly, and by slowly I mean over a four year time period, starting to be obedient.  I would say here in the last nine months I am "getting it".  I can't say I have officially found my calling but I do know now that I am on the right path to it.  I do know that it involves me. It involves my God. It involves me listening. It totally calls for me to be radically obedient.

When I joined OBS back in January it was the start of my journey of obedience.  I also did the Daniel Fast to try and get me on the right track. Another show of obedience.  Continuing with OBS over the next six months was my way of showing God I was trying. I was trying to listen. I was trying to obey.  This summer when I was asked to become a Group Leader I really had to dig deep. I argued with God over this one. How could I, someone so lacking in my faith the past few years, lead other women?  Then after starting this study it all started to make sense.

God knew I needed this study, as a leader.  He knew in order for me to move forward I had to see that I COULD do this.  I COULD take my life over the past four years and use it. Apply it. Let other people learn from it.  Lysa TerKeurst states "God uses our experiences to equip us for our callings.  God doesn't waste our experiences in life."  Umm, WOW!!! That last sentence got me right in the gut.  After many years of feeling ashamed, I finally opened my ears.  I opened my heart to what God was saying.  I could take all that I had learned over the last four years and USE it.  I could let others learn from all I had been through.
For now, OBS is a stepping stone to my calling.  Is it where I will always be? I don't know.  Is it a step towards bigger things? Who Knows...Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would share my heart like I have over the past four weeks.  God has taken all  my shame and allowed me to turn it into a ministry to reach others.  I am not here to keep recycling the same story. I am not here to "be a leader" because I want to lead.  I am here in the role of leader to learn. I am here to take away snippets from my new found G47 friends and learn and grow from them.

And more than anything, I am thankful I listened to God when he reached out through my friend, Stephanie Raquel, to continue me on this journey!