Fantastic Friday #988 - Calling

Calling

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. Hebrews 3:1

Do you ever think about the calling God has for your life? I don't believe there is any one particular calling that God has for us, in fact, I think there are many callings that God has for us at different stages of our lives. I know that one of my callings was to be a father to my children, and at one time I had a calling to teach children at church about our Lord and Savior. But my callings have changed in my short time on this Earth, and now as a man who has raised three wonderful children, I wonder what my next calling or callings will be. Certainly I look at writing these weekly devotionals as a calling, but how long will this last. I will tell you that our callings last as long as our Father in Heaven wants them to last. We have to be very cognizant of His voice in our lives, and listen intently when He speaks. As I sit and listen to these birds in my backyard, I think of how many times I don't stop and listen to everything God places before me. Some things are beautiful and other things have purpose, and we need to take those purposeful callings and make a difference in our world. I attended a funeral this week of an old friend, and I was reminded of our importance in answering callings. Take a moment to respond to the callings coming your way, as they are a preparation of a higher calling we will have eventually.

Have a great weekend.

Matt

Fantastic Friday #987 - Freedom

Freedom

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1

If you live in a Democratic country, do you ever stop to think about the freedoms you have daily? I see news reports of the lack of certain freedoms in many countries around the world, and places where even basic freedoms do not exist. We are very lucky in the U.S. to have freedom, including religious freedom. This type of freedom helps us worship God openly and freely without retribution. However, we are starting to see how people's proclamations of their faith are attacked, and this is something that even in Paul's day was a common occurrence. We need to remember that nothing can take away our freedom that Christ has given us. The battle has already been won, and for those who burden themselves with fear and anxiety, remember the freedom that Christ has given you. Our freedom lies in our God that created us for a good work, and don't let the world tell you any different. Practice your freedom and proclaim your faith proudly.

Have a great weekend.

Matt