Calling vs. Vocation

I am glad today to report that my calling has nothing to do with my vocation. Well, they do work together; however, my calling is not dependent on my vocation. Perhaps this is a better way to articulate it.

You see, recently my life has been turned upside down. I am not near as involved in the local church as an organization as I was two months ago. I have now started a new full time job at the Westin Hotel. At first, it could seem that God has taken me out of ministry. But I disagree.

I believe God is helping to keep me rooted in reality. It becomes very easy to get caught up in "church" business and loose sense of what we are really trying to do. Suddenly the goal becomes how to get more people into the building, and less about how do we go to those outside the building. I love that my gifts get to be utilized in the "real" world. I love that I have the opportunity to share Christ with those who don't yet know Him. I love the fact that this is my reality, and not the reality of having to deal with trivial church jargon.

Thank you God for keeping me rooted in reality. Thank you too that my ministry and call are not dependent on my vocation.

Child of God

These last few months Cairistiona and I have really learned about depending on God. We have learned that apart from Him we can truly do nothing. We both lost out jobs and have been seeking His direction for the way forward. Financially, times are tight. I get that. It is happening everywhere we look. We are left in a place where we are utterly dependent on the Father.

A week ago my son was born. He too is utterly dependent upon his parents to care for him. The longer I reflect on this the more grateful I am to be called a child of God. That statement in itself is easy to say, but harder to believe. And yet, its true! I am a child of God, utterly dependent on Him. I could not survive without Him anymore than Ezra could survive without someone to care for him.

Thank you Lord for loving us; for never leaving us or forsaking us. You are Glory!

Ezra LaRue Haley

Letter to God

Dear God,

The life I want most for myself is actually hard to describe. Mainly because I do not have many expectations. I used to have goals, but I don't have any now. When I think where do I want to be in a few year, nothing amazing comes to mind.

I guess the more I think about it, I do desire to be a godly father and husband. I desire to have a heart that is full of love for God and for people. I desire to care about others more than myself. I want to be an obedient, faithful, servant of the King.

I do try to live this life, but lately I have felt more selfish than I have in the past. I like my house. I like my leisure. And yet I know that these things do not matter. I desire for my heart to be full of joy regardless of my circumstances.

At the end of the day, at the core of who I want to be, I desire to be a reflection of Jesus Christ. I desire for people to no longer see me, but instead see Christ in how I live.