When Your Deep Gladness & The World's Deep Hunger Meet
"You have threads of life blowing around possibly even strangling you--threads that are meant to bind together and become your unique God-given contribution to a world in great need."- Jeanie Allen
Have you ever
wondering why it took you so long to catch on to something? Has someone ever
told you a joke and it took you a little longer than everyone else to catch on?
That has been my
experience the last year. Not so much that there is joke I didn’t catch but
more the calling and purpose of my life coming it a little clearer of a
picture. Seeing the treads of life come together in such a way that it all
makes sense now.
For a long time I deep
down felt like I was guessing what my calling was—it seemed clear—but deep down
I sometimes wondered.
I had a heart for this
generation—I loved student ministry. I grew in what I believe was on of the
best student ministry. I put my faith in Jesus for salvation when I was
12-years old. Prior to that I grew up in church, and had Bible stories read to
me before I could even read. I had a love for God that can only be described as
a gift of the Holy Spirit because it’s
not something one just musters-up. It wasn’t until 2009 that while doing
an Ester Bible Study it was the first time that the Word of God began to
literally leap off the pages and into my reality. It was the first time I began
to experience for myself how the Word of God is alive and active.
From that moment on,
my love for God and His Word become a holy passion (fire) that I yet to be put
out. There are times the fire is bigger than others, but even on the days when
it feels like simply embers, all it takes is one verse to full the love affair
once again.
So here I am, going to
school for Early Education; Working at an Elementary School and volunteering my
time my serving in various student ministries—and that “seemed” to me like the
right directions. It made sense. Even though I felt called to student ministry
I never imagined it as my career—it never crossed my mind at 18-years old that
I could have a career in ministry. At best I could teach Sunday school, lead a
small group, volunteer for youth events, serve were I could anything more I
didn’t think was even a possibility so I didn’t pursue it like it was.
Until this past year…
For years I had wanted
to go to some kind of “Bible School.” No so much for a degree but because I
wanted be able to study the Word of God and equipped to teach it effectively.
A passion for
teaching/ministering through writing had developed and God had opened doors for
me to share that gift, and it’s still something I hope to use to minister to
this generation—especially girls. It was my way of discipline and mentoring the
next generation of young ladies—my way of sitting with over coffee as one girl
to another trying to follow Jesus in this crazy world.
Even though I loved
that, and even opportunities to speak, going to work each day, as much as I do
love my job and the kiddos I’ve had the job of watching many go from
Kindergarten through 5th grade, I just felt a tad confused.
I loved teaching (love
a classroom setting), but I didn’t want to be an elementary teacher, there
wasn’t a subject ( or so I thought) that I was passionate enough about that I
was willing to study only that and teach Middle or High School…
Until a year ago…
"God could untangle your soul, your story, your gifts, your people, your place, and your passions, and begin to weave it into purposes that you haven't been brave enough to imagine."- Jeanie Allen
I was sitting in my
apartment in Florida, about to move back home and I came across a job opening
at a Private Christian School in my area. The job opening was for a Bible
Teacher! I just stared at those words---Bible Teacher. It was if in a moment
everything collided.
I could combine my
passion for the Word of God & the study of it, gift of teaching, love of student ministry all
into ONE job! Girls Ministry—I’ve learned will happen wherever I go—I can
mentor and minster to the girls in my classes, at work, in everyday life. I'm a girl and I'll forever come in contact with other girls, and if you approach those encounters with a ministry mindset there you have yourself "girls ministry." I also can still pursue writing
books and Bible Studies that aim to minister to teenage/college aged young
ladies. I'll still volunteer and serve at my church (non of that will change) but what I get to go do everyday will make a little more sense.
It gave me a sense of
direction in why I was even feeling called to go back to school. I wasn’t just
to be able to say I have a degree—although that was important—but it gave me a
clear focus. A mission. Direction is extremely motivating.
I think to some people
it seems like a big leap and they want me to take it slow—but I’ve been “taking
it slow” and “one step at a time” for 10-years. I wanted to get on with what I
felt called to do. Do what I had to do in the meantime to get there, but non of
it felt meaningless or like a dead-end—it all had purpose.
The dream of being a
teacher is alive and well in me again! I’ve wanted to be a teachers sense I was
little, but I also loved Church and the Word of God sense I was little too…so
it just makes sense that the two collide.
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