Calling Identity

Calling

Identity

Identity, the fact of being who or what a person or thing is

Your Calling is not one thing, you have many Callings

You will find your Callings to be very natural on one hand

But overwhelmingly challenging on the other

Don’t give up and remember who sent Moses

“The Great I AM”

He is everything He has called you to be

Through life He will help you fulfill your Callings

Don’t walk on four legs like a dog even if you feel like it

Get up and walk in your Callings

Identity

Identity, the fact of being who

or what a person or thing is.

Before Sandy and I had children,

 we had a dash hound named, Snooker.

Sandy had never had a pet

and I was an animal lover.

We grew to love Snooker like a child.

When we sat down to eat a meal

Snooker was right there by the table.

As we bowed our heads to pray, Snooker

 sat up on his back legs and put

his paws together as we prayed.

Snooker tried to do a lot of things

we did, but Snooker was a dog.

God made dogs to walk with four legs, imagine if
 Snooker tried to be like humans and walk on two legs.

That works for a while but not a life time.

We do best when we know our identity.

    

I have always found God’s

answer to Moses interesting.

Moses says “what is your name?”

or who shall I say sent me?

God answers…

"I AM WHO I AM.”

Exodus 3:14

As a young pastor God’s answer helped me.

There are so many models and images of success.

There was a list of things I

recognized as personal weaknesses.

I dealt with expectations of others

and perceived expectations.

All these pressures were shaping my life

and much of it was like a dog walking on

two legs or me walking on four legs.

At this time in my life I realized…

 “I am who I am”.

I made a list of identifiable things

 that made me what I was…

I am a male

I am a husband

I am a son

I am a brother

I became a father

I am a neighbor

I am a friend

As the list went on…

 I realized I had to fulfill the Calling

of these very clear Callings in my life.

These Callings lead to other Callings like…

As a husband and a father, I am Called to provide.

I became a factory worker

I am a welder

I am a mechanic

I am a builder

As the list went on, I realized some things

 like being a male would never

change, but being a welder would.

I also realized the saying…

 We have to wear many hats is true.

  

I also realized there were characteristics that shaped me.

I have always had a tender heart.

As a child I could not stand

seeing an animal suffer.

I also realized I was very sympathetic

when people were suffering.

Helping others has been a joy to me.

Embracing “I am what I am”

gives freedom and keeps us humble.

Titles identify, but they can

also become an issue of pride.

I pastored for over 30 years, but

the title did not make me a pastor.

Caring for others made me a pastor.

 I have not lead a church in over a decade,

 yet people still consider me their pastor.

They call me with their needs

and ask me to do funerals.

I still do those things not because I wear

the title of pastor but because that is who I am.

There is a great freedom in being me,

I do not mean that as an excuse for my weaknesses.

Just because you say “I am who I am”

does not mean life will not be challenging.

 

“Constant change is here to stay”,

a faithful brother would always say.

  I find that true.

 God wants to take us from Glory to Glory.

2 Corinthians 3:18

He who has begun a good work

in you will complete it.

 Philippians 1:6

I am a husband and after 47 years,

 I have not perfected that Calling.  

Your list of Callings will be long like mine

and wearing the right hat, at the right time,

in the right way, will be a lifelong challenge.

Your Calling is not one thing,

 you have many Callings.

You will find your Callings to be very natural on one hand…

 But overwhelmingly challenging on the other.

Don’t give up and remember who sent Moses…

“The Great I AM”

He is everything He has called you to be.

Through life He will help you fulfill your Callings.

Don’t walk on four legs like a dog

 even if you feel like it…

Get up and walk in your Callings.

Scripture Readings

Exodus 3:14 NIV

14 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM.

This is what you are to say to the Israelites: 'I AM has sent me to you.'"

Philippians 1:6 NIV

6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you

 will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

18 But we all, with unveiled face,

beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord,

are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory,

just as by the Spirit of the Lord.