What's on your mind?

[Elizabeth8393]

I know how you feel..... :/

I mean I have no calling on my life that I'm aware of, I haven't had any strong urge to do anything amazing, like joining a mission's trip, or even had a lasting desire to serve God outside of the church. I'm sick of feeling like I'm simply existing and the only thing that's left for me is to settle down, get married, and have kids. :/

 

[grandvizier1006]

I mean I have no calling on my life that I'm aware of, I haven't had any strong urge to do anything amazing, like joining a mission's trip, or even had a lasting desire to serve God outside of the church. I'm sick of feeling like I'm simply existing and the only thing that's left for me is to settle down, get married, and have kids. :/

Give it time. Sometimes, life itself has a filler episode.

 

[Hawthorne]

I mean I have no calling on my life that I'm aware of, I haven't had any strong urge to do anything amazing, like joining a mission's trip, or even had a lasting desire to serve God outside of the church. I'm sick of feeling like I'm simply existing and the only thing that's left for me is to settle down, get married, and have kids. :/

I don't feel any definite calling either, and when I was your age, I was clueless about my calling, as well. Currently, I'm pursuing my interests, and perhaps talents: taking classes on theology, history, literature, and English online. I don't know what God has in store for me, but he gave me these interests for a reason, and I'd be a fool if I ignored them. He may lead me into an entirely different field, but the knowledge I've gained will certainly be used for something.

Keep trusting in God, and he will illumine your path.

 

[Elizabeth8393]

Give it time. Sometimes, life itself has a filler episode.

Thank you for the encouragement.

Encouragement is one of my two spiritual gifts (spiritual discernment being the other), and I haven't been using that gift very much lately, either. It's really hard to feel encouraging towards others when you feel like you're stuck, you know?

 

[Rhamiel]

I mean I have no calling on my life that I'm aware of, I haven't had any strong urge to do anything amazing, like joining a mission's trip, or even had a lasting desire to serve God outside of the church. I'm sick of feeling like I'm simply existing and the only thing that's left for me is to settle down, get married, and have kids. :/

oh I feel the same lack of calling
and now I am 30?!?!?!?!!?
UHG
30!

and one of my friends scolded me for my aimless life
I would be mad at her..... but she is a lot wiser then me.... so if she is scolding me.... I guess I deserve it

 

[Hawthorne]

Thank you for the encouragement.

Encouragement is one of my two spiritual gifts (spiritual discernment being the other), and I haven't been using that gift very much lately, either. It's really hard to feel encouraging towards others when you feel like you're stuck, you know?

Are you experiencing a Dark Night where God seems far, and you're spinning your wheels in a rut? Those are the worst.

 

[Rhamiel]

even when I feel very bad I find great comfort in encouraging others, in fact it helps me leave my problems behind

 

[gennypearl]

Are you experiencing a Dark Night where God seems far, and you're spinning your wheels in a rut? Those are the worst.

This is my phone wallpaper.

 

[Toro]

I am not saying I hate the guy
I loved his work in directing The Passion Of The Christ
but his dad is involved in SSPX and they have a serious history of anti-Semitic statements, so this might be MORE then just a drunken rant

but whatever, I do not know the guy, hope he repents of whatever mistakes he made in the past
just like all of us

Am I the only one that actually laughs at anti-semetic remarks from "Christians"?

Jesus Jewish..... Jews "killed Jesus". Yet without the crucifying of Christ there is no salvation. No Christianity....

People sure don't think much.... even on things they "believe".

Lastly, no body killed Christ as He laid His life down WILLINGLY and took it back up.

If you just want to hate people cause its easier to blame someone else..... thats your free will. However, at least have the guts to admit it instead of hiding behind Christ as if you are some kind of religious martyr.

 

[Hawthorne]

Never mind.

 

[Rhamiel]

st. stephen the protomartyr

never forget

 

[Toro]

To be fair, the Jews killed God's prophets, too. They don't have a great track record in that area.

Neither do we, for that matter. It's easy to see our own sins in the sins of others, and convenient to blame them to make ourselves feel better.

Thats true, but that never seems to be the "complaint". Usually their defense of antisemtic remarks falls solely on the death of Jesus.

Im not saying I am better..... simply the ignorance of their underlying hatred for an exact group that the one the "follow" was a part of. To me thats beyond a level of just hatred, but blind ignorant hatred. I am not a brain surgeon myself, but I cant stand stupid. We all do, say, act stupid at times... but... that ranks up there with the level of stupidity of those screaming about an animal dying for nothing but a coat, then spray painting it. Causing that animals suffering to literally be for nothing AND cause MORE of them to be killed to make up for the replacement coat the person will buy to replace the ruined coat.

Standing for something is great, however use your brain. Same thing about opening your mouth with anti Semitic remarks.

You (Speaking generally of course, not you exactly) want to spout that ignorance, fine. However don't hide behind Christ to do it.

 

[Hawthorne]

st. stephen the protomartyr

never forget

What a man! It's interesting to think what he could have accomplished had he not met an early martyrdom. His speech, and his forgiveness at the end gives me chills.


@Toro Oh, I know. I usually try to be balanced on such things. And I know you didn't say that... it was more a reflection on human nature than pointing at anyone in particular.

 

[Somber]

Hey!! Good to see you back!! I'm doing great, how have you been??

I find myself in this situation pretty often too, and I find very awkward, haha.

Thank you! It's good to see you back on too! I'm glad you are doing great! I have been well.

Yes! It definitely can be awkward being in that type of situation.

Once

I don't like the spotlight lol

This is the reason why I have never told anyone on CF my birthday, or most people I meet for that matter. lol

I mean I have no calling on my life that I'm aware of, I haven't had any strong urge to do anything amazing, like joining a mission's trip, or even had a lasting desire to serve God outside of the church. I'm sick of feeling like I'm simply existing and the only thing that's left for me is to settle down, get married, and have kids. :/

I think sometimes there is too much focus on finding a "calling" with the mindset that we have to do something out of the ordinary or stand out in our calling, when in reality, we are each born in a certain place, grow up, learn different things, each having our own unique experiences, and so forth. I think that many people are living their life how they can right now, which God can use even the most humble of situations to do His work.

For example, in my short life, I never was encouraged or helped by any great missionaries or teachers personally, but rather the people who helped and encouraged me the most were just regular, ordinary people who happened to come into my life at the right time and the right situation to encourage and uplift me. I could not have continued on and grown without those people. Oftentimes I believe that we do not realize how much we are impacting people in our daily life, the little things we may say or do that may give someone else the answer they need or the encouragement to continue on.

So in all of this, even if you do not feel like your life is amounting to any great calling or ministry, God may be working through your life right now for His purpose!

even when I feel very bad I find great comfort in encouraging others, in fact it helps me leave my problems behind

This is true for me too. I know that you have been an encouragement to me before and I have seen you encourage others many times while I have been around on the forums. You may feel that your life is lacking a specific calling, but I think that you are doing a great thing when you comfort and bring encouragement to others. Sometimes the little things we do can make the biggest impact on ourselves and others.

 

[Hawthorne]

@Quieted since you're mean and not letting me post on your wall, your avatar and signature are lovely!

This is the reason why I have never told anyone on CF my birthday, or most people I meet for that matter. lol

All the same, it kind of hurts when only two friends remember your birthday... one old friend, and one good friend. Still, better than none.

 

[kittysbecute]

Sad to hear of James Horner's passing.

Aww My favorite composer.

 

[Somber]

@Quieted since you're mean and not letting me post on your wall, your avatar and signature are lovely!

Aww...let me see if I can fix that, and thank you! I came by some ocean pictures and paintings, so thought I'd switch things up a bit. I am somewhat disappointed that this new format doesn't have the option of putting backgrounds in the profile, and I also miss sending reps to people.

All the same, it kind of hurts when only two friends remember your birthday... one old friend, and one good friend. Still, better than none.

Yeah, I do understand where you are coming from, and I will admit that this last one was a bit of a downer for me, partly because I am growing older, and then also realizing the lack of friends I have in real life, but I have family and I have never focused too much on birthdays anyway, so it's pretty much a normal day for me and I just spend time reflecting on where I am at in life.

 

[Elizabeth8393]

I think sometimes there is too much focus on finding a "calling" with the mindset that we have to do something out of the ordinary or stand out in our calling, when in reality, we are each born in a certain place, grow up, learn different things, each having our own unique experiences, and so forth. I think that many people are living their life how they can right now, which God can use even the most humble of situations to do His work.

So in all of this, even if you do not feel like your life is amounting to any great calling or ministry, God may be working through your life right now for His purpose!

I think you hit it spot on. I really feel like in the church culture of today if you don't have this out of the ordinary calling (mission's trips, being a youth pastor, etc) then you are seen as just another every day Christian beep bopping along in life with no true purpose.

And yes @Hawthorne I do feel like this is a dark time in my life, where my spirit is asleep and I have no idea what's going to happen next. It could be something wild and adventurous like when I went away to France for that month, or it could be small yet significant like actually sticking around for people.

One of my fears, I guess, is that my time for greatness is done.

 

[Hawthorne]

Yeah, I do understand where you are coming from, and I will admit that this last one was a bit of a downer for me, partly because I am growing older, and then also realizing the lack of friends I have in real life, but I have family and I have never focused too much on birthdays anyway, so it's pretty much a normal day for me and I just spend time reflecting on where I am at in life.

I view birthdays as a second New Year's Day wherein one can examine one's life, remember blessings, and refresh resolve for living rightly. It's more of a day of reflection than one of public recognition or gifts. This year's was really nice, a day of hard work knowing my family loves me. I'll admit, it hurt last year when no one remembered. Am I that insignificant, that my dearest friend can't be bothered to say hello? It's nothing important, I know, but there is still that little pang. Ah, well. Pricks aren't worth crying over.

 

[Hawthorne]

And yes @Hawthorne I do feel like this is a dark time in my life, where my spirit is asleep and I have no idea what's going to happen next. It could be something wild and adventurous like when I went away to France for that month, or it could be small yet significant like actually sticking around for people.

One of my fears, I guess, is that my time for greatness is done.

Expanding on the quotation in my signature, lilies and roses begin as small plants, and they lie dormant in the winter, only to burst forth when the sun touches them in the springtime. It has also been said that God has made us for himself, and our hearts are restless till they rest in him. Are the violets and daisies any less glorious and grand than the lilies and roses if God planted them both for his purposes?

As the Psalmist said in a certain place, Who will give you praise in Sheol? As long as you draw breath, you have potential for greatness; as long as you walk in the paths of righteousness, you walk in greatness.