by Julia M. Bruce, MSPC, Mental Health Coach,
Keynote Speaker, CEO, Wellspring Christian Ministries
Have you been “called”?
We often hear people in ministry say they were “called” to the ministry. And we say that we commission missionaries and ordain ministers. Whether called, commissioned, or ordained, these people feel that God has divinely led them to serve Him in a ministry capacity. But are these the only people God calls to serve Him?
Jeremiah called to be a prophet
In the Old Testament, God called prophets to tell His people what He was doing or will do. Jeremiah was just such a prophet and in the the first chapter, we find the account of God calling and commissioning him. In the first 3 verses, we learn that Jeremiah was a preacher’s kid (the son of Hilkiah the Priest), that his home town was Anathoth in the land of Benjamin and that God called him while Josiah was in his 13th year of being King of Judah. We also learn that he served God as prophet for about 40 years – from 627 b.c. to some time after 586 b.c.
Called to be set apart and ordained
God says to Jeremiah in verse five that God knew him before He formed him in the womb and before he was born God had set him apart and ordained him to be a prophet to the nations. But Jeremiah, like Moses, objected and even used a very similar excuse. He said he could not speak. Moses claimed he had a stutter, but Jeremiah said he was a youth. Bible Study materials indicate that Jeremiah was most likely only 17 at the time God called him. However, God did not care about His age. He had been preparing and gifting Jeremiah for this purpose since before He was born. What was Jeremiah’s calling? To go to everyone God sends him to and say whatever God tells him to say.
Called and Commissioned – but still human
Then God says, “do not be afraid.” Perhaps Jeremiah was afraid that because of his age, no one would listen to him or that adults would find it disrespectful for him to speak to them. Or perhaps it was the message that he was to deliver. Jeremiah was given the task of delivering an unpopular, convicting message to Judah, one that caused him great mental anguish, as well as making him despised in the eyes of his people.
Often we think of people in the ministry whom God has called and we envision them as spiritually mature, all put together and we hold them to a higher standard than we hold ourselves too. Then when they reveal they are just as human as we are, we become offended or feel betrayed. However, Jeremiah shows us that the people God calls are just as human as any other person. He experienced rejection, depression, discouragement, and great loss all while being obedient to what God had called him to do.
You’ve been called
As Christians, each one of us has been called, sanctified, and set apart to serve God in a ministry that He has gifted and equipped us to do. This doesn’t mean that everyone of us will be a pastor or deacon or small group leader. Serving God doesn’t just happen within the walls of the church. We are to serve Him wherever He sends us.
For some, he expects us to work in a secular job and share our testimony with co-workers. Some He may call to be writers and share the knowledge and wisdom He gives them with others so that they too can understand. To some He has given the gift of working with their hands, building and repairing homes or fixing appliances. Perhaps your call is to provide this service to free for senior adults in your church. Maybe, He has given you the gift or being good with money and He wants you to volunteer your time teaching low-income, single moms basic budgeting and savings.
Regardless of how God calls you, you’ve been called for a purpose – to go where He sends you and to say whatever He tells you to say. We can trust the God will put His words in our mouth at the right moment and right time.
You’ve gifted and equipped
Whatever He is calling you (or has called you) to do, He will gift and equip you to do it. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:4-10, “Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. And there are different activities, but the same God activates each gift in each person. A demonstration of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial: to one is given a message of wisdom through the Spirit, to another, a message of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another, faith by the same Spirit, to another, gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another, the performing of miracles, to another, prophecy, to another, distinguishing between spirits, to another, different kinds of languages, to another, interpretation of languages.”
God has a job for you
Just as God had a job for Jeremiah, He has a job for you. God knew and choose Jeremiah for a specific plan and God knows and chooses you with a specific plan for your life. You might still be trying to figure it out – or maybe you’ve never even considered it. Sometimes, God reveals His plans for us in stages as we are ready. Wherever you are in understanding His plan for you, be obedient to what He has already shown you.
Every Christian should be studying God’s Word and praying. Every Christian should be actively serving within their church. And every Christian is called to serve those within your household. And every Christian is called to be a witness to others. If you are still trying to figure out what God wants you to do, start with these things. As you are obedient with them, He will then reveal His specific plans for your life.
While you’re waiting for His plans, pray for God to reveal them to you. When he does, be ready and willing to obey knowing that like Jeremiah, if God calls you, he will empower your and He will be with you. He will place His words in your mouth and His gifts in your soul.
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John 3:16 
True Story 
Choose Joy 
Joy of the Lord 
Every Knee Will Bow 
Godfidence 
Prayer Warrior 
Way Maker 
Living for the world to see Jesus 
Raise a Hallelujah 
Faith Can Move Mountains 
Don’t Quit 
Walk by faith 
Battle Isn’t Over 
Jesus is our Peace 
Fight on my knees 
Giants 
Known Loved Worthy Enough Chosen Child of God 
Grace wins 
Walk by Faith 
Script Unstoppable God 
Print Unstoppable God 
Unstoppable Force 
Run with perseverance 
Steps of a Good Man 
Something New 
Seek and Find 
Revive Us Again 
Resist the Devil 
Beloved- Mr and Mrs 
Mr and Mrs – God’s Plan 
Man of God 
He Left 99 for Me 
Cast All Your Cares 
Faith over Fear 
Don’t Worry 
Created to Praise 
All things are Possible 
What the Lord Requires 
Anything is possible 
With my song I will praise Him 
Names of God 
All things are possible 
Revive us again, Lord 
Isaiah 41:13 
Jeremiah 29:11 
Be Still 
God’s starting point 
Revive us Again 
As far as the east is from the west 
Three In One
See our Canvase prints in the Teespring Store: All Things New
We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store. These prints make great gifts or for decor in your home.
When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.
See our Canvase prints in the Teespring Store: All Things New
We’ve added a new canvas print to the Teespring Store. These prints make great gifts or for decor in your home.
When we ask Jesus to forgive us and save us from our sin, He takes our old, sinful self and makes us new in Him. This beautiful canvas is a great reminder of what Jesus has done for us.
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7 FREE Downloadable Resources
Now you can enhance your Bible Reading with the Verse Mapping Template
Our Verse Mapping download is FREE and includes 6 pages: 3 pages of instructions for using the template and the 2 page template, plus the cover page. If you’re looking to go deeper into God’s Word, learn more about God and develop a stronger spiritual life, Verse Mapping will help you dig into the scriptures. As you apply God’s Word to your life, you will develop a more intimate knowledge and relationship with God.
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What Satan Does Not Want You To know
This trifold document includes Scripture verses that Satan does not want you to know about. As you hide these verses in your heart, you’ll be able to defeat the lies of Satan when he tries his wiles and schemes on you.
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Stress Journal
We all face stress. How we handle stress, however, has many variables. Learning how to recognize stress, coping with stress, and creating a self-care plan during times of stress can begin by journaling. Taken from our series on Biblical self-care for people in ministry, we’ve created this free download to help you through the things that cause you stress.
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2021 Bible Memory Verse Plan
We’ve put together 52 memory verses for you to hide God’s Word in your heart! You can download the full document for free and then print a new verse each week and as many copies as you’d like. Each verse prints four times on a page so that you can then cut them into index size cards and place them in prominent places where you will see them frequently throughout the day to help you remember to memorize them. Just because you visited our site, they’re yours for free! Download today.
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The Path to Sin
Satan is constantly trying to trip us up and he doesn’t even play fair because he uses our own desires as bait to get us to sin. James tells us the five steps that lead us down the path to sin in James 1:14-15, “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.” This download helps you identify your desires so that you can better recognize when Satan is baiting you and you can avoid falling into sin. When used along with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to identify the desires that Satan baits you with, you can then ask the Holy Spirit to help you not become a victim to the bait of your desires. Download the worksheet today.
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One Year Bible Reading Plan
With just 30-40 minutes per day, you can read the entire Bible in one year. The One-Year Bible Reading Plan consists of both Old Testament and New Testament readings for each day of the year. The Bible is God’s personal Word to you. What is He saying to you today? Open your Bible and find out!
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Self-Care Wheel
The Self-Care Wheel provides ideas for practicing self-care in six dimensions of yourself: Spiritual, Physical, Emotional, Intellectual, Sensory, and Social. NOTE: You will need 11X14 paper to print the wheel.
Want to know more about self-care? Our Self-Care blog series targets people who serve in any ministry position (paid staff or volunteer) and takes a Biblical approach to self-care.
[Download not found]Need some music to get you through the day? Check out one of our Playlists on YouTube
You can also watch our animated devotionals on the YouTube Channel
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars by Julia M. Bruce
What’s Inside God, Love and Marshmallow Wars?
God, Love and Marshmallow Wars is a book that includes 365 daily activities and takes you on a guided journey through Biblical principles about Godly marriage that you can then apply to your marriage, as well as helping you talk through concepts that can help you develop a solid relationship. Inside you will find simple, quick activities that include:
- Scripture to memorize and meditate on.
- Conversation Starters.
- Concepts from the Bible on Godly marriages.
- Romance Builders.
- Relationship Builders.
- Personal reflections.
- Date ideas.
- Group date ideas for you and other Christian couples.
Available in hardback, paperback and ebook from Westbow Press Bookstore, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. Click the icons below to purchase from your preferred bookstore. Now also available at WalMart online.
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