Set Sail!

I have never sailed the seas but I imagine that following God's call is much like sailing. Do we consider everything that we will leave behind before we actually set sail? Say goodbye to the dock, the safe harbor, the comforts and convenience of having everything we need at our finger tips and solid ground. Lets say you want to become an expert at sailing. What's the first thing you need? No, its not the boat......its gathering the information on what you need like life jackets, anchor, supplies and learning the how to's of sailing that are most important. The boat comes later. God has called Carol and I into this mission that is called Wild Hearts n Horses. We had no clue to what we were called to do but God has been gracious with us. He has been directing us down an unfamiliar path, preparing us, guiding and showing us that He has already been working in an area long before we showed up. Following God takes a great deal of faith and trust in a future that doesn't quite exist yet, at least for us it doesn't exist. God has lead us to a new property just down the road from where we are now and everything leading up to this day has caused me to reflect on God's influence and direction for our lives. Not just Carol's and my life but yours as well. What are we missing out on if we ignore God's call? Maybe you are unsure that God is calling, maybe you're afraid that you will need to give up something in your life. He may be asking you to carry a great burden, and at what cost? Everything? Maybe He's not asking you to give up much at all. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ than you know that popular scripture that says "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it". Just about every believer has been introduced to that verse at some point in their lives however, in the verse before Phil. 1:6 it says this......"Because of your Partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, I am sure that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it". Over the years I have heard this verse quoted but not in its entirety. If all we know of this verse is that "He who began a good work will be faithful to complete it" then we, I presume that we just sit back and let Him complete that good work. We cannot be that naive now......can we? Let's look at that word Partnership in verse 5. I think everyone knows what a partnership is right? Partners do things together, they have like minds, they work, play, laugh and cry together, they seek the same results. God has asked each one of us to partner with the gospel and that gospel is Jesus. This call from God the Father is a call to partner with Him in this great adventure. If you seek to do His will and partner with Him, He will place the desire in your heart to act on an adventure and, as your partner, He won't let you down. O, and yes, it's hard work, it can be very taxing at times and you may even want to throw in the towel. You might even get "The Moses Complex" like I did......Lord, why me? I'm not smart, I don't know what i'm doing, I don't know how to do it, I stumble in my speech. After I told my friend Rich that he said, that's good, you won't get in God's way if you have to rely on Him. What's keeping you from setting sail? Fear? Faith? Trust? Selfishness? Genuinely partner with Jesus and you will see the unimaginable unfold. Read your bible and pray that God will give you insights into His word and ask Him to put the desire in your heart for an adventure. If you question why God hasn't given you an adventure then I would ask you this one simple question. Are you in His way?

Bob.