An Acute Sense of Calling

[worldgonewrong]

I'm curious as to what others might think of this (and please, no cynical/snarky stuff - I'm just trying to reach out).

I know this might make me seem batsh#t crazy (the latter part of what I'm going to write), but here goes:

 

My faith in God (Jesus) has grown, been shored up over a decade, and more acutely so within the past 5 years -- half of those 5 years were sort of tough & tragic, but now seem improving. I pray a lot.

 

Here's the nutty part (and I'm veiling it ever-so-slightly):

Last year, I felt called by God to endeavor a creative project. The idea literally came to me, about 80% complete in my head, and it was as if I felt God saying, "Here. You always wanted this. I'm giving you the building bricks. DO this. If you do this, you'll be alright. You'll become finally realized as the 'artist' you want to be."

The funny thing is, it's a creative endeavor which involved working in a different 'genre' or 'medium', and I found it almost hilarious that I'd be given instruction in that way. But I followed through and completed the project. I regard the instruction as, say, Noah being told to build an ark, even though he'd never built a damn boat in his life.

And now I feel like GOOD things are about to come from this. There's a certainty about this, from the beginning. It's like God has smiled and said, "Good man, you listened and built the ark. Now await."

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience to mine?

I find it mind-blowing and humbling at once.

 

(I'm not prone to 'flights of fancy' either. Or 'magical thinking'. My reality is balanced by enough setbacks, particularly at my age. But I've always found that when I've listened - really listened to the Lord and acted accordingly - I've reaped amazing merciful benefits.)

 

Thank you in advance for sharing any thoughts.

[Eve]

Yes, I was called to work 20+ years ago now to work very intimately with a range of quite troubled people. This was odd because generally I am a loner and tend to not like most of the general population. I have found out a lot about a lot of things in this time, mostly about the power of walking in the shoes of another and really listening to what people say.

 

I think it is great that you are using art as a medium. I think we can hem Christ in, when really The Holy Spirit is where ever we are when we pray - except of course if you are doing something seriously dodgy like using blood from recently murdered people to create your art (random Criminal Minds reference there)

 

Curious as to what you are actually doing but hey!

 

I don't know why you think this is somehow crazy but I am VERY open to these things so don't regard it as unusual.

 

Callings are preferable to me than random arguments about the existence of God.

 

Take care,

Eve x

[worldgonewrong]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts & experience, Eve.

 

If I state my project in clear terms, then - to the naked eye - it looks like I'm boasting about painting macaroni gold and gluing it to cardboard (ha, I didn't).

[worldgonewrong]

P.S. It's my deepest hope that God sees the 'purity' of my expression in undertaking that endeavor and that He may 'see it through' on His end. That I uphold the glory of my work to Him, but also for my parents, my kids, my girlfriend, and others who might be affected by my work. The potential 'ego' in this whole thing seems oddly & happily out of the picture.

[Eve]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts & experience, Eve.

 

If I state my project in clear terms, then - to the naked eye - it looks like I'm boasting about painting macaroni gold and gluing it to cardboard (ha, I didn't).

 

Well, I know nothing about art. Hope you have a good mentor who can give advice on the matters of what sells and what doesn't.

 

.. but I would not discount that your interest could just be for personal pleasure. I am getting into ceramics and hope maybe I can sell one day too - but I don't have pressing financial concerns to consider.

 

Hope it works out.

 

Take care,

Eve x

[TheFinalWord]

I'm curious as to what others might think of this (and please, no cynical/snarky stuff - I'm just trying to reach out).

I know this might make me seem batsh#t crazy (the latter part of what I'm going to write), but here goes:

 

My faith in God (Jesus) has grown, been shored up over a decade, and more acutely so within the past 5 years -- half of those 5 years were sort of tough & tragic, but now seem improving. I pray a lot.

 

Here's the nutty part (and I'm veiling it ever-so-slightly):

Last year, I felt called by God to endeavor a creative project. The idea literally came to me, about 80% complete in my head, and it was as if I felt God saying, "Here. You always wanted this. I'm giving you the building bricks. DO this. If you do this, you'll be alright. You'll become finally realized as the 'artist' you want to be."

The funny thing is, it's a creative endeavor which involved working in a different 'genre' or 'medium', and I found it almost hilarious that I'd be given instruction in that way. But I followed through and completed the project. I regard the instruction as, say, Noah being told to build an ark, even though he'd never built a damn boat in his life.

And now I feel like GOOD things are about to come from this. There's a certainty about this, from the beginning. It's like God has smiled and said, "Good man, you listened and built the ark. Now await."

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience to mine?

I find it mind-blowing and humbling at once.

 

(I'm not prone to 'flights of fancy' either. Or 'magical thinking'. My reality is balanced by enough setbacks, particularly at my age. But I've always found that when I've listened - really listened to the Lord and acted accordingly - I've reaped amazing merciful benefits.)

 

Thank you in advance for sharing any thoughts.

 

Yes, I have had that happen many times The holy spirit can give ideas and insight. One pattern I have noticed is a door will open, apparently from no where, and our part is to step through it in faith.

 

Yes, it is very humbling. Passages such as Psalm 8 are the only way to really describe these experiences. "When I consider your power Lord, what is man that you should even care about him? Or the Son of Man (Jesus) that you would give him to us?"

 

Playing Psalms 8 by Alexander Scourby - picosong

 

 

 

 

Bless you brother!

[BetheButterfly]

I'm curious as to what others might think of this (and please, no cynical/snarky stuff - I'm just trying to reach out).

I know this might make me seem batsh#t crazy (the latter part of what I'm going to write), but here goes:

 

My faith in God (Jesus) has grown, been shored up over a decade, and more acutely so within the past 5 years -- half of those 5 years were sort of tough & tragic, but now seem improving. I pray a lot.

 

Here's the nutty part (and I'm veiling it ever-so-slightly):

Last year, I felt called by God to endeavor a creative project. The idea literally came to me, about 80% complete in my head, and it was as if I felt God saying, "Here. You always wanted this. I'm giving you the building bricks. DO this. If you do this, you'll be alright. You'll become finally realized as the 'artist' you want to be."

The funny thing is, it's a creative endeavor which involved working in a different 'genre' or 'medium', and I found it almost hilarious that I'd be given instruction in that way. But I followed through and completed the project. I regard the instruction as, say, Noah being told to build an ark, even though he'd never built a damn boat in his life.

And now I feel like GOOD things are about to come from this. There's a certainty about this, from the beginning. It's like God has smiled and said, "Good man, you listened and built the ark. Now await."

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience to mine?

I find it mind-blowing and humbling at once.

 

(I'm not prone to 'flights of fancy' either. Or 'magical thinking'. My reality is balanced by enough setbacks, particularly at my age. But I've always found that when I've listened - really listened to the Lord and acted accordingly - I've reaped amazing merciful benefits.)

 

Thank you in advance for sharing any thoughts.

 

That's awesome!!! :bunny:

 

Well, I haven't yet had that kind of experience in regards to that, though I know God brought my husband and me together.

 

However, I always thought it's so cool how God put it in my sister's heart to be a nurse ever since she was a kid. She was always studying medical books ever since she knew they existed lol. I think it's cool how God calls people to do different things with the talents they have!!!

[angel.eyes]

I'm glad that you heard the Spirit speaking to you and that you were blessed to be open to following His will, even though it didn't make much sense to you.

 

Yes, I have been called many times to follow a particular course. It wasn't always clear to me at the outset why. Sometimes it has taken years or even decades to make sense. But so far, with time the reason has eventually become clear.

 

You just have to have faith and follow his guidance for you.

 

 

This poem by William Cowper always speaks to me--

 

God works in a mysterious way,

His wonders to perform;

He plants his footsteps in the sea,

And rides upon the storm.