Vocation: what's yours? With Fodhla Starting 9.15am

Vocation  Means ‘calling’  A call from God!  A call to something you are gifted in or drawn to  Note: vocation involves the use of your gifts and talents

Job vs vocation Vocation often differs from your occupation. E.g. Apostle Paul  His vocation was missionary to the Gentiles (Col 1:1)  His occupation — to provide for himself and his ministry financially—was tentmaker (Acts 18:2–4). E.g. Eric Liddell 'He will take great delight in you … He will rejoice over you with singing' Zeph 3:17

To Love God  A vocation is a call from God to love God  The object is God  Not building a better society, renewing the Church, having a family, fulfilling yourself, helping people, or confronting new challenges. These may be involved in a vocation  First call from God is ‘to be holy’.  ongoing conversion experience  inviting us to turn toward God  by aligning our will with God's will.  Discerning the call for action is ongoing too.

More than one vocation? 1.Your church’s vocation 2.Everyone’s vocation 3.Your unique vocation

In the Bible, ALL of us are called to …? 1.Love, as in The Great Commandment: love God, love neighbour, as self 2.The Great Commission. Jesus said, “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them … and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 28: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God“, Micah 6:8 4.‘Speak the truth with love’, Eph 4:14 5.To live freely 6.To be whole, one person, living from your centre. Be ‘Shalom’. Be complete. 7.In sum, to become more and more Christlike: e.g. 'created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness', Eph 4:23

Who does God want me to be? ‘We are simply God's servants …. Each one of us does the work which the Lord gave him to do’ 1 Corinthians 3: 5-6, Good News Translation Saved to serve!

Our Purposes in Life 1.You were planned for God's pleasure 2.You were formed for God's family 3.You were created to become like Christ 4.You were shaped for serving God (your ministry or service in your church community) 5.You were made for a mission (outside the church)

Gifts and Talents Gifts  Prophesy  Teaching  Healing, miracles  Leading  Words, pictures, tongues  Humility  Compassion  Encouraging, helping  Intercession  Kindness, generosity, love Talents  Making breakfast  Cleaning  DIY  Music  Gardening  IT  Working with others

Your Unique Vocation  What fulfils you? What delights you?  What really, really upsets you? E.g. Cruelty to animals; old people alone and cold  What’s the African Violet part of your life?

Grow the African Violet part of your life

Attributes of Vocations  Your vocation will be accompanied by what you need, e.g. gifts of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 14:1 and 1 Cor 14:12), fill in a gifts questionnaire,  You may not be aware that you are gifted/talented in something til you try it.  Not an unfathomable mystery. It’s between you and God. It’s about listening to Him through living.  Involves ‘give and take away’. Involves growth and pruning  Called to ‘be’ and called to ‘do’. Like in Martha and Mary (Luke 10: 38-41), we need both. Vocation is both about being with God, and serving: being leads to doing.  Vocation changes. It is not fixed. It morphs and grows according to God's wisdom.  No need for anguish. Know you are now where God has you.  Movement may not be unidirectional

How do we find our vocation? The examen

How do we find our vocation? 1.The consciousness examen. Note your findings. Conduct every night for one week/month. Before doing the exercise, pray for God to show you what He wants you to see. 2.Study vocation stories in the Bible 3.Get regular, formal support from a fellow Christian (spiritual direction, prayer partner, accountability partner) to ask 'where is God in this?' 4.Take regular time-outs with God. God speaks in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:12). You can’t hear Him in noise!!!! 5.Trial and error. Must step out of the boat. Keep living and moving vs staying stuck. 'Only as we do, can we know', George Macdonald. 6. The gravestone exercise: what do you want written on yours? 7.Get feedback from others.

What verse is in the Bible for you?!

The Big Questions  Who am I?  Where am I?  Where am I going?  What direction am I going in?  What is my purpose in life?

What I don't want to be named:  Mara: bitterness, Ruth 1:20  Jabez: pain, 1 Chronicles 4:9  Others?

What I would like to be named is …

My Vocation Story  My life story vs my vocation story: is there a thread?  Two parts of my life coming together in one question:  1. God and  2. managing conflict  Said yes  Grew retreat ministry for adult Christians  Retreat themes based on real life experiences  God and loneliness,  God and depression,  God and forgiveness,  God and music, and  God and self-love.