Years ago, JD Greear wrote this interesting post on “calling.”

The Confusing Language of “Calling,” Part 1 | TheResurgence.

During a mission team training session, I was introduced to the idea we are not called to a task; we are called to a person. Since then, I’ve been wondering when we first started equating “calling” with “career.” Am I called to be a graphic designer or to do graphic design? Or am I called to the graphic design field? Judging by my portfolio and lack of job offers, the correct answer is “no” to all three. But maybe it’s also because none of those three can, as persons, call me.

Since starting to work in “full-time vocational ministry,” I’ve received a few comments about how I’m now doing “God’s work.” I beg to differ. No one but God can do God’s work. However, I can do the good work He has prepared for me to do, as Ephesians 2.10 states. It is important to note He prepared those works for me to do, not me for those good works. Just as the Sabbath was created for man and not man for the Sabbath, it seems reasonable to conclude the same principle applies to works.

Even though the same verse tells us we are created to do good works, we often skip over that little condition of being created “in Christ Jesus.” It seems “doing good works” is more of a capacity He has built in us rather than a primary purpose. Good works are a means to an end. A car might be created to go from 0-60 in under 8 seconds, but the purpose of the car is not remarkable acceleration; it’s transportation. Acceleration is one of the means toward the end goal of moving a person from point A to point B. The fact that we are “in Christ Jesus” suggests to me that without being re-born in Him, without being in Him and His presence (i.e. active life-giving relationship), we wouldn’t be doing any good works at all.

God doesn’t call me to do stuff for the sake of accomplishing a task. He calls me to Himself. In other words, He gives me things to do, but He calls me to be with Him. The rest of the stuff — missions, vocations, Kingdom assignments, whatever you want to call it — is the result of who He redeems me to be as I exist in His presence. Delegating items on His task list is not the reason He redeems me. The only reason I’m sure He has redeemed me is this: for His pleasure. That’s good enough reason for me! The rest of the stuff I get to do is just icing on the cake.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2.10

You can also print this support letter by getting the PDF here.

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2011 has been a breakthrough year for me. The Lord began in January by beckoning me to set aside a brief period to pursue Him pretty intensely. By February, He was reminding me of my history with His heart for Japan and rekindling my awareness of His heart for her. From then on, so much has happened! While drawing me into new opportunities of worship and mission mobilization, He has been leading me down a new path that is connecting the dots of worship, mission, and mercy.

When March 11 hit, I knew God had been preparing me to return to Japan, even for a short time, but I needed to return well. I needed to be prepared. I knew I wasn’t properly equipped for an effective ministry of compassion and disaster response. In August, He made a way for me to attend a basic training week with Crisis Response International (CRI). Through that experience, God affirmed His heart for Japan in me while strengthening and encouraging me to follow Him there. I appreciate the missional and compassionate heart of CRI, as well as the way they encourage us to live out the Kingdom cultural value of honor as described in Philippians 2.

Because I was overseas when CRI’s application process began and got a late start, I needed Him to open doors and grant me favor with them. Thankfully, they have allowed me to proceed with the application, even though I missed the deadline! As I spoke with one of the team leaders on the phone, it seemed the assignment was becoming an even better fit than I anticipated! While I am eager to minister to survivors in the disaster areas, I am also being given the chance to see the army of God unite and be strengthened in Japan. He had given me that vision and invitation 10 years ago during a summer of ministry there, and this seems to be a part of its fulfillment.

I am so excited about the possibility of returning to Japan, even for just 10 days. For years, it seem God has been encouraging me to ask for this nation as part of my inheritance (Psalm 2.8), even though I’m not quite sure what I’d do if He granted her to me! I’m sure He’ll let me know if and when I need to know. This is just one step in that process.

This step is actually a collection of many steps. Spending time seeking His face and heart, conversations to figure out logistics, raising spiritual and material support, studying Japanese again: it’s all a part of this one step of faith. It reaches further out than I can step on my own, and I would appreciate your fellowship!

• This year, God has been showing me more of His sovereignty. The thought of going back for just 10 days is a little overwhelming. Some feel a shorter trip is easier. For me, it’s actually more challenging. There is so much I want to see and do while I’m there, and while God can accomplish miracles in just moments, it takes me a little longer to do anything, not to mention miracles! It’s going to take a lot of discernment and joyful surrender to be fully aligned with His purposes, so I am asking Kingdom friends to participate by empowering me spiritually through prayer. There is no better way to go, even if it means dying to some hopes and desires! I’ll have regular updates during the entire journey, from preparation through return, so you can sign up for them here. For now, there’s an overview of areas below for which I know I’ll need prayer covering.
• This year, God has been daring me to trust Him even more for His provision. The thought of accessing the resources of Heaven is exciting, but definitely challenging. It’s clear I can’t cover the costs on my own, so I am asking Kingdom friends to participate by investing financially into this. There are a few milestones I need to meet (see below). Would you prayerfully consider helping me meet them? The sooner we reach those goals, the more time I will be freed to focus on other areas of preparation.

If you feel this is God’s invitation for you, too, please let me know! I would be so encouraged, since there’s no question it’s going to take the hand of God and the faithfulness of His own to get me to Japan.

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If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at (714)200-5878 or click on any of the links in the “Keep In Touch” section at the bottom of the sidebar on the right side of this webpage.

Thanks so much for letting me share my heart and excitement for what God is putting in front of me. It’s been quite a ride this year to keep up with Him, and it looks like it’s only going to get wilder! I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Immanuel…josie

Whenever I get ready to go overseas, I make lists. Lots of lists. Packing lists. Task lists. Wish lists. It’s satisfying to check things off. For the last few weeks, I’ve lived by these lists. My favorite one is the one with things to do to spiritually prepare myself to see, hear, and receive as much as possible from God. Spiritual disciplines and soaking in His presence have been so sweet, I wonder why I don’t live this way all the time…even when I have no plans to pull out my passport. However, there was one list I hadn’t planned on making: a reality check list.

As I was praying with my teammate for our upcoming vision trip to Europe (Sept 12-22), she prayed something that caught me off guard, but in a good way. She prayed we would be Continue reading…

It’s happened a few times this week. I’ll have an agenda, an idea of what I want to accomplish. Then, God swoops in irresistibly. One night it’s a worship song that grabs my heart, and I have to drop what I’m studying to engage with Him. Tonight, it’s His direct ministry to me, and I have to drop my plans to leave early. How can you fight that?? I can’t. It isn’t a fair fight. It’s better to just give in and let Him have His way.

I’m slowly realizing the places I thought I could go to get things done while enjoying the presence of God are the places I can’t get anything done precisely because I’m engulfed in the presence of God. I’ll get more than I planned for: I’ll get God, and I love Him for ruining my plans.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the LORD.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55.8-9

Tonight, I was reminded again through the first Perspectives lesson of the core meaning of the Hebrew word for blessing: “potency for life.” [Thanks, Larry Walker!] I love that definition. It carries so much more depth and weight than the ambiguity that usually comes when we use that word. Abraham was given potency for life so he could extend that same potency to others.¹ When we bless others, it’s more than just the warm fuzzies, random acts of kindness, or sharing generously; it’s about extending life and more life…abundant life…Jesus, who is Life. Just thinking about it gives me more joy than I know what to do with.

Immediately following that joy in my spirit was a song in my mind. My niece introduced it to me a month ago, and it was shared at our church during yesterday’s worship service. If we were to just go by the title, there would be no problem. But if you listen to the lyrics, you’ll understand some of the dissonance I’m encountering.

Both aspects of being blessed by God feel so different, yet are equally true. Both can be true at the same time. However, trying to reconcile the two is challenging me. It’s good.

I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3.10-11 

1. Genesis 12.1-2 [↩]