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Do You Feel It Calling You?

Artist Thomas Rousing, Creative Commons, cc licensing

Can you remember it? The first time someone pointed it out to you or the first-time you noticed that feeling in your chest?

It might have been the way you caught that football pass while diving into the grass, or after they caught you belting out a song when you thought you were alone. It might have come in a teacher’s scrawl at the bottom of a writing assignment, words that said, “You have talent. Keep going.”

Was it about your drawing skills, or your speed in math, or how you are able to hold captive the attention of twenty children’s eyes in elementary school and Sunday School?

Whether someone else noticed it yet or not, there is something you do that brings you joy. There is something you do that grabs your attention, gives you a little lift, and makes you want to strive all the more.

Famous Olympic runner Eric Liddell once said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel his pleasure.”

What is it for you that brings you joy, that calls you out to pursue further? For me, words and teaching grab my heart. I love learning new things, and then turning those concepts over and over in my mind, wrestling with how to best capture and describe them, linking them with other ideas. I love most of all learning about our Creator God, seeing his heart for his world and the transformative work he does. His artistic sculpting of people’s lives and history amazes and delights me.

This weekend I get to join talented women like Angie Smith, Dee Brestin, Susie Larsen, and many more from across the nation to speak at the Set Apart Conference in St. Paul, Minnesota. These are women who love God and are passionate about using their words to share God’s wild chasing love for his creation. And for me, I am honored to speak alongside them. When I get to talk about God, it feels like worship to my King.

If you are near the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and wish to join us, feel free to click here for any last-minute tickets. Join thousands of women from across the Midwest to get to know this God of hope, our Artist God. Feel free to come see me too. I would love to meet you and talk more. I am sharing “The Seven Needs of a Husband” in sessions A and B, on both Friday and Saturday.

What is it that brings you joy? What do you do that excites you? Would you join me this week in saying, “This thing, God? I’m doing it for you. It’s worship to you.”

I’d love to hear what yours is.

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13 Comments

  1. DaisyTea on March 6, 2014 at 1:02 pm

    Singing!!! I love to worship the Lord and minister to listening souls.
    Writing!!! I love to write inspirational words that speak to hearts and encourage.
    Thanks for your lovely blog, Jennifer. You are a blessing indeed! Wish I could come to that conference, but alas! I am in Florida.
    Come on down here sometime? πŸ˜€
    The Lord bless you richly today … and on this wonderful weekend you are anticipating!

  2. Bill (cycleguy) on March 6, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    Praying you have a good time with the ladies. Sad, our ladies never heard a word about it. I think they may have been interested in going, although Minneapolis is a fu-u-ur distance. What brings me pleasure: My family. My grandson. Preaching. Serving this church. Cycling. (not necessarily always in that order) LOL

  3. Lisa notes... on March 6, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    I've always loved that quote by Eric Liddell. It does feel so good to feel his pleasure when we do something he's created us to do. Writing is one of those things for me, too.

    Praying God's blessings on you as you minister to others this weekend! Wish I lived close enough to come.

  4. Floyd on March 6, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    I feel it when I design and build homes, write, and coach. It is what He put in me, and using His gift to bring Him honor gratify our souls like nothing else can in this world.

    I'm praying for your gift as you speak and share the truths of our Father. You go girl!

  5. Unknown on March 7, 2014 at 4:00 am

    Sounds like a wonderful conference πŸ™‚ I just wanted to pop in and say, thank you, for checking in. It put a smile on my face to see your comment. And thanks for this post. Sometimes I get all mixed up inside about what it is I should focus on. But I know it brings honor when we use our gifts. Thanks for that reminder.

  6. Jayne on March 7, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    I love blogging and taking care of my family and home and sharing that on my blog! I love sharing how God works in my everyday life. If only I lived closer I would come. Minnesota is just a bit too far from Georgia. I will be praying for the conference though! Have fun!

  7. Jennifer Dougan on March 9, 2014 at 10:34 pm

    DaisyTea,

    Singing, writing, blogging? Those are great ways to serve and worship your God.

    Thank you for stopping in here and for your encouraging words. The conference went wonderfully — thanks to God! πŸ™‚

    Your Florida sounds tantalizingly warm right now from MN, but the snow is starting to melt now.

    Have a great week,
    Jennifer Dougan
    jenniferdougan.com

  8. Jennifer Dougan on March 9, 2014 at 10:46 pm

    DaisyTea,

    I can't figure out how to get to your blog. Help!

    Jennifer Dougan
    jenniferdougan.com

  9. Jennifer Dougan on March 9, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    Bill,

    Thanks for praying for me at the conference. It seemed to go wonderfully, thanks to God! Your women would have loved the conference, but yes, a bit of commute. πŸ™‚

    Family, preaching, serving the church bring you pleasure? Yes, wonderful to be able to enjoy the people and passions in our life, huh?

    Jennifer Dougan
    jenniferdougan.com

  10. Jennifer Dougan on March 9, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    LisaNotes,

    Lovely to have you here. Your comment: "It does feel so good to feel his pleasure when we do something he's created us to do. Writing is one of those things for me, too." resonates with me too.

    It would have been fun to have you here too,
    Jennifer Dougan
    jenniferdougan.com

  11. Jennifer Dougan on March 9, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    Floyd,

    You design and build homes? That's neat! Writing, coaching, and using "his gifts to bring him honor" –yes.

    Have a great week,
    Jennifer Dougan
    jenniferdougan.com

  12. Jennifer Dougan on March 9, 2014 at 11:04 pm

    Lori,

    So nice to have you here and to hear from you again too! πŸ™‚ You're welcome and my pleasure.

    Yes, use your gifts and passions for him. It brings us such joy too, huh?

    Jennifer Dougan
    jenniferdougan.com

  13. Jennifer Dougan on March 9, 2014 at 11:10 pm

    Jayne,

    It sounds like we have some similar passions and hobbies. Thanks for praying for me at the conference. It seemed to go wonderfully! Thanks to God.

    Georgia sounds warm and green right now. πŸ™‚ Minnesotans everywhere are creeping incredulously outdoors with temps in the 40s this week

    Jennifer Dougan
    jenniferdougan.com

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