I have the greatest "job" on earth. When I was 15 years old I announced the calling of God in my life to become a preacher. (Remember the following statement for later)My grandfather once told me that there is a difference in a man announcing his call to preach and him actually surrendering to that call. I announced my call on July 8, 2000.God used me. I traveled many miles and preached at many places. Seems like every Sunday I was somewhere preaching. Then there were revivals from time to time and other special events. I had many ups and downs in my life following this announcement. I lived for God now and then but mainly did whatever I wanted to do. Everything was about me. Yes, I was preaching but not wholeheartedly. Do I expect to answer to God for that one day? Absolutely! Anything I can do about the past now? Nope. While living this self-centered, worldly life God reminded me often, even daily, of His calling in my life. God never left me. The calling of God never lifted off of me. I wasn't living like I was created to live. I wasn't meeting the calling which God had given me. He counted me worthy and placed me in the ministry, yet I took it lightly and disregarded his call. I had announced but I had not surrendered!
In 2004 God grabbed my attention and focused it on Him. He allowed me to get myself in a series of circumstances of which only He could get me out. He let me get myself to a place where the only way to look was up. He used many ways and many people to get me where I needed to be with him. Some of those ways I didn't like, but I thank God He cared enough to get my attention. I was in a "me lifestyle" of which I never should have been a part. Everything was about me and what I wanted to do. Believe me I know exactly how horrible of a person this sounds like. You mean you preached in churches but weren't living for God? Yes. You often times put on a front? Yes. I was that guy. I am not proud of it but that is the fact. Many probably thought all was good when in all actuality all was far from good. Far from God would be more like it. I never doubted what God wanted me to do, but it sure didn't match my plans. So I appeased the flesh and soothed the conscience. That's right...Announced but didn't surrender.
Remember the saying my grandfather told me? Well, 2004 was when I proved my grandpa right. I had announced my calling in 2000 but I didn't fully surrender until 2004. It was that year that God opened a life changing door to someone who did NOT deserve it, me! He allowed me the awesome privilege to serve as youth/associate pastor of Eastside Baptist in Minden, LA. I never knew how much that church family, her pastor and those children would change/impact my life. Bro. Richard Methvin (the pastor) was upfront, honest and harsh when necessary. He scolded me, taught me, rewarded me and prayed with me. Today he is a father in the ministry to me and a best friend. God's blessings began to flow when I decided to surrender to His call and live an honest, dedicated, God-centered life. Just when I thought it couldn't get better, it did. God gave me a woman. Beautiful, funny, loving, kind, caring and forgiving doesn't even begin to describe this woman. She was all these and more, but one thing she didn't deal with was my old life or the people who wanted me to stay in it. She laid the law down to me, them and anyone else who got in the way. She wasn't possessive, jealous or crazy in any way. She loved me! She knew God put us together to be one and she wouldn't let Satan mess it up. I remember one night specifically when we stayed up until 3am so I could sit and tell her about all the bad things I had done, poor decisions I had made and messes I had gotten myself into. I knew for sure she would be gone after that night. However, she loved me, listened to me and has never held one thing against me. That night was the last night we talked about many of those things. To her they were my past and she was willing to let them stay there, in the past. God gave me a woman to help me understand my grandpa's saying. Between her, Bro. Richard, my family, church family and the kiddos God gave me in the Eastside youth I finally understood it was time to surrender. I enrolled in seminary that year. In 2005 I married the woman who I say "God used to save my life and ministry." God has been so good to allow me the privilege to live, learn and change.
God has brought us so far since then. I say us because as of November 19, 2005 me and momma became one flesh and there isn't a me anymore. It's us from then on...We worked at Eastside 2 years, Calvary Baptist in Hamburg for 2 years and Calvary Baptist in Magnolia for going on 4 years now. I graduated 5 years of seminary 2009. He has been faithful through it all. We have the 2 beautiful, healthy children and more CBC family and friends than I can name. I apologize to my Lord often for failing Him for so long. I tell Him I am sorry for Announcing the Call but not Surrendering to it. He has forgiven me and I can't stop praising Him for it.
Again, I have the greatest "job" on earth. It really isn't a job. It is a calling of God. A calling which I didn't appreciate for about 4 years but one I wouldn't trade for all the world now. There are ups and downs. Fun times and times like today when I talked to a lady about her husband's cancer which might soon take his earthly life. The blessings of God, however, always dim the view of the bad times. Some see this as a job but it isn't. The calling to preach the gospel is the highest calling on earth. It isn't extended to every man but it is extended to some unlikely candidates like myself. I am not any more special than anyone else. I don't know why God would or how he could use someone like me to bring Him glory and care for His people. I am glad He gave me the time to experience what it is like to surrender to His calling though. I have so much to improve on as a preacher/pastor. The road ahead is long and there will be many twists and turns, but we won't travel it alone. Thank God, He won't leave us! With the high calling comes high responsibilities. Much has been given and much is required, so pray for me. Pray for all men of God! Pray we will surrender and stay that way! I'm not sure if anyone will read this but if so and if you are where I was, know this, God won't stop calling, so you better start listening!
Loving God and His People!
that was very beautiful & inspiring. I also was gifted by God, with my wife (Bobbie Jane Chapman), my companion, my helper, my teacher and a great listener. I could go on & on however, I just wanted to say we love you Bro Micah and if I ever offended you with anything I said in the past, it was just that, in my past,not my true feelings since being saved, please forgive me !! Bro Larry Fuller
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