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Post by anneshirley on Aug 23, 2011 15:55:11 GMT -5
I am new to this board, so I will give a very brief introduction of myself, for the sake of being polite  I am in my late 20's, female, and was born and raised in the 2x2 way, and from the USA. You can call me Anne, or Shirley. I sometimes go by both  . I'd like to post a question regarding being "called by God" to do a certain thing. For those of you who are in, or have been in the work, what did your calling feel like? Did you actually hear a voice; did you have a vivid dream that you felt was God speaking to you; did you feel "moved" in a meeting or convention where the need of the harvest was spoken about? What was your experience? Just to clarify, I am not in the work. However, when I was 18, I was in a very serious relationship with a young professing man (I'll call him JD). We were very much in love with each other, and also very devoted to "The Truth". We became engaged to be married, and had set a date. But from the time of our engagement, JD became very agitated, and the subject of "the work" came up frequently. We talked about it very seriously, because we wanted to be sure that getting married was really what God intended for us. I felt certain that God intended for me to be married and have a family. I also felt like part of my "calling" in life was to minister to others in some capacity, though I wasn't sure (and still am not sure) what that would be. We both felt very confused and conflicted about this. We both felt that God had led us together, and now it felt like He was telling us "no"! After two months of confusion, we decided to break off our engagement, and JD offered for the work. I spent the next several months mourning and recovering from what felt like the sudden death of my fiance (he didn't actually die - he is still in the work today - but the only way I knew to completely let go of him and move on was to think of it as though he had died). During this time I prayed more earnestly than I had ever prayed in my entire life for God's love and guidance to lead me in this. After months of crying to God and pleading for signs, He showed me a glimpse of heaven: all I could see were colors - the colors of the rainbow, and it was so beautiful. I don't know how to describe the experience, other than that during this "vision" I felt peace. I didn't feel "led" or "directed" in any specific direction though. I just knew that God was with me, and loves/d me. It would get off topic here, but someday maybe I'll add to this experience and share what praying to God in complete surrender to his will has done for me. Anyways, I appreciate in advance any responses. Thanks! ~AnneShirley |
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 23, 2011 17:17:04 GMT -5
I'll be happy to write a little about my experience, but this is a good topic for Coffee Talk, and I have requested an admin with more "authority" than I to move it over there.
Alan
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Post by emy on Aug 23, 2011 18:22:52 GMT -5
I am new to this board, so I will give a very brief introduction of myself, for the sake of being polite I am in my late 20's, female, and was born and raised in the 2x2 way, and from the USA. You can call me Anne, or Shirley. I sometimes go by both . I'd like to post a question regarding being "called by God" to do a certain thing. For those of you who are in, or have been in the work, what did your calling feel like? Did you actually hear a voice; did you have a vivid dream that you felt was God speaking to you; did you feel "moved" in a meeting or convention where the need of the harvest was spoken about? What was your experience? Just to clarify, I am not in the work. However, when I was 18, I was in a very serious relationship with a young professing man (I'll call him JD). We were very much in love with each other, and also very devoted to "The Truth". We became engaged to be married, and had set a date. But from the time of our engagement, JD became very agitated, and the subject of "the work" came up frequently. We talked about it very seriously, because we wanted to be sure that getting married was really what God intended for us. I felt certain that God intended for me to be married and have a family. I also felt like part of my "calling" in life was to minister to others in some capacity, though I wasn't sure (and still am not sure) what that would be. We both felt very confused and conflicted about this. We both felt that God had led us together, and now it felt like He was telling us "no"! After two months of confusion, we decided to break off our engagement, and JD offered for the work. I spent the next several months mourning and recovering from what felt like the sudden death of my fiance (he didn't actually die - he is still in the work today - but the only way I knew to completely let go of him and move on was to think of it as though he had died). During this time I prayed more earnestly than I had ever prayed in my entire life for God's love and guidance to lead me in this. After months of crying to God and pleading for signs, He showed me a glimpse of heaven: all I could see were colors - the colors of the rainbow, and it was so beautiful. I don't know how to describe the experience, other than that during this "vision" I felt peace. I didn't feel "led" or "directed" in any specific direction though. I just knew that God was with me, and loves/d me. It would get off topic here, but someday maybe I'll add to this experience and share what praying to God in complete surrender to his will has done for me. Anyways, I appreciate in advance any responses. Thanks! ~AnneShirley Looking forward to hearing about this. (Alan, she may want the privacy of the Registered board.) |
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 23, 2011 19:54:57 GMT -5
Looking forward to hearing about this. (Alan, she may want the privacy of the Registered board.) Okay that makes sense - I didn't realize quite how this board works, as I've never used it . . . |
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 24, 2011 16:49:26 GMT -5
I remember hearing workers talking of "the need of the harvest" from my youth - It just seems like one of those things that was "always there." But the, at Gilroy convention in 1976 - just a couple of weeks before I began my junior year in high school - it seemed like they were talking about it all the time, though my friends didn't seem to notice.
I didn't feel I was being "called" right then, but I did realize that I would need to confront the question sometime. And sure enough, it just kind of hit me the day before school started, as Steve and I were out stacking the boards of a fence we had taken down so a neighbor could farm the few acres our parents' owned. I became very troubled, and I did not like the idea! I look quite angry in my school pic from that year.
It really only took me a few weeks to settle it, and to be "willing," as I was so miserable. But I still had two years of high school left, and of course knew I would need to finish them. I kept the work in my mind, knowing that is what I would be doing, so it did become difficult for me to focus on the idea of college or a career. Looking back now, in some ways I see that as kind of a "cop-out" on decisions I was afraid to make, but then, I can also see it as God directing me to a place I needed to be, where He could teach me, and where I wouldn't make some choices that would have a drastic, adverse impact on my future.
After finishing high school, I began working in Modesto, about an hour's drive south of Galt, where I attended high school. After a few months, I was kind of waiting for God to tell me to offer, then I realized, "God spoke to you once, and He probably hasn't changed His mind." So, I wrote my letter to Eldon Tenniswood, who was on a convention tour in Asia, but promptly replied to my letter. I ended up waiting about a year and a half, when Eldon approached me as I waited for the lunch line to shorten at a Gilroy preps "workday." I never did eat lunch that day! I came to the weekend of Gilroy I, and sat up front with the workers, but did not speak until Gilroy II, and I thought for sure they could hear my heart over the microphone! I sometimes took an F on school assignments rather than get up there in front of the class . . .
I gave my notice at work, my brother took over my car payments, and my grandparents took me down to Santee for convention. I was assigned to work in Sacramento with Dale Bors that first year.
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Post by anneshirley on Aug 24, 2011 22:48:05 GMT -5
Alan, thank you for sharing your story here. So far for me, the times I know for sure that God has a message for me, I have a very vivid dream or vision that stays with me. Even years after the dream/vision, I can still remember it. Typically all it takes is writing about it in a journal and God's message becomes clear to me. There have also been times when I sat in meeting and what was shared really struck a chord deep within my soul. I believe God has many ways of reaching souls. Dreams/visions happen to be the most effective way for Him to reach me On a side note, I am posting using a pseudonym, so if anyone feels this topic would be appropriate on the Coffee Talk board I have no problem with it being moved/copied there. |
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 24, 2011 23:43:44 GMT -5
Alan, thank you for sharing your story here. So far for me, the times I know for sure that God has a message for me, I have a very vivid dream or vision that stays with me. Even years after the dream/vision, I can still remember it. Typically all it takes is writing about it in a journal and God's message becomes clear to me. There have also been times when I sat in meeting and what was shared really struck a chord deep within my soul. I believe God has many ways of reaching souls. Dreams/visions happen to be the most effective way for Him to reach me On a side note, I am posting using a pseudonym, so if anyone feels this topic would be appropriate on the Coffee Talk board I have no problem with it being moved/copied there. My wife often learns things through dreams, and on several occasions involving critical junctures in our own lives, she has come to an understanding through a dream at nearly the same time I have arrived at the same understanding through my "rational" approach, in which I also have learned to allow my thinking to be spirit-directed. Yes, God speaks in ways that work the best for each of us! I have also known others who receive direction through journal writing. I would like some activity over in Coffee Talk, and this topic would be super, and perhaps noticed a bit more there; however, I don't have the "power" to move it . . . |
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Post by anneshirley on Aug 25, 2011 19:15:04 GMT -5
I would like some activity over in Coffee Talk, and this topic would be super, and perhaps noticed a bit more there; however, I don't have the "power" to move it . . . I will just copy my original post in a new thread in Coffee Talk. That way no one needs permission |
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Post by anneshirley on Aug 25, 2011 19:16:44 GMT -5
I'd like to pose a question regarding being "called by God" to do a certain thing. For those of you who are in, or have been in the work, what did your calling feel like? Did you actually hear a voice; did you have a vivid dream that you felt was God speaking to you; did you feel "moved" in a meeting or convention where the need of the harvest was spoken about? What was your experience?
Just to clarify, I am not in the work. However, when I was 18, I was in a very serious relationship with a young professing man (I'll call him JD). We were very much in love with each other, and also very devoted to "The Truth". We became engaged to be married, and had set a date. But from the time of our engagement, JD became very agitated, and the subject of "the work" came up frequently. We talked about it very seriously, because we wanted to be sure that getting married was really what God intended for us. I felt certain that God intended for me to be married and have a family. I also felt like part of my "calling" in life was to minister to others in some capacity, though I wasn't sure (and still am not sure) what that would be. We both felt very confused and conflicted about this. We both felt that God had led us together, and now it felt like He was telling us "no"! After two months of confusion, we decided to break off our engagement, and JD offered for the work.
I spent the next several months mourning and recovering from what felt like the sudden death of my fiance (he didn't actually die - he is still in the work today - but the only way I knew to completely let go of him and move on was to think of it as though he had died). During this time I prayed more earnestly than I had ever prayed in my entire life for God's love and guidance to lead me in this. After months of crying to God and pleading for signs, He showed me a glimpse of heaven: all I could see were colors - the colors of the rainbow, and it was so beautiful. I don't know how to describe the experience, other than that during this "vision" I felt peace. I didn't feel "led" or "directed" in any specific direction though. I just knew that God was with me, and loves/d me.
It would get off topic here, but someday maybe I'll add to this experience and share what praying to God in complete surrender to his will has done for me.
Anyways, I appreciate in advance any responses. Thanks!
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Post by anneshirley on Aug 25, 2011 19:21:09 GMT -5
So far for me, the times I know for sure that God has a message for me, I have a very vivid dream or vision that stays with me. Even years after the dream/vision, I can still remember it. Typically all it takes is writing about it in a journal and God's message becomes clear to me. There have also been times when I sat in meeting and what was shared really struck a chord deep within my soul. I believe God has many ways of reaching souls. Dreams/visions happen to be the most effective way for Him to reach me |
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 25, 2011 20:23:28 GMT -5
I remember hearing workers talking of "the need of the harvest" from my youth - It just seems like one of those things that was "always there." But the, at Gilroy convention in 1976 - just a couple of weeks before I began my junior year in high school - it seemed like they were talking about it all the time, though my friends didn't seem to notice.
I didn't feel I was being "called" right then, but I did realize that I would need to confront the question sometime. And sure enough, it just kind of hit me the day before school started, as Steve and I were out stacking the boards of a fence we had taken down so a neighbor could farm the few acres our parents' owned. I became very troubled, and I did not like the idea! I look quite angry in my school pic from that year.
It really only took me a few weeks to settle it, and to be "willing," as I was so miserable. But I still had two years of high school left, and of course knew I would need to finish them. I kept the work in my mind, knowing that is what I would be doing, so it did become difficult for me to focus on the idea of college or a career. Looking back now, in some ways I see that as kind of a "cop-out" on decisions I was afraid to make, but then, I can also see it as God directing me to a place I needed to be, where He could teach me, and where I wouldn't make some choices that would have a drastic, adverse impact on my future.
After finishing high school, I began working in Modesto, about an hour's drive south of Galt, where I attended high school. After a few months, I was kind of waiting for God to tell me to offer, then I realized, "God spoke to you once, and He probably hasn't changed His mind." So, I wrote my letter to Eldon Tenniswood, who was on a convention tour in Asia, but promptly replied to my letter. I ended up waiting about a year and a half, when Eldon approached me as I waited for the lunch line to shorten at a Gilroy preps "workday." I never did eat lunch that day! I came to the weekend of Gilroy I, and sat up front with the workers, but did not speak until Gilroy II, and I thought for sure they could hear my heart over the microphone! I sometimes took an F on school assignments rather than get up there in front of the class . . .
I gave my notice at work, my brother took over my car payments, and my grandparents took me down to Santee for convention. I was assigned to work in Sacramento with Dale Bors that first year.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 25, 2011 20:25:53 GMT -5
Alan, thank you for sharing your story here. So far for me, the times I know for sure that God has a message for me, I have a very vivid dream or vision that stays with me. Even years after the dream/vision, I can still remember it. Typically all it takes is writing about it in a journal and God's message becomes clear to me. There have also been times when I sat in meeting and what was shared really struck a chord deep within my soul. I believe God has many ways of reaching souls. Dreams/visions happen to be the most effective way for Him to reach me On a side note, I am posting using a pseudonym, so if anyone feels this topic would be appropriate on the Coffee Talk board I have no problem with it being moved/copied there. My wife often learns things through dreams, and on several occasions involving critical junctures in our own lives, she has come to an understanding through a dream at nearly the same time I have arrived at the same understanding through my "rational" approach, in which I also have learned to allow my thinking to be spirit-directed. Yes, God speaks in ways that work the best for each of us! I have also known others who receive direction through journal writing. I would like some activity over in Coffee Talk, and this topic would be super, and perhaps noticed a bit more there; however, I don't have the "power" to move it . . . |
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Post by Scott Ross on Aug 26, 2011 12:24:18 GMT -5
I moved this over here, so now we have two threads with the same subject. I will try to combine them, and then you that have posted can delete any duplicate postings. Just click on 'modify post' and you can delete it. I would also like to encourage workers reading here to post their experiences about how they felt called into the work. This portion of the board is open to unregistered posting, so feel free!
Scott.  |
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 27, 2011 22:46:02 GMT -5
An old post of Scott's - from March 2011, on "Peacemakers" - is showing as the last post on this Coffee Talk board, so I'm going to throw this in here to force it to show a "new post," and hopefully stimulate some response to Anne Shirley's question on being "called" into the work . . .
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Post by irvinegrey on Aug 28, 2011 1:38:36 GMT -5
1. What constitutes a call?
2 How is the call verified?
3 Following the call who decides the field of work?
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 28, 2011 2:06:36 GMT -5
1. What constitutes a call? 2 How is the call verified? 3 Following the call who decides the field of work? Number three is fairly easy to answer in terms of the fellowship, as it is generally the older brothers who assign "fields," although a worker will sometimes feel a call to a specific area, generally a foreign land. Your first question is highly subjective, in my estimation. Maybe we can talk about a feeling, or an understanding, that one is directed or required of God to become a worker. And verification is highly subjective as well, with the "older brother" at times advising one who offers to wait awhile and see if they still feel the same way. A person's "testimony" - reputation - among the friends and workers is also taken into account. That's all I can really come up with along these lines right now - perhaps others have some ideas . . . If a few others can share their experiences, it will likely give more of an idea of the great variety of experiences in feeling called, and the reason for the difficulty in stating exactly of what a calling consists. |
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Post by anneshirley on Aug 28, 2011 13:02:29 GMT -5
1. What constitutes a call?
2 How is the call verified?
3 Following the call who decides the field of work?
I think these are all valid questions, and like Al said, #1 is very subjective. This is why I hope more people will post and share their experiences.
I feel that any relationship/communication with God is personal, possibly even unique to each individual. This doesn't mean we don't share similar experiences. I think that God is so vast that there are innumerable ways to experience relationship with Him. Because of this I find it fascinating to hear of other people's spiritual experiences.
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Post by soldierfortruth on Aug 29, 2011 11:50:10 GMT -5
I wonder if there is a way to send you an email? I am new on here. I found what you shared interesting, and would prefer to respond to YOU.
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Post by emy on Aug 29, 2011 11:57:38 GMT -5
I wonder if there is a way to send you an email? I am new on here. I found what you shared interesting, and would prefer to respond to YOU. Click on the name of the person you wish to respond to. On the page that comes up there is an option to "send personal message." |
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Post by anneshirley on Aug 29, 2011 21:31:10 GMT -5
Thanks, emy.
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shushy
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Post by shushy on Aug 30, 2011 3:30:13 GMT -5
Alan, thank you for sharing your story here. So far for me, the times I know for sure that God has a message for me, I have a very vivid dream or vision that stays with me. Even years after the dream/vision, I can still remember it. Typically all it takes is writing about it in a journal and God's message becomes clear to me. There have also been times when I sat in meeting and what was shared really struck a chord deep within my soul. I believe God has many ways of reaching souls. Dreams/visions happen to be the most effective way for Him to reach me Oh my gosh, welcome to my world....  On a side note, I am posting using a pseudonym, so if anyone feels this topic would be appropriate on the Coffee Talk board I have no problem with it being moved/copied there. |
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Post by imnx2 on Aug 30, 2011 13:13:03 GMT -5
I have heard four reasons why people offer for the work.
1 - Wanting to be a worker.
2 - Hearing much of the work in meetings....then offer for the sake of peace. (This I heard more than others and was my situation.)
3 - Groomed and enocuraged by others.
4 - No other choice for a future...a last resort.
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 30, 2011 15:00:51 GMT -5
I have heard four reasons why people offer for the work. 1 - Wanting to be a worker. 2 - Hearing much of the work in meetings....then offer for the sake of peace. (This I heard more than others and was my situation.) 3 - Groomed and encouraged by others. 4 - No other choice for a future...a last resort. Number 2 resonates the most with me too. Sometimes these can exist in varying combinations as well. |
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Post by x4r3d2 on Aug 30, 2011 19:30:06 GMT -5
I have heard four reasons why people offer for the work. 1 - Wanting to be a worker. 2 - Hearing much of the work in meetings....then offer for the sake of peace. (This I heard more than others and was my situation.) 3 - Groomed and enocuraged by others. 4 - No other choice for a future...a last resort. So you don't believe any are called by God? |
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Post by Alan Vandermyden on Aug 30, 2011 19:43:30 GMT -5
I have heard four reasons why people offer for the work. 1 - Wanting to be a worker. 2 - Hearing much of the work in meetings....then offer for the sake of peace. (This I heard more than others and was my situation.) 3 - Groomed and enocuraged by others. 4 - No other choice for a future...a last resort. So you don't believe any are called by God? That is an interesting question, x4r3d2 - I overlooked that "omission," and yet, upon reflection, I don't think these possibilities really exclude the possibility of being called either. I felt called, and I still feel I was called, yet I also feel that had much to do with hearing about it, and having the work upheld before me, all of my life. If I had never heard of the fellowship or the ministry, could God have called me into it? I also feel that my "options" for a future were severely limited by my lack of social skills, and I shudder to think where I may have ended up. This relates to question # 4, and yet, again, I still feel God called me. Maybe it was a last resort, but then, is God not interested in giving us a future? I'm not writing this with something like financial success in mind as far as a "future," but God has taught me to love and care for people, and that definitely promises a better future than I would have had with all the anger and fear I carried . . . |
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Post by imnx2 on Aug 30, 2011 21:19:22 GMT -5
I have heard four reasons why people offer for the work. 1 - Wanting to be a worker. 2 - Hearing much of the work in meetings....then offer for the sake of peace. (This I heard more than others and was my situation.) 3 - Groomed and enocuraged by others. 4 - No other choice for a future...a last resort. So you don't believe any are called by God? Likely mostly 2 and 3 feel they are and less so of 1 and 4. |
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Post by imnx2 on Aug 31, 2011 4:16:13 GMT -5
Harvest field.
Is the field always called the harvest field? By that I mean is a field designated a harvest filed because it has harvestable yields?
Is the field also a sowing field?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 31, 2011 8:06:03 GMT -5
I hope that this is not too provocative a question, but are any workers enticed into the work because they are adventurous and attracted to travel and seeing other places and cultures, etc. ? Would these things be a consideration for some who offer?
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