He Qualifies The Called

Today, after worship and during the first session of missionary formation at He Cares, Johanna shared a sense she had received, similar to my previous post: that God enables those whom He calls. That truth reminds me of yet another statement I've always taken to heart: God doesn't call the qualified, but instead qualifies the called. And, as I look back on the things I am now able and enabled to do, only by His grace, I can say a resounding AMEN to that!

The good Lord has qualified me in the following ways, against all odds:

1. I quit smoking, cold turkey, and haven't touched a cigarette for almost three years - after 16 years of chain smoking up to 2 packs a day!
2. I quit swearing. Even in traffic. And even when I most needed a smoke.
3. I climbed a mountain - the second highest in the country. Without cussing. If you knew my mountain climbing history (if not, ask Miles or Ney), you'd know only God could pull off a feat like that.
4. I stopped committing my "favorite" sin. Only God could do that too.
5. I now believe soundly in the truth of the checklist in 1 Corinthians 13. And in true-blue genuine classic courtship, the kind where the guy does the pursuing. My feminist friends will kill me for saying that. ;-)
6. I can play the tambourine. While singing (never was too big on multi-tasking!). But only during worship. Weird huh?
7. I can actually now sing in harmony. Ask Oman - or anyone else in the David ministry. I used to be harmonically (!) challenged. Mwehe.
8. Despite the early onset of Alzheimer's, I can actually remember 48,000 kids' names. Give or take a few thousand.
9. I've suddenly forgotten that I can't stand the sight of blood and guts and children's skin diseases.
10. I've suddenly forgotten that I can't stand children. :-)
11. I now allow myself to be called "Ate." Even by people older than myself!
12. I now wake up at 6:30 a.m. Even though I don't have to.
13. I now know what the sunrise looks like, and I love it.
14. I can almost play the guitar. One day soon, I will be able to play B minor!
15. I can now say sorry, even when it hurts to do so; and I can now also forgive, even when it seems to hurt even more.

And the list goes on and on. None of these things I could have done without Divine direction - because none of these things were within my capacity to do. Praise God, for He makes all things new...I am a work in progress, and I look forward to what other "qualifications" He will add on to my CV. :-)