Ten years ago, the university where I currently work unveiled a 12-part vision statement to help chart the institution’s course for the next decade. Being a private, Christian university, the vision statement included a natural bent toward spiritual development. Imperative VI, in particular, emphasized the need for students “to understand life as a stewardship and work as a vocation.” Over the years, this idea of life as a calling extended into staff and faculty professional development, as well.

In a nutshell, if we view our life work as a calling and life — as a whole — as a stewardship of service, then even the most seemingly mundane tasks can become our ministry. We begin to live out Colossians 3:17, which reads: “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (NIV).

When I embarked upon an overseas missions assignment in the mid-to-late ’90s, I had a very clear sense of God’s calling toward that role. I didn’t know yet if I was supposed to make a complete career shift into missions or if it would be a short-term assignment, but regardless, I was confident that I was supposed to go when I did.

Since that time, I have felt a sense of reassurance about the jobs that I have held. I haven’t experienced a firm “calling” toward any particular position, but I feel like God has let the dominoes fall in place to prepare me for where I am today.

All that is to say, what’s next? All of my spiritual gift inventories point toward administration as my primary gift, and I’ve gained quite a bit of professional experience in the nonprofit sector/higher ed. I used to think that God had one purpose/plan for my life, so I’d darn sure better get it right and make the singularly correct decisions. Now, I wonder if that’s really the case. The “Experiencing God” study several years ago made me realize that I should be more conscientious about where God is at work than I should be about “my” decisions. God can still work through me, no matter where I live or what my job title happens to be.

I pray for God’s will to be done, but part of me wonders: Isn’t he going to do his will, anyway? I suppose that my prayer to that end is just an affirmation that I’m conforming to his plan, even if it is not necessarily my own initial inclination. If I pray for God’s will and receive a job offer, do I take it and assume it’s his will? What if there are multiple options on the table? What if I say yes to one, and the next day, another calls? (Ah, to be so fortunate in this economy! I’m just thinking aloud, not presuming that potential employers will be knocking down my door begging to hire me.)

I pray for peace and wisdom. James 1:5 reminds me, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (NIV).

Somehow, entering the “real” mission field seems like a less daunting task than making a career move. Perhaps because people assume that you are “called” to missions, whereas, jobs are just jobs? I don’t know the answers.

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Today’s post is another life:unmasked link-up. Join us and share the vulnerable messy truth about you and God and how God is at work in that mess.

Think about God’s faithfulness. He is a promise-keeper, not a promise-breaker. He is full of compassion & mercy! (James 5:11)

Matthew 5:36 implies that we can’t even turn one hair on our heads gray or not, so we don’t even have authority to swear. Let yes be yes.

The New Year is probably the worst promise-breaking season. What resolutions do you really mean to keep this year?

We don’t usually set out to be promise-breakers, but we’ve all goofed at one time or another. Pause and reflect on promises you’ve made.

How often do you hear someone (or say yourself), “I swear …”? Oftentimes, people seem to use the phrase flippantly, as if to draw attention to what they are saying (“I swear, could this day get any worse?!” or “I swear I’ll never finish this stupid assignment!”)

What’s really the point in swearing something?

The dictionary defines the verb swear as “to make a solemn dedication or affirmation” or “to bind oneself by oath.” To swear is to make a promise/vow/irrevocable commitment. The mid-90s ballad by R&B band All-4-One (and in more recent years, John Michael Montgomery) uses the phrase “I swear …” to express a lover’s commitment—the type of vow that people exchange in a wedding ceremony. That’s a lot different from swearing about the weather or homework, isn’t it?

The Bible advises us in a couple of places to let our yes mean yes and our no mean no. In James 5, the reference is to suffering and our need to persevere with patience, because God is faithful. In other words, when God makes a promise, he holds fast to it. He will do it—no ifs, ands or buts!

Matthew 5 mentions oaths among a litany of other dos and don’ts, warning that swearing by anything—by heaven, earth or even your own name—is evil. I think the gist of Matthew 5:33-37 is similar to what the Greek playwright, Aeschylus, is credited with saying: “It is not the oath that makes us believe the man, but the man the oath.” If we always mean yes when we say yes and always mean no when we say no, then we do not need to swear by anything, because our integrity will stand for us.

Let’s be mindful of the promises we make this week. Let us be people of integrity whose actions validate our words.

Spend time today thinking about 2012: When you think of yourself exactly one year from now, what do you want to see differently?

What if the things that weigh on our hearts were visible for the world to see? What would change in your day-to-day life?

Are you guilty of the same superficial judgment that the Lord talked to Samuel about? Do you look at someone’s outward appearance or heart?

Think of this week’s verse from Romans 12:2. Meditate on what it means to allow God to renew your mind. Will you let him?