Some quotes that have been helpful to me as I try to walk this tight rope of calling and conflict:

For if the eagerness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has-- not according to what one does not have. ~2 Corinthians 8:12
This verse was in the New Testament reading at worship this past Sunday, which was very appropriate considering all I had done that week was freak out beacuse I felt that I'm not "good enough" to be a pastor. I worried that I wouldn't be good at preaching, or listening to others, or writing prayers, or anything else. I failed to realize that if God put this calling in my heart, then I AM good enough. Which segues into...

Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Truly I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth." But the Lord said to me, "Do not say 'I am only a youth'; for you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you, Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord." ~Jeremiah 1:6-8

My favorite from last night's conversation with Christine has got to be when she said: "Ordination-- if it was easy, everyone would be doing it." It is true that I have to come to terms with the fact that my life may always be messy. Which stinks, for a control freak like me. I thought I had my life all planned out.

God really does laugh when we make plans!