By Andrea Sanger
In the process of writing my memoir, I’m getting to go back and review old journals (I have several boxes of them). In one of them dated 11/7/1993 I wrote two entries as a follow-up to a conference we attended:
- We are called to the Prodigals. The ones rejected by others. Adoption is just a part of that call. Our new son is just part of that call. I pray that I heard that directly from God, but it was like He said, “Your son is the first of many who have been rejected – that may be difficult at times, but the trouble is worth it. They need a place to be loved no matter what.
- The Prodigals – confirmed when we went up to receive anointing for our call, Tommi (one of the conference speakers) handed David a paper. The paper was for the one who has a heart for the prodigals. (Someone had given her the paper earlier in the day with those instructions. They had written out Ezekiel 34 on it with words of encouragement).
As I look back on our lives, I can see all the places where this calling on our life has “accidentally” come to pass. Not because we went out looking for it, but it found us through the amazing people we have encountered along the way. There have been a lot of days when my husband and I have looked at each other and asked, “How’d we get here?” Then we’d smile, laugh and say, “Only God could do this!”
Even when we walked down the paths that seemed to conform to the normal, we would end up attracted to the fringes. So, is it any wonder that Live180 is a perfect fit for us as a ministry. We get to work with people who don’t fit into the normal Christian circles but have an intense hunger to know more about Jesus. It is utterly freeing to be right in the center of what God designed us to do. Some days are gut-wrenchingly hard, but even in those times, we have an intense peace and joy. I wouldn’t trade my life for anyone else’s at this point.
I know journaling isn’t for everyone, but if you are at all inclined to record what God is doing in your life, I encourage you to do it. You never know when God will use what you’ve recorded to clarify calling, give hope to others or just give you a smile when you need it.