For the past three days my kids have been home with me because of the extreme temperatures. This so called, "arctic vortex" has left my home in a vortex of a different sorts. The kids have been great, but there mom as been out of town so I've been doing this solo. I was gently reminded of how much work kids really are, and I also stood in awe of what single parents must go through every day. Wow. Just wow.

Through the various points of my frustration and trying to keep it all together God pointed something out to me. I felt like He said, "Tony, you aren't called to this full time." Yep, God re-affirmed my call to work with adults. After these two days I am crystal clear about what I am supposed to be doing in my life, I am called to work with adults in groups. 

Then, at the end of the second day when my two smallest children crawled into my arms I was reminded of something completely different. I was called to this; today. Today God has equipped me to do exactly what I was doing. And while it may not be my most favorite thing in the world, it was exactly how I was to serve God this day.

Sometimes I want to forgo what God has called me to today so I can get back to what I want.

Jesus is a great reminder of being where you are at, not where you want to be. In Matthew chapter 4  Jesus is led by the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. It never says that Jesus was happy about being there, nor does it say that this was Jesus' main purpose, but it is exactly where the Spirit called him to be that day. The funny part is that Jesus doesn't begin to preach till after this episode in the wilderness. 

Please don't take this as me saying being with my kids is like being in the wilderness, but what I do believe is that doing things that I may not be the best at will prepare me for my larger calling in the Kingdom.

My prayer today is simple- Lord, please help me be where I am called, and enjoy it in the process. Also, warmer temps would be warmly welcome :)

What is your calling? How do you embrace the present to prepare for the future?