When God Calls Again, What Then?

By Richard Goodrum

Did you take the right turn? Only you can answer that question. This book is about the journey taken, which many people will also take during their lifetime. The question in life is, Who am I, and where am I going? The apostle Paul made many journeys but did not always make the right turn. In all of his adversity, God still produced His divine will. So if we made the wrong turn, God would still have accomplished His will in spite of me. The question for all of us is are we willing to get out of our comfort zone. Is it our way or Gods way? When we end this life, will He say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant?

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Mar 17, 2014
• ISBN: 9781490828077

Richard Goodrum

Richard was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended John Brown University in Siloam Springs, Arkansas for three years. He transferred to Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he completed his degree in religion. He served as a pastor from 1958 to 2009. Richard has traveled overseas, where an orphanage is now in progress, and hopes to be completed in early 2014. He has been married for fifty-three years to Loyce. They have three children and seven grandchildren.

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Copyright © 2014 Richard Goodrum.

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-2808-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-2807-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014903858

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/14/2014

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1   Abraham

2   Joseph

3   Moses

4   Hannah

5   Samuel

6   Isaiah

7   Jeremiah

8   Ezekiel

9   Jonah

10   Matthew

11   Ananias

12   Timothy

13   The Purpose of the Call: Matthew 28:16–20

14   God’s Call to You

15   God’s Plan

16   Places You May Encounter God’s Call

17   The Senior Years

18   The Call Involves All

19   Conclusion

About the Author

Preface

When God calls, what then?

The call of God comes at a different time in each life, but that call has been set in eternity. Then, at the right time, God reveals His will and purpose. How do you know when God calls?

It all began for me when I was ten and a half years old. On a Saturday in October, I asked the Lord to come into my heart, and at that very moment, the Lord set aside my mission on this earth. I would later know that the Lord wanted me to be a missionary. However—and this was where life got interesting—I chose the pastorate instead. That decision changed the course of my life.

In this book, I will attempt to show how the Lord speaks and what happens at His call. I will try to help you not make the same mistake I did. Can the Lord use our mistakes? I will let you decide.

In the meantime, prepare to examine yourself and your life and to honestly seek the Lord’s direction. Each of us has only one life to live, and we will not pass this way again. I believe the Lord has the right spouse for each person, and if we follow His direction, that marriage will be for life. He has the right job or church for each of us, and He does not need our help in His leadership.

In this book, we will deal with many issues. May the Lord open your heart as you see His will in the Scriptures.

Acknowledgments

My thanks go to my daughter, Brenda Little, for all her work in getting this book on the computer and reading my writing. I am grateful for my children—Brenda, John, and Steven—and my wife of fifty-three years, the former Loyce Johnson, who has been by my side during all the good times and the bad.

I am grateful for the seven churches that I have pastored, and for the one where I was an interim pastor and am now the Director of Missions. Beginning in 1958, I pastored at Calvary Baptist in West Siloam Springs, Oklahoma. From there I moved to Nimrod Baptist and then to First Baptist Church in Cove, Arkansas. I then went to a church that is no longer in existence. Next, I went to Hatton, Arkansas, and was there only six months. Then I moved on to Roseville, Arkansas, which was a true joy. My next stop was at Bloomer Baptist Church in Bloomer, Arkansas. I was there for thirty-six and a half years. I then retired and came to Temple Baptist in Fort Smith, Arkansas, as an interim pastor for a year. Thank you, churches.

Maybe my real passion now is the orphanage we are building in Northeast India. The Lord gets the glory, and