God’s gifts and God’s call are under full warranty—never canceled, never rescinded. — Romans 11:29 (The  Message)

I realize this verse is actually referring to something else when taken in context, but it’s what echoed through my mind this afternoon and evening. See, Wade did it again; got me to thinking about the mission field overseas and helped me once again connect with the reality that my heart breaks for Japan, and India, and to so many other places.

Around this time five years ago, I was sitting in a hotel room in Richmond, Virginia at the beginning of the candidate process to serve long-term with the IMB. Four years ago I was overseas, finishing up a 6-week trip in Ethiopia heading back to my "home" in Cyprus, and wondering what in the world had I gotten myself into. Three years ago I was in desperate pain grieving the losses of my parents, my job, my home and my dream of being a missionary. I never thought I’d recover. Two years ago I was swearing I would never again serve overseas, but feeling guilty for it, and last year I realized I am finally content to once again live my life stateside outside the realm of official ministry.

So why is it today my heart was stirred like it hasn’t been in many years? Why is it when I went to the IMB website and looked at the current opportunities, all the openings I saw in South Asia, particularly several in the city I lived in 2001 and one with the people group I learned about, learned from and became friends with–why is it those openings so excited me I began thinking through the process I might take (as well as the length of time it would take) to ultimately fill one of those positions — or something like it. Why is it, when I finally decided the issue was settled, the love affair with overseas ministry was over and I was content, my heart is stirred and excited?

Is it true — could it be true — that once God lays His hand on your life for a particular service, that that call is just as irrevocable as His call to Follow, or His command to Go?