Isaiah 6:8 "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'"
Isaiah sees a vision of the Lord and at that time God asks for someone to go preach repentance to Judah. Isaiah steps and up and responds "send me." I'm not sure if Isaiah completely understood what he was getting into, but the people God truly uses rarely ever understand the fullness of what God is calling them to anyway.
Would I have stood up and said "send me?" Am I willing to do that now? Am I truly willing to go wherever God calls me? And it's not just in the big changes in life...am I willing to be sent today, in the situation I find myself right now? Jonah was sent to Ninevah, Isaiah to Judah, but maybe God just wants to send me to where am I right now? But I am willing to truly be "sent?"
Dear Jesus, continue to change my heart so that I hear you when you say "follow." Amen.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Sunday, July 08, 2012
Sabbatical: Day Twenty Seven
Ecclesiastes 12:13 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."
The author of Ecclesiastes is one pessimistic dude! Everything is meaningless. He says this a billion times and claims nothing has any meaning and we all die in the end anyway. Depressing. He does value wisdom, hard work and wealth a bit, but ultimately everyone dies anyway. But here in the final chapter, he claims that our one goal should be to fear God.
It's fitting this is the last blog post on my sabbatical. After spending a month resting, relaxing, praying, and reading, it comes down to this. Going forward am I willing to simply fear God and keep his commands? Am I willing to follow him wherever he takes me? I pray on the last day of my sabbatical that God teaches me to fear him more and more.
Dear Jesus, help me fear and follow you today. Amen.
The author of Ecclesiastes is one pessimistic dude! Everything is meaningless. He says this a billion times and claims nothing has any meaning and we all die in the end anyway. Depressing. He does value wisdom, hard work and wealth a bit, but ultimately everyone dies anyway. But here in the final chapter, he claims that our one goal should be to fear God.
It's fitting this is the last blog post on my sabbatical. After spending a month resting, relaxing, praying, and reading, it comes down to this. Going forward am I willing to simply fear God and keep his commands? Am I willing to follow him wherever he takes me? I pray on the last day of my sabbatical that God teaches me to fear him more and more.
Dear Jesus, help me fear and follow you today. Amen.
Thursday, July 05, 2012
Sabbatical: Day Twenty Four
Proverbs 31:10 "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies."
Several times now Solomon has spoken of wives in Proverbs. He warns against a "quarrelsome wife" a few times and here in chapter thirty one declares the value of a "noble wife." A noble wife is worth very much to a man-more than rubies!
My wife is awesome! She is noble, wise, faithful, confident and funny! I thank God for her. I have come to realize (after ten years now) that where I am weak, she is strong. When I am down, she is able to pick me up. Erin is always beside me and always with me. I am truly grateful. She is worth more than rubies!
Dear Jesus, thank you for Erin. Amen.
Several times now Solomon has spoken of wives in Proverbs. He warns against a "quarrelsome wife" a few times and here in chapter thirty one declares the value of a "noble wife." A noble wife is worth very much to a man-more than rubies!
My wife is awesome! She is noble, wise, faithful, confident and funny! I thank God for her. I have come to realize (after ten years now) that where I am weak, she is strong. When I am down, she is able to pick me up. Erin is always beside me and always with me. I am truly grateful. She is worth more than rubies!
Dear Jesus, thank you for Erin. Amen.
Wednesday, July 04, 2012
Sabbatical: Day Twenty Three
Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."
Solomon has probably met a few "big talkers" in his life. He claims it's better to stay silent than talk about something you know nothing about. Even fools appear wiser if they simply keep their mouth shut!
Talk is cheap. So many people today make giant claims, boast of what they think they know, and talk a big game, yet they can't back it up. Whether it's a crooked politician, self righteous preacher or delusional reality TV star, 99% of life seems to be made up of some idiot talking. It's as if people like to just hear them self talk and don't actually hear themselves. At the end of the day, and in God's eyes, talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words, and too many people end up putting their foot in their mouth. How have I done this lately and how can I stop? If I take Solomon's advice, I'm always better off keeping my mouth shut!
Dear Jesus, help me to know when to shut up. Amen.
Solomon has probably met a few "big talkers" in his life. He claims it's better to stay silent than talk about something you know nothing about. Even fools appear wiser if they simply keep their mouth shut!
Talk is cheap. So many people today make giant claims, boast of what they think they know, and talk a big game, yet they can't back it up. Whether it's a crooked politician, self righteous preacher or delusional reality TV star, 99% of life seems to be made up of some idiot talking. It's as if people like to just hear them self talk and don't actually hear themselves. At the end of the day, and in God's eyes, talk is cheap. Actions speak louder than words, and too many people end up putting their foot in their mouth. How have I done this lately and how can I stop? If I take Solomon's advice, I'm always better off keeping my mouth shut!
Dear Jesus, help me to know when to shut up. Amen.
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