"Here I am, Lord; send me" (Isaiah 6:8b)
How often do we return a call a friend made to us, or reply to a text or post? What if we were constantly returning God's calls and messages? We are a people called to do something. To be sent in service to the Lord. During the summer is an excellent time to take stock of our activities and think, Do I believe God has a mission for my life? How can I use my talents to create a more loving and just world? Too often we think, I am only one person, how can I make a difference, or they need help, but someone else will help them, I am too busy. We feel like we do not have the ability or desire to do the task. Maybe we feel unworthy. There is a familiar pattern to Isaiah's call and mission before he says "Here I am, send me": 1) The person has some experience of God. Isaiah has a dramatic vision of God in the temple. 2) God gives the person a mission. God sends Isaiah to speak to the people. 3) The person may not feel worthy, or express doubt. Isaiah knows he has unclean (or sinful) lips. 4) God acknowledges the doubt and reassures the person. God purifies Isaiah with fire and words of forgiveness. The story is in Isaiah 6: 1-13.
What are we to do with these insecurities? Put our faith in God! He gives us help. If we truly give of our time, talent and treasure we can express our understanding of how Jesus wants us to live. He is our model who showed us how to care for others in order to become closer to God. Jesus spent time with people who were in need, lonely, afraid. He gave his love. For us, this can include volunteering time at camp, visiting someone who might be lonely, building a home for Habitat for Humanity. Even working a summer job such as life-guarding or at the movie theater can show service to others by being a hospitable and helpful. It can be a small thing to us, but be assured it is a big thing to those we serve! The joy and thankfulness on the face of those we help is the love of God reflected back to us. We feel closer to the love of God, reflected to us by others. We get the awesome love of Christ in return. The time is now, GO!
In Christ's peace, Kari
How often do we return a call a friend made to us, or reply to a text or post? What if we were constantly returning God's calls and messages? We are a people called to do something. To be sent in service to the Lord. During the summer is an excellent time to take stock of our activities and think, Do I believe God has a mission for my life? How can I use my talents to create a more loving and just world? Too often we think, I am only one person, how can I make a difference, or they need help, but someone else will help them, I am too busy. We feel like we do not have the ability or desire to do the task. Maybe we feel unworthy. There is a familiar pattern to Isaiah's call and mission before he says "Here I am, send me": 1) The person has some experience of God. Isaiah has a dramatic vision of God in the temple. 2) God gives the person a mission. God sends Isaiah to speak to the people. 3) The person may not feel worthy, or express doubt. Isaiah knows he has unclean (or sinful) lips. 4) God acknowledges the doubt and reassures the person. God purifies Isaiah with fire and words of forgiveness. The story is in Isaiah 6: 1-13.
What are we to do with these insecurities? Put our faith in God! He gives us help. If we truly give of our time, talent and treasure we can express our understanding of how Jesus wants us to live. He is our model who showed us how to care for others in order to become closer to God. Jesus spent time with people who were in need, lonely, afraid. He gave his love. For us, this can include volunteering time at camp, visiting someone who might be lonely, building a home for Habitat for Humanity. Even working a summer job such as life-guarding or at the movie theater can show service to others by being a hospitable and helpful. It can be a small thing to us, but be assured it is a big thing to those we serve! The joy and thankfulness on the face of those we help is the love of God reflected back to us. We feel closer to the love of God, reflected to us by others. We get the awesome love of Christ in return. The time is now, GO!
In Christ's peace, Kari
- Check out Matthew West's Do Something music video!