Mid-Week Message - Send Me

 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 6:8

Each time I read this verse I am more in awe.  The willingness that it reveals is astounding to me.  But it teaches me something very important.  We need to be available to the Lord to do what He needs done.  What should matter the most is His kingdom and His will. 

Years ago, I prayed a prayer, after which I began to place a lot of stipulations.  The prayer was simply, "Lord, do with me what you will.  Whatever it takes, Lord, do."  As I thought about the words that had come out of my mouth, fear set in.  What if that meant that something or someone I loved would be taken from me?  What if that meant serious illness?  What if that meant going somewhere difficult?  What ifs poured forth like a fountain.  But the prayer had already been uttered.  Could I stand before my heavenly Father and say, "I changed my mind?"  

It took me awhile to think things through. In the end, I poured out my heart and shared my fears with Him.  I figured that since He made me, He would understand.  And in the end, I said the words again, "Whatever it takes, Lord, do."  Because I want to be used of Him.  I want to bring glory to His name and honor Him in His kingdom.  I want to be who He created me to be.  

My challenge this week is for you to think about those words, and if you have never prayed them, that you do so.  It sounds much easier than it truly is.  But I promise you that it will deepen your relationship with the Lord and you will learn some new things about yourself.  God bless you.

Mid-Week Message - Is He Sufficient?

"He must become greater; I must become less."  John 3:30  (NIV) 

Those who have children may have one or two who are strong-willed.  They want to do things their way and do it by themselves.  Resisting discipline, they are determined to explore that world on their own terms and parents may wonder how to reign them in without breaking their spirit. 

Often, these are also the high-achievers.  They are willing to step "outside of the box" to investigate life.  They try things that others may not think to try and think through problems in unique ways.  As a result, they may be able to solve long-standing issues, become inventors, write the great American novel, or paint masterpieces.  

However we fall in the family hierarchy, whatever our personalities or talents might be, we have one trait in common and that is that we tend to make life about ourselves.  We concentrate on what WE want, what WE like, what makes US happy.  Especially today, we live in a ME society.  We are seeing that especially right now as the nation is going through the throes of individuals being easily offended and wanting everyday words and actions to be changed to suit them.  

As I grow older, the more and more I realize that life isn't about me, or any of us.  It is about our Lord and Savior.  Our purpose is to bring Him glory.  In order to do that, we have to learn to put Him above all.  That doesn't mean we neglect other people or our duties and responsibilities in life.  It means that we live and relate in such a way that is pleasing to Him.  

There is a song, sung by the Christian artist Steve Green, entitled "Whatever It Takes."  It is one that always leads me to prayer, but also challenges how I live my life.  Here are some of the lyrics:

                Whatever it takes to keep me tender toward you

                Whatever it takes, Lord, I beg you to do

                Whatever you must lead me through

                Whatever it takes, Lord, do   

When I first heard this song, I wondered if I would ever be able to pray those words.  Would I ever be able to turn loose of what is important to me and give it all over to Him?  The first few times I attempted to say this as a prayer, I found myself wanting to put stipulations on what I was asking such as, "Please don't touch my family."  Then I understood that "whatever" was all-encompassing and that the only way I could mean it was to be willing to surrender all I held dear on earth.

As time goes by and as I spend more and more time with the Lord, I am beginning to see that what I have to ask myself is this:  Is He sufficient?   If suddenly everything and everyone was gone from my life, would His presence, His love, His sacrifice, His resurrection, be sufficient for me?  

These are difficult things to think about but it is my desire.  I want to bring Him glory.  I want my life to point to Jesus.  If He uses me in the life of only one person who chooses to repent and believe in Him then my life will have fulfilled a much greater purpose than it would have if I had spent it any other way.  

So, I ask you the question I ask myself.  Is He sufficient?  Could you lay everything down if He asked you to?  Can honoring Him become your greatest desire?  

Lots to think about this week.  God bless.