Here I Am

This coming Fall our women's bible study is gearing up for the Old Testament book of Jonah - you know, the story with the BIG FISH.  Actually its more than just a fish story; it's a story of prejudice, of desiring personal comfort over the spiritual need of others, of not wanting God to be gracious to our enemies.  Check it out.

In the first chapter we see God giving Jonah the task to preach to the wicked Ninevites to repent.  Ahhh, but Jonah doesn't want the Ninevites to repent because then they might receive forgiveness from the Lord.  He doesn't think his arch-enemies deserve God's graciousness.

Three times in the opening chapter we read that Jonah 'flees from the Lord's presence.'  He is a very reluctant prophet!

In the end, Jonah did what God called him to do, but still with a reluctant, petulant spirit.

This summer I have been considering the Hebrew word Hineni.  (Hebrew is the original language of the Old Testament.)  It means "Here I am".

It is the word Abraham used when God called to him on Mt. Moriah...and Abraham said Hineni, here I am.

It is the word Jacob used when God called him to go down to Egypt and not be afraid...and Jacob said Hineni, here I am.

It is the response from Moses when God called to him from the burning bush...and Moses replied: Hineni, here I am.

It is the reply of the young Samuel when God called him...Hineni, here I am.

It is the response of Isaiah when he got a vision of the heavenly throne room of God...Hineni, here I am.

There is so much more to this Hebrew word than just 'being present'.  It is being present with all my being, physically and spiritually, with my heart wide open to hear and obey whatever it is God is calling me to do.  It is saying a total yes before even knowing what the task will be.

And oh those tasks...

"Abraham, offer your son Isaac..."     "Jacob, leave this land I've promised you and go down to Egypt..."     "Moses, go up against Pharaoh and lead my people out of the fiery furnace..."     "Young Samuel, tell the Priest Eli that I am about to bring the dreadful curse against his house and all his descendants will die young..."     "Isaiah, speak to these stiff-necked people and tell them what I am about to do.  But they will not listen to you..."   

What different hearts than the reluctant heart of the prophet Jonah!

And yet... 

too often I find myself more like Jonah than Abraham, Jacob, Moses, Samuel and Isaiah.

I know I am not alone.  As I was praying for our women leaders this week I prayed that we would be 'Hineni Women',  fully committed before we even know what the task ahead will involve, what difficulties might lie ahead as we seek to obey God's call on our lives, how the enemy might attack...  

And I wondered...

Did God every say Hineni?

Oh what joy!  Hear the word of the Lord:

"Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; 

you will cry for help, and

He will say:  Hineni - here I Am."

Isaiah 58:9

What a comfort to our ministry as we go into this year, praying to be less like Jonah and more like "Hineni Women".  The great Hineni - here I AM answers us when we call on Him.

If you live in the Visalia/Tulare area and would like to join us as we study this little book we would welcome you!

Tuesday 9/3  9:15am-11:15am

Wednesday 9/4   6:15pm-8:00pm

Nursery:  Birth-3 years old

Elevate Junior:  3-5 years old

contact:  sarah@tularecommunitychurch.com

   

Standing At The Crossroads

This is what the Lord says:

"Stand at the crossroads and look; 

ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is and walk in it, 

and you will find rest for your souls." (Jeremiah 6:16)

There once was a country Rabbi travelling from his home town to Jerusalem when he got lost and was confronted on the road by a Roman Soldier.

"Halt!" said the Soldier.  "Who are you and why are you here?"

The Rabbi thought deeply for a few moments and then replied, "Sir how much do they pay you to stand here and ask those questions?"

"A denarius", replied the Soldier.

"Sir, I will pay you double if you will stand at my door and every day when I enter and leave, ask me those same two questions."

Who are you and why are you here?

Have you thought about that today?

When The Stars Burn Down/Perseid Meteor Shower

I love watching the night skies deep in the middle of the night.  

Early this morning, 3:30 a.m., I turned off all the outside lights,  arranged my lawn chair, my music (Phillips, Craig & Dean: "When the Stars Burn Down") and coffee and prepared to view the Perseid Meteor Shower.  This was to be the perfect time to view it in all its glory.

I was a bit disappointed.  Although I got a 'taste' of what was going on in the heavens it was less than I expected.  Light pollution, ( artificial light) being produced by our dense populations has dimmed our night skies, making it more and more difficult to see the vast display of the Creator's hand in the heavenlies.  Consider this verse from the Psalmist:

"The heavens declare the glory of God;

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;

night after night they display knowledge."

(Psalm 19)

The heavens in all their glory speak to us of the vastness of God; of the creativity of God; His sovereignty over it all.

Yet -  

the light pollution manufactured in the urban areas where we live obscures and dims the display of His handiwork throughout the heavens.  Do you miss it?  Do you even know its there?

There are other things in my life that diminish and obscure what God is doing.  It's not brought on by manufactured light pollution, but by manufactured life pollution.  It's brought on by busyness, selfishness, worry, my next purchase, my next project...things that are attractive to me...things I desire. 

Things that overshadow and diminish the Light of Christ in my life.

Just as the manufactured light in our urban areas diminishes the light in the heavenlies, the manufactured life I sometimes live can surely diminish the Light in my life.

Lord, help me surrender to you.  To seek You early in the morning and let Your light guide me during the day.  At night when I have opportunity to see a vast array of the stars in the heavens, let me remember that when You took Abraham outside to see the star-filled sky, You told him that so would his offspring be.  I delight to know that one of those stars lit then was representing me!