Isaiah 6:8
"Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
"Whom shall I send,
and who will go for Us?"
Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
We sang the following song as a hymn today at church, and it was all I could do to get through the whole song without choking up and crying...
"Here I am Lord"
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard My people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin,
My hand will save.
I who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear My light to them?
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.
I, the Lord of wind and flame,
I will tend the poor and lame.
I will set a feast for them,
My hand will save
Finest bread I will provide,
Till their hearts be satisfied.
I will give My life to them,
Whom shall I send?
Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart.
The disciples were crouched in fear in the upper room...waiting for whatever would come next...fearful that they would soon be the ones to be killed for their relationship with Christ...and then...
A sealed tomb could not hold Jesus in...a locked door could not keep Jesus out...Suddenly everything changed...Jesus appeared in the locked room after His crucifixion and resurrection...He said to them, "Peace be with you." (John 20:19) Jesus Christ had conquered death...He conquered their fear...and He gave them a job to do...and He gave us, His followers a job to do as well...
John 20:21
"So Jesus said to them again,
"Peace to you!
As the Father has sent Me,
I also send you."
But we are not expected to follow Jesus alone...
John 20:22
"And when He had said this,
He breathed on them, and said to them,
"Receive the Holy Spirit."
Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit onto the disciples that day...equipping them for service and for all of the things that were yet to come...and Jesus Christ has also breathed His Holy Spirit upon us, filling us with His very Presence...giving us all of the gifts and tools that we need to go forward into the world in His Name...He goes with us...we are not alone.
So, what's next, Lord? I've been at this place before...many times...and whenever I (we...hubby and I are a team, but You know this already, Lord) heard You calling "in the night", I/we responded, "Here I am, Lord." And You always took me/(us) at my word, and there was always "a plan"... so, again, here we are, Lord...You know we are retired, right? I have a feeling that is something that is an advantage for You, Lord...not a disadvantage...so...what's next, Lord?
"Here I am Lord, Is it I Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night.
I will go Lord, if You lead me.
I will hold Your people in my heart."
Stay tuned for further developments...
God always has a plan...
Sermon notes from FUMC Interlachen, April 22, 2018, Pastor A.C. Myers
One of my favorite hymns!
ReplyDeleteWow! This was the first time I'd ever heard it! It sure packed a powerful punch to my heart!
DeleteAlso one of my favorites! Here I am Lord----
ReplyDeleteI guess I've been out of touch for a while...this was the first I'd ever heard this particular song, and it certainly had a profound effect on me. I may be leaving for Africa or parts unknown any day...(just kidding...but then again...you never know...God does work in mysterious ways...and I am ready)
DeleteFinding God's plan isn't always easy but being used by him to help further His kingdom and willing to do so, is a blessing. Here I am Lord, use my words to help someone find you, is my prayer over my blog when I start to write.
ReplyDeleteI'll stay tuned.
Yes, that is my prayer also...and we never know just how the Lord will use something we say here to be a light in someone's darkness...I pray that is the case! Thank you, Sylvia. Have a blessed and beautiful day. You always bless me when I visit you.
DeleteIt will be interesting to see where God leads you, Pamela. I am not pointing in any direction, but as I read this I remembered a mission base that is in Hawaii. I always thought it was funny when people were sent there. Like, really, you get to go to Hawaii? :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat do you feel called to?
"giving us all of the gifts and tools that we need to go forward into the world in His Name...He goes with us...we are not alone."
You are all set!
I am open to whatever/wherever the Lord leads...I don't like to put "restrictions" on God's ideas, although I do have some "reservations" about what/where...but I know that God is already aware of all of that, and He knows exactly what is best for us at this stage in our lives. I know God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we could ever ask or think...(Ephesians 3:20)...so I will trust Him to handle the details. Hawaii sounds lovely... :). Thank you for these thoughts today...Praise God..He's already going before us and marking the way...
DeleteA beautiful song with special meaning. Following where He leads is what we all need to do....hard sometimes, but needed for sure.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed this so much Pam. I think about the word Obedience reading this today. If ONLY we would be obedient and step out in obedience. It takes faith and faith is knowing the truth and we won't know the truth if we are not IN and UNDER the Word of God. I am working on Bible Study for this Wednesday night that I am teaching and our topic is on Faith. One of the things I was reading in our study was this: Faith can be defined in a such a simple format. It's simply acting like God is telling the truth! WOW! Hugs and blessings dear lady.
ReplyDeleteCindy
Yes, Lord, here I am . . . Send me!
ReplyDeleteBlessings, Pamela!
Love this song. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteThis was such a beautiful, heart touching post, dear Pamela.
ReplyDeleteI remember the first time I heard this hymn and I, like you, was gripped at the heart strings. It certainly speaks to the heart.
Isn't it exciting looking to God for the direction He would have us to go.
Your willing and surrendered heart is what God is looking for.
Prayers for you~
Pam, this is simply beautiful! "Here I am Lord" is one of my favorite hymns (I have many favorites). To the Lord, I say: here I am...
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Pam: This hymn is beautiful. I love the thought. As His children, we are supposed to be willing to go wherever He sends us or do whatever He wants us to do.
ReplyDelete