The LORD your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. ―Zephaniah 3:17
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing. ―Zephaniah 3:17
Lord, what a perfect sense of humor is yours. A week ago I was minding my own business, enjoying the normalcy of life when a friend called, sadly to announce he is having physical challenges that will not allow him to lead an already planned group trip to your land, Israel.
“Would you be able to take the group?” he asked. “The trip is in two weeks.”
What? My mind raced. I’m not prepared! I don’t want to say yes, if there is even a chance my friend will recover; I’m not near as capable of shepherding this group as he is. How am I going to afford the time off work?
A thousand other “No’s” flooded my psyche, and then you quieted me with your love and whispered a question, “Do you want to go, do you want to serve me?”
With all my heart and all my soul and all my strength, Lord.
“Then say ‘yes,’ and my will is done.”
Then and there I was reminded again that you are not only the Provider of joy but also the Supplier of the unexpected; both good and correctional. There have certainly been those times when you have set me on a much more unpleasant course; when I had rebelled and had to be quieted with a love made of sterner stuff. I trusted then and you walked with me through the storm. Now, why am I surprised that you can also supply and lead me in undeserved blessing?
Maybe (no, definitely) the guilt of seeing my friend have to step to the side weighs heavy on me. But he has been the biggest encourager of all―besides you Lord. Then there is the matter of my beautiful bride, who shares my passion for the people and the surroundings of Zion. She can’t be with me on this trip and I’m already feeling overwhelmed at the thought of walking it through without her companionship. She too has said, “Go”. I love her all the more for her advocacy. Still, there is that other small point: Confession time; I’d be a liar if I said I haven’t been longing to return again to your place of our genesis and completion―you call so strongly. You’ve been preparing this time. I know it with all I am and for me to deny it now would be a slap to you.
So now, I need to get my spirit straight and be what you have taught me to be…available.
It’s not the first time, it’s simply a new time to walk the high wire of faith, knowing that you have given me the skills and supplied the net: All of it, your design; all to your purpose; all to our mutual fellowship.
Let the words of my mouth, the meditation of my heart and the steps of my feet be acceptable in your sight, O God, my God, my Rock and my Salvation.
Shalom, Mark C.
