Do you ever feel called?

So I was driving in my car listening to a song on the radio.  It's "Here I AM" by "Downhere."  Part of the chorus goes:

"Here I am, LORD send me.  I want to live my life as an offering."

As I was singing that it clicked with me about when I was a little girl and we used to sing an old hymn at church.  It was called "Here I Am LORD" and the chorus goes:

"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 remember singing that song one Sunday when I was in 4th grade.  I had enjoyed that song for many years, but on that day for some reason I began to think about the lyrics.  I thought to myself: What does that mean?  Here I Am?  Where would God send me?  Would I go?

I think I was afraid, but I also think I said, "yes."  I will do that.

I wasn't yet a Christian but I know God was calling me long ago.  It reminds me of Samuel or David who God called when they were children but who didn't fully develop into it until later.  I think I'm in process too and I think God has called me to HIS work.  I just don't fully know what yet.  I think that's okay.  God is prepared to work with me still.  It is exciting to see that HE has been calling me for that long.  It seems long to me now.  It is probably so short to HIM, but thinking about God living outside of time is a whole different issue to ponder for another day :-)

:-)

So Now What?

If you live in America and do not know what happened yesterday, you are living under a rock.  Yesterday we inaugurated our new President, Barack Obama.  It is enough to make many Americans have hope again.  Do not get me wrong, I love my country and am proud to be an American on every level.  I believe that it is important to pray for and respect our leaders for "Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." ~Romans 13:1.

However, as I watch all of the excitement, it is hard not to remember the economy down here for the little people.  I am not naive enough to believe today everything will be okay.  Our founding fathers set up our government with checks and balances - a form that makes our constitution one of the longest standing ones in the world and has prevented tyranny from reigning  in the US.  It is, also, a form that makes any governmental action extremely difficult to accomplish quickly.  It will be months before the powers of government filter to the streets.  In the meantime I pray that President Obama is wise in all his actions, the bipartisan hatred among many in our government does not interfere with doing what is right for our country, that all would find hope in something that is eternal while we continue to watch the economic downturn, and that we would be thankful that we do not live in the poverty of many parts of the world.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" ~Philippians 4:6-7

Bedtime

You know when you were a child and your mom could tell you were sleepy and she made you go to bed?  I always refused, but got forced and I was tired so it wasn't long before I was at the mercy of my own eyelids.  As an adult, however, I often find myself trying to stay awake longer.  Like I'm defying all those who used to tell me to go to bed.  I find myself sleep deprived and tired though.  Why do I do this?  I feel like I need to accomplish more and that sleep is wasteful.  I know I'm not alone, the CDC says that 30% of Americans habitually get less than 6 hours of sleep.  Wonder why that is.  Oh well, I'm sure they are no negative consequences, we know better than mom anyhow right?

I wish

I wish I had profound thoughts, but I do not.  I just felt like this blog needed updating.  I have found a sweet verse that I'm working on memorizing though:

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

~Exodus 14:14

So good.  So true.

New Year's Resolution Time

This year I resolve to:

floss every other day (start small...)

Memorize scripture (Beth Moore's blog has a challenge if you're interested, if the link doesn't work it's found here: http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/ )

Exercise 3x a week

Get a job that doesn't emotionally drain me...

What do you resolve to do?  Let's all try to keep them!

The OT

Someone once told me that the Old Testament is full of little gems of scripture if you are willing to not get bogged down in the familiar stories.  I think they were right.  This is what Moses said to the Israelites, who had just fled Egypt, when they became fearful upon seeing Pharoah pursuing them.

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

~Exodus 14:14

That is a good reminder to me I think.  There are lots of reasons to be afraid, especially in today's economic climate.  However, the God we serve has not changed, nor will He ever change.

I think I need to be reminded often.