Genesis 41:1-3 (NRSV)
9 When they came to the place that God had shown him, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood in order. He bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to kill[a] his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven, and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”
Genesis 22:9-11 (NRSV)
“And here I am to worship,
Here I am to bow down,
Here I am to say that, you’re my God”
Tim Hughes (Christian Songwriter)
The response you give to someone calling you or reaching out to you really matters and speaks loudly. Three small words placed sequentially have a tremendous impact in meaning.
“Hineni (pronounced hee- nay-nee) is a powerful Hebrew word meaning, “Here I am.” These words say, “I stand ready to follow your lead to a place where I would not go on my own, all the while knowing I have the favor of the Lord.” As you read from the old testament in the coming weeks, during our “Grand Sweep” of the Bible, you will see this common answer among the faithful as God asks them, “Where are you? Are you ready? Can I count on you?”
I have a strong belief that many AUMCers are always ready to respond, “Here I am.”
“I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:8 (NRSV)
When God speaks to us, He is expecting us to be ready. Sometimes we struggle to listen to God’s voice. I am not speaking about our hearing with our ears. Perhaps we have not trained our heart, mind, and spirit to listen even for the faintest whisper. A young Samuel heard the call in the night several times while still not familiar with God’s voice.
“A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.” Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. 9 So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So, Samuel went and lay down in his place. The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:8-10 (NRSV)
Here I am, you called me. What can I do for you, my Lord?
Digging holes and clearing out overgrowth may not be at top of your list for an activity, especially under the sweltering heat of July. Yet this past week a handful of young AUMCers answered the call to work to beautify the courtyard landscape, clear out brush on our prayer trail, and repair picnic tables on our church grounds. My guess is they listened with their young hearts and minds.
We have this amazing secluded courtyard that was founded as a memorial for loved ones we have lost in our church family. God rest their souls. The statue of three children enjoying the outdoors amidst three crosses is a setting of appreciation for beauty and meditation for the richness life gives us as followers of Christ. An eternal garden of peace and beauty. Take a rest in the quiet solitude of the patio courtyard. Remember to listen with your heart.
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise. Give thanks to him, bless his name.”
Psalm 100:4 (NRSV)
Our prayer trail is a hidden gem on our property. A few years back AUMC men worked diligently to clear out our church property for a place to pray in the outdoors. It truly is a gem of a place. Take a walk and close your eyes and you find yourself on a winding trail in the wilderness. Exercise your praying muscles. For He does hear us. Remember to listen with your spirit.
In Isaiah’s time of prophecy, God’s anger burned for his people and he sought someone to deliver his message. Isaiah was being commissioned to be His prophet to show the people both judgement and eventual salvation. What if Isaiah had not responded? We may have missed the entire prophecy for God’s eventual salvation of his people. Isaiah had the task of delivering this message of repentance that today many still do not heed. It is not the message the world wants to hear. Could you do what Isaiah did? Would you have replied to God like he did?
“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 (NRSV)
God is always seeking his willing messenger. This past week we heard a great sermon – the familiar story of feeding the five thousand focuses on one of the many miracles Jesus performed. The miracle was remarkable, but it started with something small given by a faithful boy. Can you hear the small frail voice of the boy answering Jesus? Here I am, Lord. The lesson heard loud and clear was that we all have something, but we often default to the common notion that we have nothing. Have some faith in Jesus to bless it for the glory of God. Our nothing can be something. The part where we experience the miracle ourselves is when we hear Jesus tell us, “You give them something.” I saved you, now do likewise for others. Our work magnified through the glory of God yielding transformational moments. Where have you seen God take your nothing and make a difference?
“There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed. Then Moses said, “I must turn aside and look at this great sight and see why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he had turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Exodus 3:2-4 (NRSV)
What if Moses had not replied? Would he have been able to lead his people through the desert to the land of milk and honey?
During a recent AUMC small group meeting, a few of the men grappled with this decision on how to answer God’s call to serve. It certainly wasn’t for lack of passion for their ministry. The water ministry had been placed on hold during COVID like so many other outreach projects. They were hearing God’s voice calling repeatedly as the weeks went on. Last week after hearing and responding, “Here I am Lord,” through ingenuity the door opened for them to deliver water to a local homeless shelter. It was on God’s timing. A small act of servitude responding in a time of need for the gift of life sustaining water.
“But now thus says the Lord,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Isaiah 43:1 (NRSV)
Hear the good news, we worship a God who loves us so much that he gave his only son Jesus for our salvation. He loves us so much he gave us the Holy Spirit to be our guide. He loves us so much that he knows each of us by our name. He loves us so much that he will continue to call out to you as many times as it takes to get your attention.
How might you answer God when he comes calling? What will your answer be?
“I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in darkness now
My hand will save.
I who make 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. It is I Lord.
I have heard you calling in the night.
I will go, Lord, where you lead me.
I will hold your people in my heart.”
Dan Shutte (Christian songwriter)
Peace be with you,
Kenny Shortsleeve, Lay Leader
Kenny,
I always look forward to “The Good News”. You saying “Here I am.” to AUMC and becoming the current Lay Leader has truly been a blessing to AUMC.
Thank you for recognizing our youth and many other adult members who physically contribute to the wholeness of our church.
The courtyard is a special place for Martha and I. The wooden crosses are in many of our family Easter pictures. The statue of the three children was purchased as a memorial in memory of Sarah Force who died of cancer some 30 years ago. Lee, Chris and Kate Force would be pleased that people visit the courtyard and “feel” God’s love.