“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
There are quite a few people in this world who always seem to know where they need to go and what they need to do and know only one speed; full speed ahead. They epitomize the saying “lead, follow or get the hell out of the way” that was credited to Gen George Patton. And on the other end of the spectrum are those who cannot seem to make a decision along their journey, reluctant to go, unsure that their spiritual gifts are sufficient for the task presented to them.
The attached photo was taken at Mixte Lutheran School in Port-au-Prince some time ago. The children are eating their noon meal; for some of them their only meal of the day. In the early 1990’s we sang a new song in our Lutheran church in Lincoln, NE that written by Daniel L. Schutte in 1991 and it really hit a sweet spot with me then and now whenever I hear it. If you are sitting on the fence and not sure of where God needs you, read the words and pray about your future.
“I, the Lord of sea and sky, I have heard my people cry. All who dwell in dark and sin, My hand will save. Here am I, 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, who made the stars of night, I will make their darkness bright. Who will bear my light to them? Whom shall I send? Here am I, 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 snow and rain, I have borne my people’s pain. I have wept for love of them. They turn away. Here am I, 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 will break their hearts of stone, Give them hearts for love alone. I will speak my words to them. Whom shall I send? Here am I, 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 send the poor and lame. I will set a feast for them. My hand will save. Here am I, 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. Finest bread I will provide, 'til their hearts be satisfied. I will give my life to them. Whom shall I send? Here am I, 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.”
What is your reply when our Lord calls you in the night? There are twenty hungry children sitting around each of the two tables in the photo. Is the Lord calling you to help? You don’t have to cook, you don’t have to get a passport and a bunch of shots and travel to Haiti and you don’t have to buy a bag of rice and beans and put them into a cardboard box and mail it to Haiti.
Five dollars will cover the meal of every child in the attached photo for this particular day; two dollars and fifty cents for each table. It is almost too easy to say “Here am I, Lord, it is I Lord, send me!” Aim High.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay