6June2014 That One Thing

What is that one thing?  Maybe there are multiple things but what's the one, primary, encompassing thing?  As you think about the calling on your life, as you dream about what the next step is in your faith journey, as your pray through the Father's will for your life, what's that one thing that comes to mind keeping you from going All In?  

This morning, as I was on my daily walk, earbuds in place, ipod on play, podcast in progress, I heard some words that reverberated across my conscience, pricking my rather short attention.  Chuck Swindol was speaking about a passage in Isaiah, chapter 6 to be more precise, and he drew his bead on the prophet's commissioning.

Isaiah is in the middle of grieving the loss of his friend, Uzziah, and the LORD opens heaven allowing him a peek into the throne room of God.  As he looks and hears and experiences the awesomeness that's taking place, Isaiah is wholly impacted.  But he doesn't join in with "Holy, Holy Holy!" You know what he did?  He remembers his inadequacy.  He remembers his deficiency.  Isaiah points to the one thing that will, in his mind, keep him from accepting the challenge God is preparing to give him.  "Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips..." (Isa.6:5) Isn't that exactly what we do?  The King of the universe charges us with a task and we look at the very One who created us and say, "Hey, don't forget I have this issue!  I'm ineligible."  How completely ludicrous!  

I love what happens next.  "Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.” (Isa.6:6-7) God touches that one thing that Isaiah is worried about and says, "Taken care of.  Now get to work."

So what is that one thing?  When you sense His calling, what's the one thing the enemy points to?  What's that past mistake or that personality trait or that physical characteristic or that bondage you can't shake.  Listen to me!  Our Father is able to purify you.  He is fully aware of your shortcomings well before He calls you.  Don't allow that one thing to keep you from embracing the call.  Look past the one thing and scream, "Here am I. Send me!!!"  and then get to work.  I am praying for you!

2June2014 Seven Decades

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children."

I love this word from Deuteronomy so much!  The imagery it creates of a passel of children, gathered around their grandparent, listening in rapt attention to the stories and tales of the past is wonderful.  Sadly this is something we seem to be missing today.  Our culture puts little value in the seasoned wisdom of previous generations and we are losing the stories of days gone by and subsequently the sagacity they so richly contain.  There is no arena more poignantly affected than that of faith.  Records of God's rich and abundant work in previous generations has departed from our hearts.  Truly a travesty!

Yesterday we celebrated mom's 70th birthday.  Sorry, Mom! Your age is a matter of public record anyway... :) Imagine that!  Seven decades of walking on this planet.  However the length of her days thus far does little to reflect the richness or breadth of her life.  She lives quietly, unassuming even, but what a huge impact Gma has had on those fortunate enough to know her.  This is especially true in the lives of her grandchildren, our kids.  What a remarkable inheritance to hear your grandmother pray, or watch her study Scripture or witness her attempt to apply Truth to every day decisions.  For the last two, nearly three years, our five had been blessed to experience that on a firsthand, daily level.  G'ma has made the things her eyes have seen known to her children and her children's children.   What a heritage!

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