Make the Call

       Although I love talking to my friends in any form including the telephone, I actually avoid talking on the contraption any other time.  It isn’t my favorite thing to do; so often I procrastinate in getting done the tasks that involve the phone.  Still, it is a convenient device to have in one’s home, and when you go without it for a few days you realize just how important it is. 

       We call our friends to talk to them, call buddies to arrange a time to get together,  call our kids to come to supper, call hello to friends and neighbours, call out cheers to players on teams, phone call to arrange things, ask for help, find out information, order food, make connections, order supplies and on and on.  Sometimes there are even emergency phone calls in the middle of the night or unexpected calls from friends who just want to know you are all right.

       All these calls we do in our lives are important so we make sure to get them done.  But… do we remember to call on the Lord?

       Where the word call is used in the scriptures, it means a mix of cry unto, invoke (to address in prayer; to call on for assistance and protection-Webster), address, call on and invite.  Once we have ‘called’ on the Lord to be saved (Acts 2:21) it doesn’t end there.  We are supposed to call on Him for help (2 Sam. 22:4), call for His forgiveness and mercy (Ps. 86:5), and call when we’re in trouble. (Ps. 86:7)

       So, what are the benefits to calling on the Lord?  He will hear the godly (Ps. 4:3), He will answer us (Ps. 86:7), He will be with us in trouble, deliver us and honour us (Ps. 91:15), He will show us great and might things which we don’t know. (Jer. 33:3).  Given all that I heartily agree with the Bible when it says, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:” (Is. 55:6) 

       The great thing is the Lord wants to call us back.  He calls us to salvation (Acts 2:39), then He calls us friends. (John 15:15)  He spoke to Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen. 3:8 on) and made contact with Samuel as a boy (1 Sam. 3:8-14).  Not much has changed today; He still wants to talk to us.  Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:” (John 10:27) As His sheep, we need to know His voice above others or we may end up following the butcher instead of our Shepherd.  Call upon Him, and then listen as He responds.

So, lets all ‘pick up the phone’ and talk to the Lord today.

It’s not what she said, but what I saw…

       We sat facing each other during our break and since we were alone, the conversation had turned personal.  She told me of many trials she had endured, and then about finding her uncle washed up on shore.  I sat flabbergast, not because of the horror in seeing a loved one dead that way, or knowing all the pain she had been through, but that as she described it all there was such a peaceful demeanor about her.  In the midst of a dreadful trial myself I could not imagine ever reaching a place where God’s peace would be so apparent on my face.

       All I could think of is how much I wanted what she had but at the time it seemed like I would never find peace again.  It was a very lonely time and only a handful of people understood a small part of the trauma we were going through.  How often I wished for a hug; for someone to put their arms around me and say, “I love you.”  How valuable it would have been to have one person hold my hands and say, “I will stand by you no matter what.”  How much I needed to feel that squeeze on my shoulder with the words, “I’m so sorry you are going through this.”

       Comfort, oh, comfort my people, says your God. (Is. 40:1 TLB)  During a time of great tribulation in Israel the Father tells His prophet* to comfort His children.  Certainly there are times and places God confronts sin and warns His people through His prophets, but here He wants some encouragement to help set hope in front of His people’s eyes once again.  He wants to bring them comfort in their distress.

       Comfort, oh comfort my people, says your God.  We never really know what any one person is going through at a particular time, so as we meet people at work, at church, in school or any other place, it’s always a good idea to remember they just might be having the worst day of their lives, and a word or touch can bring them comfort and encourage them to keep on walking the journey.  God’s comfort is forever available to us, but He also expects that we will show His love through our actions toward others.** 

Comfort, oh comfort my people, says your God.

*1Co 14:3- But one who prophesies strengthens others, encourages them, and comforts them.

**2Co 1:3,4- …God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.  He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.  NLT

also (1 Th. 5:11; 2 Cor. 13:11)

Always Moving

       This universe repeatedly amazes me; its intricacy and the uniqueness of all its components boggle my mind.  Life is always moving around us in the people, plants, animals; in ourselves, our many body systems and cells; in the earth, its plates, the air, water flowing; in space orbiting, spinning, expanding and contracting.  What incredible complexity the Creator has produced.

       Lately it seems there are a lot of changes happening inside of me; I’m sure others aren’t noticing it nearly as much as I do, but it seems to be a continual thing.  I guess that’s good because I’m so far from perfect that there are a lot of changes that need to be done!



       It has always been my belief that the two greatest abilities of man are to learn and change.  From the day we are born to the day we die we continue to learn more and more.  How do you know not to touch a hot burner?  At some point you learned from someone else (hopefully) or by first hand experience (ouch!).  So that knowledge caused a change in you as you are no doubt careful around hot burners. 

       Now, my mother would say, “I’m too old to change…” but the truth is we are never too old to change, just too old to want or choose to change.  Occasionally after an incident occurs in our lives, negative changes may occur, but at the same time we also undergo improvements.  No two people enduring the same experience will come out of it the same on the other side.  And so like life all around us, we are constantly moving, learning and changing.

       Sometimes we don’t want to change and when that happens but we know we need to, then is the time to pray like this, "Lord, I don’t really want to change this, but I want to want to change this.  Please help me to want to change."  Yes, I have first hand experience that a prayer like this works.  At one time I could care less if my house was ever clean, so I often prayed it.  I may never be a ‘neat freak’ now, but overall I want the house to be reasonably clean most of the time.  If you aren’t moving forward, you’re going to fall back.

        The Serenity Prayer includes the "courage to change the things I can" and so we should try to continue to change for the better all the days of our lives and pray for God’s assistance in our attempt while allowing Him to change us too; and He will, especially as we spend quality time with Him.* Truly, I have found the biggest, best and most enduring changes in my life have been those changes the Lord has done in me. I’m so glad I’m not the person I used to be!  Thank You Lord!  I choose to move to improve.

     

*2 Cor. 3:16-18- But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.

Rom. 12:2- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.  NLT