who preach the gospel of peace, who
bring glad tidings of good things!”
Romans 10:15
I found myself a bit hesitant to take on this commitment and unsure if I was really hearing the voice of the Lord but it just wouldn't leave me. So, after a couple of days I decided to take a step of faith and approach my boss about beginning a small weekly group to take place in our community chapel.
It was immediately and wholeheartedly accepted and I began the following Thursday with those the Lord had placed upon my heart to invite. Shortly thereafter, I again sensed a nudging in my spirit. This time it was to share the word of the Lord twice a month on the Sundays that I work.
I have to admit, this is something that I'd been rolling over in my mind for a few months and I even found myself giving some impromptu messages on Sundays to the residents as I would serve coffee and donuts. But, I just kept pushing it back, again, hesitant to begin anything "formally". You see, I've struggled for the year I've been employed here with having to work on Sundays and have prayed and prayed to be released from this schedule.
Well, probably within a month of starting the first group, our Sunday service began. After gathering that Sunday and experiencing the awesome presence of the Lord, as I was on break, it became so clear. The Lord had said, "For such a time as this", and He had made my schedule just as it was to serve His purpose and to follow His plan. What a peace I had that afternoon as I ceased the struggle and saw from His perspective. Previously, all I could think about was myself and my desires.
There are so many hurting, lost and lonely souls so desperately in need of a touch from the Lord and just waiting for an encouraging word to be spoken; that which will bring them hope, healing and the joy of His salvation.
Each day my prayer is as Jabez, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!"
(1 Chronicles 4:10) I am so aware that I have no good thing apart from Him but that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13) And so I come to feast at His table and to gaze upon His face that I may have something good to give - His word that brings freedom and life.
Who will hear His voice to go in the name of the Lord? Who will say, "Here am I! Send me." For the harvest is here but the laborers few. I continue to stand in awe of what the Lord will do through those who offer themselves to Him for His use and for the daily opportunities that He gives to share His truth and love in so many varied and wonderful ways. I pray our eyes would be opened to see and our hearts always ready to respond to make His name known however His Spirit may lead us.
"Peter do you love Me? *Feed My lambs",
echoing in my ears
But the Holy Spirit calls my name
speaking, "The harvest is here."
"Peter, do you love Me?"
reverberating, I hear His voice again,
"Would you watch over and care for
My own, My sheep to *tend?
Peter, do you love Me? My sheep are hungry,
would you go and feed
Shepherding those that I'd entrust
unto Me to lead?"
Give us shepherds hearts my God
empower us to lead
Our lives to serve the Master
in Christ to meet the need.
Move us with compassion
our hearts as one, the same
Your love to overtake us
seen, that souls be saved.
As is often the case, when the Lord speaks to me a word, He prompts me to look up certain definitions pertaining to what He's given me to help broaden my understanding. So, I thought I'd include those as well. It spoke to me twelve years ago and is still relevant today, maybe even more so as He is unfolding more of His promises to me and continues to teach me to walk in all His ways.
*FEED: to give food to, to furnish something essential to the growth, sustenance, maintenance, or operation of, satisfy, gratify, support, encourage, to be nourished or satisfied as if by food
*TEND: listen, to pay attention, apply oneself, to act as an attendant, serve, await, watch over, to have or take charge of as a caretaker or overseer, *cultivate, foster, to manage the operations of, mind, to stand by (as a rope) in readiness to prevent mischance, to move, direct, or develop one's course in a particular direction
*CULTIVATE: to prepare or prepare and use for the raising of crops, to loosen or break up the soil about, to foster the growth of, to improve by labor, care or study, refine, further, encourage, to seek the society of, make friends with
Scripture Meditation:
Esther 4:14 - "Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"
John 21:15-17 - So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep."
Isaiah 6:8 - Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I! Send me."
Mark 6:34 - And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd.
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