Liz’s Morning Devotional based upon Upper Room
February 11, 2022
Read Isaiah 6:1-8
1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. 2 Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about. 3 They shouted to each other, saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” 4 The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the LORD of heavenly forces!” 6 Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.” 8 Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?” I said, “I’m here; send me.”
Good Morning! I will go, Lord, where you need me.
God’s plans for our lives are often hidden, waiting for the time to be revealed. I feel that two years ago, I began to feel the stirrings of God calling me to a new life. At first, it just seemed that I was to step up and become a more active part in planning and delivering worship.
We are taught that God’s promise to never destroy the earth in His covenant with Noah. God doesn’t make bad things happen, but God does use every moment as an opportunity to help us grow. It is hard to remember that two years ago that the pandemic was not on our minds. We were simply living our “normal” lives.
For my house, we had already been forced to adopt a new normal as Lowell’s cancer continued to grow and take hold of his body. He would have strong days and weak days. From the beginning of Lowell’s ministry, we had always worked as a team, but as the weak days began to come more often. I felt God nudging me to do more. One Sunday morning when one of those weak days arrived, I delivered one of Lowell’s sermons. I’m sure it was a bit awkward as I read his words because I was stepping in at the last minute.
Then, came the shut down of life as we knew it. We desperately wanted to share the Good News with our congregation during this time of great need. Perhaps, in most of our lifetimes, the arrival of the pandemic was the most horrific event we had ever experienced, yet as the cries for help rang out, the church buildings (and everything else) were closed as we were forced into quarantine.
Lowell and I searched for ways to reach out and share the Good News. I began to play around with some technology formats that seemed as if they might allow us a venue through which to worship. Over the next three months, I began to hone this process until we were able to share in worship together virtually in a new “normal” way. It seemed that this temporary lockdown was also going to give Lowell’s body a chance to strengthen. Lowell's body gave out, but his love of his Lord and Savior followed him into his new life.
Through this process, God was giving me a chance to slowly grow into His plan for me. God called me to become a pastor, and as scary as that sounded, I said, “Here I am, Lord. I will go where you send me.” Out of the ashes of the worst day of my life, I arose to meet my new life. I continue to greet each new day as an opportunity to share God's love with all those I meet.
Loving God, Thank You for loving us. Thank you for directing us so that we may answer your call. We never know where we may be called, but help us answer “if you say so”. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: When I say yes, God can do great things through me.
Love God! Answer your calling! Pastor Liz
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