INSPIRING OTHERS

SATURDAY, September 1  "God-Colors"
Matthew 5: 14, 16  (MSG)
"You're to be light, bringing out God-colors in the world.  God is not a secret to be kept....Keep open house, be generous with your lives.  By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." 
     I love this passage from the Sermon on the Mount!  First there are the obvious references to LIGHT.  A single candle can light a dark room, a lone barn light can be seen for long distances, a lighthouse on the rocks can penetrate the dangerous fog.  One small life or light CAN make a difference in our world of dark.  We can hide our light, hold on tightly, or we can let it radiate and proclaim God's glory. 

     Peterson's MSG brought other analogies to me right now.  I loved the phrase "God-colors".  It made me think of the aspen leaves on the hillsides we saw yesterday.  Just a few tiny leaves that are changing to the glorious hues of autumn can be seen from far away.  Are those God-colors in the world?  Later this fall it will be a display of awesome glory!  Yes, God is present!  What about a field of wildflowers in the early morning?  The blooms are often shut tight, hiding their glory.  You might never know they are there.  But bring out the light, the morning sun, and suddenly they open, sharing their God-color beauty with all.  
     We need to be the light to open the flowers of our world, exposing God's love at all times.  A tiny light, one aspen leaf, a hidden flower.....how will we share the love and majesty of God to inspire others?  

GO! d365.org

"It is easy to feel that we are not inspirational to others. However, each day we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to be agents of inspiration and change in the lives of others.  How can we make a difference in the world today?
We have the gifts, the ability, and the Spirit of the Living God to inspire others.
Go! Be! Inspire!"

FRIDAY, August 31 "Measuring Worth"
Philippians 2:22-23 (Good News)

"And you yourselves know how he has proved his worth, how he and I, like a son and his father, have worked together for the sake of the gospel. ²³ So I hope to send him to you as soon as I know how things are going to turn out for me."

     How do we measure one's worth?  In today's society, it often becomes an economic value. What is our bank account look like?  How nice is our house?  What kind of car do we drive?  But Paul is measuring Timothy's worth by his service to the gospel. This seems like a far better ruler to use for measurement! 

     Let's quit defining ourselves by our economics, our race, our vocation, our friends.  Let's start using our service to God as the qualitative measure of our lives.  Small acts of service may not add up quickly in our eyes, but in God's standards the values are great! Let's redefine our worth to a new standard of measurement!   

Mark - In reading your article in the newsletter, I was struck today by your choice of words, "Yours are not to be the great things, but the little things" - once again God reaffirms a message sent in the morning's devotion.  (See above AND yesterday's part about Luke's blog!)  We are in community together even though separated by a thousand miles!  

THURSDAY, August 30    "Climbing Mountains"
Psalm 24:3-6  (The Message)

"Who can climb Mount God? 
      Who can scale the holy north-face? 
   Only the clean-handed, 
      only the pure-hearted; 
   Men who won't cheat, 
      women who won't seduce. 
 God is at their side; 
      with God's help they make it. 
   This, Jacob, is what happens 
      to God-seekers, God-
         questers."
     Climbing mountains isn't exactly the primary point of today's passage.  Sometimes our spiritual journey can feel like a daily climb to a high point of relationship.  But this is more to remind us that how we live, if in a God-inspired life, will likewise inspire others to seek God in their lives.  
     In our frantic paced world today, it is difficult, nigh on impossible at times, to stand above the unchurched crowd as an example.  But it is a mountain we should strive to climb daily, not only for the blessings it brings to us but also for the inspiration we can be to others.  We should make a point to deliberately take some action daily that will be an example, an inspiration.  Not to be a 'goodie two shoes', but to be a light in a dark world.  It doesn't have to be something big.  As Luke's blog is titled, "Dream Big. Act Small."  It's those little actions that add up to inspire others.  Where can we climb today?  What light can we turn on?
Note to Missional Group:  It is dark in the trailer and I have been using Bible Gateway.com to 'read' my bible text in The Message version. (I can't see my bible, but I can see the light on the screen!)  Anyway, today I discovered on Bible Gateway a whole series of devotions that might be of interest to some of you.  All can be delivered to your in-box on a daily, weekly, etc. schedule.  Some for women, men, leaders, etc.  Check it out.  I'm going to.  http://www.biblegateway.com/newsletters/

WEDNESDAY, August 29   
1 Timothy 5:1-2   (The Message)
"Don't be harsh or impatient with an older man. Talk to him as you would your own father, and to the younger men as your brothers. Reverently honor an older woman as you would your mother, and the younger women as sisters."

     How we treat one another, what we say and do, goes a long way to determine whether we are an inspiration or not.  No one is going to heed our words if our actions speak a different message.  Peterson's Message gives these verses a slightly different slant than the NRSV or NIV - they speak mostly of the words we use with each other.  Peterson mentions 'talk', but more importantly, the whole way we treat one another....with respect and reverence....as family.  Unfortunately today, the concept of treating one another as family might not be the best example.  Some people reserve their worst side for those closest to them.  
     But when I am in community, whether at church or outside my faith family, if I can approach everyone as if they are my mother, father, brother or sister, I will watch what I say, the actions I do.  And with that 'purity of heart', we will inspire others to seek the God that lives within us.  
     A note on yesterday's blog.....I picked up a book to start reading last night while soaking at the mineral hot springs after a long hike (yes, life is hard right now!)  It is a book called "How to Be a Sweet Old Lady Instead of a Grumpy Grouch".  One of the very first chapters spoke of 'doing what has to be done'.  And the last line of the section?  "I had to just do it!"  I continue to be amazed at the number of times I will read or notice something that reaffirms the morning's devotions, the times God will pound the message in hard enough that perhaps it will take!  Maybe that's why it seems to be important to START the day with God.....then you know where to look for all the reaffirmations during the rest of the day!   God is good!  All the time! 

TUESDAY, August 28 "Just Do It!" 

1 Timothy 4:15-16   The Message (MSG)

"Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation."

     Nike came up with a winner when they coined the phrase "Just Do It!"  Half the people using it may not even realize it is from a shoe company.  Regardless, the message is the same.  We KNOW the message of God, the salvation of Christ.  We have heard it over and over since Sunday School.  Now it is time to  put it into practice - even if we don't have it all figured out exactly.  It is in the doing that we learn more!  

     I've seen this problem often with beginning art students.  They are afraid to get started on a project, not sure where to begin.  I encourage them to "just put the brush in the paint and make a mark!"  Once you begin, you suddenly find God is gently prodding you along in the process.  How often this is the case!  I wasn't exactly sure how to caulk a crack in a house.  But I grabbed the gun and got started (it looked like fun!)....and God helped me along from there! 

     Jimmy wrote me that it is in community that others help us discover our gifts, inspire us to start painting!  How true this is.  May we all continue to encourage, inspire, and "get 'er done!"  

MONDAY, August 27  "Keep Gifts in Use"
1 Timothy 4:13-14 (The Message)
"Stay at your post reading Scripture, giving counsel, teaching. And that special gift of ministry you were given ... —keep that dusted off and in use."

     How many of us fail to open our Christmas or birthday presents?  That would be unthinkable!  But how often might we also say thank you and then put the gift aside and save it for a "special time or use"?  The good china that gets used once because "it is too nice to use".  God has given us gifts as well that we might not be opening, talents we might not be sharing.
     We ALL have talents and gifts that can be used to follow God's call in our lives.  It is part of our call to use those gifts, to share them with others, to inspire others in witness to the glory of God.  Sometimes we might feel our gift doesn't compare in quality to that of someone else.  It doesn't matter.  God gave it to us for a purpose.  God knows how to use it.  We just have to give it a start and let God take it from there.  
     I feel like I have a gift in my scribbles....I hope they are God inspired and therefore inspire others.  How God chooses to use this gift I don't know.  I just keep drawing and wait for God to unwrap his plan.  Some of us have the gift for hospitality, for preaching, for visitation, for voice, ....God is using them.  Our job is to take the gift off the shelf, dust it off, and keep it in use.  Let God work his magic from there!  

PAUSE! d365.org  (Dale Tatlock)
"Everyone needs to be reminded that God creates us with a calling for each of us.  Everyone is given gifts that need to be shared with the world.  
We can be agents of change in our world.  We can empower anyone, no matter what age, to make a change in their life and follow God's call."

SUNDAY, August 26   "All Have Gifts"
1 Timothy 4:12 (The Message)
"Don't let anyone put you down because you are young.  Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity." 
     Paul is writing to Timothy, a teenager in his church, to not be intimidated by the elders and to demand respect and join the conversation.  How often do we allow our youth or even newcomers to the faith or congregation to feel that way?  That they are unworthy, or knowledgeable enough,  to be actively engaged?  I've heard the lines, 'I can't be involved in that - I just became a Presbyterian!' or 'My faith isn't that strong yet.'  These are the very voices we need to hear - voices with fresh ideas, opinions that are not corrupted by tradition or the 'we've always done it that way!'
     All of us must heed the reminder here that everyone - newcomers, elders, youth, old-timers - everyone has gifts to share and is worthy to be heard and called into action!  Within the Habitat community we have discovered that the "first-timers" like us are quickly assimilated into the work crew and our expertise in whatever area it may lie is soon discovered and encouraged.

TOUGH TIMES

Saturday, August 25  "A Gift from God"
James 1:2-4  (The Message)
" Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides.  You know that under pressure, your faith is forced into the open and shows its true colors.  So don't try to get out of anything prematurely.  Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way."  
     Tough times temper our faith.  We discover strength we didn't know we had when we persevere through the 'marathons' of our life.  Not only the elation and joy, but the change in ourselves can be celebrated when we endure.  We have to test ourselves in the tough times in order to gain the confidence that our faith can, and will, carry us through.  It is a gift!  Thank you, God! 

Friday, August 24  "Unseen Hope"
2 Corinthians 4:17-18  (The Message)
These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.
     "Show me. I want proof."  "Do you have evidence to support that?"  We are a technological, scientific society bent on demanding physical evidence and proof of everything.  How do we love others?  Show me.  God provided that proof in the flesh and blood of his son, Jesus.  Jesus is the walking and talking version of the invisible God.  What more can we ask for?  What better demonstration of love could possibly be available? 
     The tough times we endure are 'small potatoes' to the coming celebration.  We don't need proof to know this is true.  Our faith should tell us that Jesus affirmed all this.  And the more we live out the love in our faith, the more lavish the celebration will be in this life and the next.  
     
Thursday, August 23  "Suffering to Hope"
Romans 5:3-5  (The Message)
"There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!"
     I am one of those who sometimes reads the end of a book to make sure a particular character is still mentioned and therefore lives through a particularly challenging or suspenseful passage I am reading.  I can watch a movie with satisfaction even if I know how it ends already.  Some call that cheating.  Not for me.  
     When suffering strikes, and things are rough, we know the ends of the story:  God will help us through.  The end of the story may not be as we expected, but it will not leave us "shortchanged" to use Peterson's term.  God is with us, working in us and through us.  Steel is tempered by fire and we are stronger by the struggles.  Allow God to temper our faith; the story will end well.  
NOTE:  Scribbles added for the previous two days!  

Wednesday, August 22 "Sharing = Joy"
Isaiah 58: 7-8 (The Message)
"What I'm interested in seeing you do is: 
   sharing your food with the hungry, 
   inviting the homeless poor into your homes, 
   putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, 
   being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on, 
   and your lives will turn around at once.
Your righteousness will pave your way. 
   The God of glory will secure your passage."
    The key words here are SHARE, INVITE, CLOTHE.  Words of action and words that extend ourselves beyond our own little world.  Why?  It is the right thing to do, but also because it will bring us joy.  There is truth to the saying that helping others blesses the helpers as much or more than those who are helped.  Isaiah puts that blessing as the light of God as our rear guard.  That's a nice thought: "God has me covered!"
     Patty broke down yesterday in tears as she tried to express how much our coming has meant to her.  As an employee of Habitat, she has been in the business of helping others.  To be on the receiving end has been humbling and overwhelming for her.  I think it made us all want to work just a little harder, to do a little more for her.  She had coffee hot and ready for us, and a 'monkeybuns' cake hot on the counter for snack!  
     Sharing brings out joy for all.  

Tuesday, August 21  "Encouragement" 
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (The Message)
"So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it."
    d365.org writer Patricia Lyons comments today on Facebook and the 'Like' button.  As one who is distant from my home community right now, I have to admit Facebook has become an important way for me to stay in touch with folks and let them know I am in support of them.  I've hit the LIKE button often lately, sometimes with comment, often without.  Likewise, I've felt the encouragement of my family and friends in our current calling through the LIKES I've found on my page.  
     Facebook is different from other social media, however  There is no 'Dislike' button.  The creator thinks that is anti-productive.  Apostle Paul would say it isn't Biblical either!  Yet You-tube has a dislike icon.  I realize many post some ridiculous things, yet how discouraging to find a multitude of dislikes and a few likes.  
     As we work together this week as a new Habitat team (our gal from Colorado finally made it yesterday!), may we hit the LIKE button often, remembering to compliment the work of others and provide encouragement to each other.  Such actions not only please God, but they build a community of love and support.  



Monday, August 20   "Hands Up!"
Philippians 2:3-4  (The Message)
"Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet talk your way to the top.  Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead.  Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage.  Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand." 
     We don't need to be at the top of the pile to serve God.  We should be more concerned with holding the pile up.  The last line of The Message version says to lend a helping hand.  Each morning after our devotion, our Habitat team joins hands and says, "Habitat is not a hand-out, but a hand up!' and we all raise our joined hands upward.  We are helping hands to pull people up and out of tough times.  Our own status doesn't and never should matter.


PAUSE! d365.org
"Life should not be lived alone.  God has called us to help others whether they are friends, neighbors, family, or strangers, through tough times.  We are to carry one another's burdens in this life together. 
In this next week, think about those around you, those with whom you live.  How could you help them as they struggle?"   (Patricia Lyons)

Sunday, August 19    "Share Burdens"
Galatians 6:2  (The Message)
"Share their burdens and so complete Christ's law.  If you think you are too good for this, you are badly deceived." 
     The law of the Old West was one of the independent cowboy or loner who didn't need anyone else to survive.  One can live like this and move quickly, without anyone to slow them down, but it is not often a long lasting life.  Nor is it one in which you can maintain a complete relationship with God.  To do that, we must care for each other in community.  To live independent and alone, you can KNOW God's love and recognize God's power and presence.  But it is in community that we can PRACTICE God's love, that we can extend that love to others in helping them through tough times and in celebrating good times.
     May we strive to not be too independent for our own good.  May we strive to demonstrate God's presence to those hurting around us, and allow others to be the same for us.

SHARING GOD'S LOVE

SATURDAY, August 18
John 15:16-17 (The Message)

"You didn't choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won't spoil.  As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.  But remember the root command: Love one another."  T

     Our world is filled with winning and losing, with the uncertainty of acceptance - the current political campaign and election, job applications, trying out for teams or drama roles.  Think about American Idol and all the reality shows where the nation votes with cell phones.  Even Facebook have Friend Requests.  We wait to be chosen, to be accepted.
     God said 'I chose you'.  No wait, no worry.  God wants me on his team!  My current team is a Habitat community of love and service.  Our coaches are God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit (with team leader Mark as well!)  We are all on this team and chosen by God for this work.

d365GO! 
"Life together means we live in community with all types of people.  This is not an easy task, and God understands it is not easy for us.  Yet we are still asked by God to be people with open arms, willing to hug, love, and accept the dirtiest, weirdest, poorest, richest, sickest, meanest people.  Life together, with all the different types of people in the world, is messy and interesting! 
God wants us to experience life together, not life separated.  Be alert!  Be open!  Love!"

FRIDAY, August 17  

1 John 4:20-21  (The Message)

"If anyone boasts 'I love God' and goes right on hating his brother or sister, thinking nothing of it, he is a liar.  If he won't love the person he can see, how can he love the God he can't see?! The command we have from Christ is blunt: Loving God includes loving people.  You've got to love both."  

     Brother, sister, friend, enemy, neighbor next door or unknown across the world.  They are all included in this command. They all reflect the face of God.   But we shouldn't treat this as an order or directive - do this or else!  We should see this as a guide book to knowing and becoming more like God.  If we practice loving everyone, even those who are less than lovable, we come to know God better.  If we practice love, even when it is inconvenient or impractical, we will be blessed to see Jesus in everyone we meet.
     Loving people is what we are practicing each day we gather in work for Habitat.  We will find the job easier and less tedious when we look up and see the face of Christ in the homeowner, or in the face of the one we are working with side by side.  May we look today as we practice loving our brothers and sisters, and in so doing, feel the presence of God.  
I will use this as my devotional on Saturday morning prior to beginning our work.  

THURSDAY, August 16  "Hidden Treasures"

1 John 4:10-11  (The Message)

"This is the kind of love we are talking about - not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they've done to our relationship with God.  My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other."  

     Certain people are easy to love.  They tend to be accepting, selfless, and happy.  People flock to be around them.  But others?  They are different, unlike us, critical, and don't bring out the best in us.  God loves them too!  God's love is unconditional - he loves beneath the surface, beneath the flaws, to the beauty, the treasure that lies within each of us.  Our job is to love like that.  As we pick up our hammer and tools, we must also figuratively use our pick axe to dig for the hidden treasure in those we serve, in our co-workers, and in ourselves!
     May we reach out in friendship and love to all.  This will form community as God intends.  People have remarked again in the Habitat community here about the change in homeowner JB since a hand up has been extended to him, about the change in a reclusive young man last year.  Treasures in all!  Let us love enough to uncover them!

WEDNESDAY, August 15
 "Looking for the Best" 
1 Corinthians 13: 7
"[Love] puts up with anything. Trusts God always.  Always looks for the best.  Never looks back. But keeps going to the end. "  (The Message)
     "It's hard to trust anyone when you feel like you are in competition with everyone."  This line from Patricia Lyons in d365.org today struck me.  How often this seems to define our society - one of an undercurrent of distrust because if they get their piece, I might not get mine. Ouch.  That is such a lonely and stressful way to live.
     I like the way The Message puts "hopes all things" as always looking for the best.  People like to be around an optimistic, hopeful person, who tries to see the top half of the glass at all times.  That is a fun person to work with.  My goal is to be that optimistic, cheerful person - with my co-workers and with the homeowner.
     I feel muscles this morning!  Today will be a good test....how well can I work this pace day in and day out for two weeks?  Put a smile on my face and let's go!!

TUESDAY, August 14   "Keeping Score"
1 Corinthians 13:6   (The Message)
"[Love] doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel.  Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth."
     It seems like keeping score and carrying grudges is so the norm of our society.  We can't let go of what someone else did to us at some point.  Even in the recent Olympics, the big news of the day was the 'medal count'.  I so much more appreciated the individual stories of athletes who had overcome odds, regardless of nationality.  God doesn't keep score, God doesn't rub it in when we err, God forgives and loves.  Why can't we figure out how to do it right?
     Past mistakes, whether our own or those of others only weigh us down.  Let us rejoice and feel the freedom of God's forgiveness and love.  Let us treat others the same.
     Today we begin work at the "SMITH" house.  The owner is a crotchety old man (according to Habitat) who is slowly coming out of his shell.  At least he will open the door now!  We will be repainting the house - according to the 'rules' of the local housing homeowner's association, which is all of Pagosa.  Fortunately the HA is now doing a better job of taking pleasure in the truth of assistance rather than handing out fines when the house didn't meet their score!
     Our group has met, appears to be a light spirited group of dedicated workers.  We are the only rookies at this point, with one other couple on their second build.  A community is growing and developing.

MONDAY, August 13  "Practice God's Love"
1 Corinthians 13:5  (The Message)
"Love doesn't force itself on others, isn't always 'me first'.  Love doesn't fly off the handle."
     How can I practice this kind of love in the weeks ahead with new people I am just meeting?  People I will work beside.  By taking the time to know them first, to not interrupt (a bad habit of mine), to listen and be patient.  The love chapter is a great reminder of how to respond and treat people when you work together in community.
     We have met just one couple from our group so far.  Barb and Mike are from outside of Phoenix.  I love their email address: saltandpeppertwo.  Barb is a bit more reserved, but Mike has been over to talk several times.  He shared the internet password with me as I have yet to check in (the gal is never in the office!)  Today, the rest of the group will gradually pull in.  We meet tonight for a potluck to get to know each other and begin to build our new community in service.  An exciting day ahead!  May I call to mind the love chapter in my actions today to practice God's love.
Note:  I am going to go ahead and post even when I don't have the scribbles ready.  There may not come a picture everyday, but I will try to share my thoughts.  The scribbles may suddenly appear days later....who knows!  (God does!)

PAUSE!  "God's presence and call often show up in unexpected places and at surprising times.  We should all be changed by God's presence each time we encounter God.  Have we sensed God asking us to do something differently in our lives?  We must have the courage to say YES!  May we be the presence of Christ today, as we give back and share our lives with others."  
d365.org writer: Patricia Lyons

SUNDAY, August 12    "Sharing Love"
1 Corinthians 13:4  (The Message)
"Love never gives up.  Love cares more for others than self.  Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head." 
     Much of the next two weeks will be working to show and share God's love.  It will be exciting if the text for this week proves to be all of 1 Corinthians 13 - the total description of what God's love looks like in action.
     Love never gives up.  When the job gets hard, the temperatures hot, the task confusing, keep going.  If I don't know how to do it, ask and find out, but don't quit!
     Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.  We are going to see some posh RV's pull in with lots of bells and whistles!  We are going to see mega mansions on the hills surrounding Pagosa Springs.  Be content.  God has provided just the trailer and life for Rick and I.  It's all we need.
     Love doesn't strut or have a swelled head.  We shall be welcoming and open, receptive to learn.  We don't know it all, especially me when it comes to carpentry skills, etc.  Build up others first.
     This is a time to practice God's love.  Let's do it!

ACCEPTING GOD'S CALL

GO!  "God's presence and call often show up in unexpected places and at surprising times.  We should all be changed by God's presence each time we encounter God.  Have we sensed God asking us to do something differently in our lives?  We must have the courage to say YES!  May we be the presence of Christ today as we give back and share our lives with others." 

SATURDAY, August 11 "Everything"
Luke 5:10-11  (The Message)
"Jesus said to Simon, 'There is nothing to fear. From now on you'll be fishing for men and women.'  They pulled their boats up on the beach, left them, nets and all, and followed him."
     Nets and all.  Other translations say everything or forsook all.  What is our everything?  We tend to instantly think of material goods - our homes, cars, wealth, our things.  Our culture tells us this is our worth, our everything.
     But it is much more.  The everything our God calls into action includes our heart and minds, our talents and skills, and our shortcomings and failures.  God has given us all we have.  When we answer the call we give it all back to his service.
     God is going to take our everything and put it to work.  Are we ready?  Failure to do so means to miss out on God's miracle and blessing within us.  The disciples walked away from the biggest catch of their lives as fishermen to an even bigger catch - life with Christ.

FRIDAY, August 10   "On the Run"
Jonah 1:2-3 (The Message)

" 'Up on your feet, Jonah!  On your way to the big city of Ninevah!  Preach to them.  They're in a bad way and I can't ignore it any longer!'  But Jonah got up and went the other way to Tarshish, running away from God.  He went down to the port of Joppa and found a ship headed to Tarshish.  He paid the fare and went on board, joining those going to Tarshish - as far away from God as he could get." 
     How easy it is to run from God - or think we are avoiding God.  We do it when the call is hard, or inconvenient!  Not now, God, maybe later.  Send someone else.  But as Jonah eventually discovered, we can't run from God.  There is nowhere to run to, nowhere to hide.  Even when we are running, God will move heaven and earth to meet us where we are and gently (Jonah would say a whale's belly isn't NOT gentle!) guide us back to where he calls us.  Our goal?  Don't go on the run.  Stick around and heed God's call.  He's going to find you eventually anyway!
     

THURSDAY, August 9   "Hot Coals"
Isaiah 6:6-8  (The Message)

"Then one of the angel-seraphs flew to me.  He held a live coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar.  He touched my mouth with the coal and said, 'Look.  This coal has touched your lips.  Gone your guilt, your sins wiped out.'  And then I heard the voice of the Master: 'Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?'  I spoke up, 'I'll go!  Send me!"  
     God doesn't wait to send perfect people to do his work.  If he did, it would be a long wait - there simply aren't enough candidates available!  Instead, God takes us as we are becoming - unholy, unprepared - and empowers us.  God knows what we are capable of if we put our trust in him.  He knows the job we can do.
     Has the coal touched my lips?  Yours?  If the fire is burning, maybe it's time to say to God, "Here I am!  Send me!"
     This week's devotions are so poignant in light of Rick and my departure today to begin our retirement travels and volunteering.  I am excited for the flames to ignite us in anticipation of more and more service.  Habitat for Humanity, CHRPA (in Tucson), and where else?  Only God knows!

WEDNESDAY, August 8 "No Excuses"

Exodus 3:11-12 (The Message)
"Moses answered God, 'But why me?  What makes you think that I could ever go to Pharaoh and lead the children of Israel out of Egypt?"  
'I'll be with you,' God said. 'And this will be the proof that I am the one who sent you.  When you have brought my people out of Egypt, you will worship God right here at this very mountain."
     "Why me, God? I don't have the skills, I can't do it, it's too hard!"  We can make all the excuses we want to tell God to send someone else.  Moses goes on to list reason upon reason why God shouldn't send him.  Why?  Because it is frightening and hard to accept God's call.  It means change and often hardship.  To accept often means doing more than we can handle....alone.
     And there is God's 'catch' - his promise.  We won't be alone.  God will be with us moment by moment.  That is who God is and what God does.  If we can have the faith to say yes and trust God, we will be amazed at the work God accomplishes - through us.  It starts by saying not 'Why me?', but 'Ye, God. Here I am.  Use me.'

TUESDAY, August 7  "Answers to Prayer"
Exodus 3:9-10 (The Message)

"The Israelite cry for help has come to me and I've seen for myself how cruelly they're being treated by the Egyptians.  It's time for you to go back: I'm sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the People of Israel, out of Egypt."
     The Old Testament is filled with the stories of those who were called by God to act: Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, David, Jonah, Daniel....  Each time, the action wasn't solitary between the man (or woman!) and God alone.  God was calling them on behalf of another group, a group who sees them as an answer to prayer.  The Israelites had been in captivity for hundreds of years.  Moses, in disrupting his life to answer God's call, was answer to their prayers.
     When God calls us, it will usually mean disruption and change. We can't view the call in a selfish way as affecting our life only.  Perhaps God will be using us to answer the prayers of others.  Let us pray to hear and accept the call of God to be a blessing to others.  

MONDAY, August 6   "Face to Face"
Exodus 3:6  (The Message)
"Then God said, 'I am the God of your father: the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob.'  Moses hid his face, afraid to look at God." 
     Face to face with God.  The first image that comes to my mind is the final scenes of Indiana Jones and the Lost Ark - faces melting in terror in the presence of God.  It isn't a pleasant thought.  Our tendency is to react as Moses - in terror.  What IS it like to come face to face with God?  How would we know?
     Yet, when God's call pulls us into unknown avenues far beyond our comfort zone and into fearful experiences, we are seeing God.  We are afraid, yet God knows us, equips us, and is present with us - face to face in those we serve.
     Let us prepare ourselves to meet God in the most outlandish of places, prepare to boldly greet God with courage, praise, and respect, prepare our hearts to come face to face with God and hear God's call.

PAUSE! d365.org
"Accepting God's call requires courage to follow.  It's normal to feel fear and self-doubt, but ultimately God knows we can handle the calling that God places on our hearts.  Are you listening for God's call?  Prepare yourself today to hear and respond!" 

SUNDAY, August 5     "Stopping for God"
Exodus 3:4-5  (The Message)
"God saw that he had stopped to look.  God called to him from out of the bush, 'Moses, Moses!'  He said, 'Yes?  I'm right here!'  God said, 'Don't come any closer.  Remove your sandals from your feet.  You're standing on holy ground." 
     We highly respect Moses as a pillar of the Old Testament.  Yet, what if Moses had not stopped to look?  What if Moses had ignored the burning bush?  What if he had seen some interesting tablets of stone BEFORE the burning bush?  Would he have realized their importance?  What if Moses had been too busy with the details of managing a mob of exiles that he didn't take time for some mountain hiking?  What if?  What if?
     Do we have some 'what ifs' in our lives?  Are we missing God's call because we faill to recognize it?  God doesn't always beckon in the mainstream of life.  We won't get a phone call probably saying, "Hi, I'm God and this is what I'd like you to do!"  That would make it far too easy!  Sometimes God asks that we stop and take a look, to follow another path, to try something new.  God is calling us to serve in a specific way.  Let's make sure we don't miss our burning bush hidden in the chaos of our everyday lives!