My life is incredibly full! With this ministry and my family, not to mention a home, friends, the students, being a grandmother to Olivia, taking care of myself and taking care of Jim, I often feel there is no more I can handle in my life. The phone will ring and sometimes I just let it go to voicemail because honestly, I need to hide a bit and recover.I know you must understand what I mean. We all have such full plates these days! Life is exhausting and one more task can be so daunting! The outside world goes to voicemail and I somehow manage to rest a little bit. More often than not, this will be the time that my spirit will ring and the familiar awesome pull at my heart will say, “Hello Lori, this is Jesus…”
God understands our exhaustion. He recognizes everything there is to know about us. He is certain of what we can and cannot handle and He knows our hearts. God also doesn’t leave voicemail. When the Lord says Hello, you must listen. And when God calls to you, you really do have to answer. And let’s face it. Sometimes, it just isn’t easy to do when everything is hitting you at once! Yet when you answer Him, when you say YES to Him…something besides exhaustion will fill your life. Something so blessed and strong, so kind and compassionate, will chase off the tiredness and lift you up completely!
In my last blog we talked about finding your calling and discovering the gifts that God gave to each of us. I know you have a God Purpose because you have been born for this time and place. You have much to give and the Lord will use you for such greatness! Sometimes He will call on you to help someone that is hungry or lost. Sometimes he will honor you by asking you to witness to someone that has lost all hope. He could request you to build a house for the homeless, or adopt a child. Perhaps you are simply being asked to hold someone in pain, or take the elderly couple that lives down the street to the doctor, but please let me reassure you of something; you are NEVER working alone.
Ephesians 2:10 ESV For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
When we feel the call in our hearts from God there is one thing He has ALWAYS promised, He will walk with you. When you feed the hungry you are feeding our Lord! When you witness, God has His hand upon you, guiding your heart! Our loving, amazing Father will call on us but He is asking for you to stand with HIM and neve be alone in the task.
Philippians 4:13 KJV I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
I understand your hectic life. I understand your worries because believe me I have them as well! If you think about those times when you helped others, when you answered Jesus and said YES, you will also remember that feeling of His grace when the task was done.
God doesn’t leave voicemail. You can’t hide away and wait until you are rested. There is no way to wait until you get your other chores done or until you make another call. But then again, who would ever want to miss a call from Jesus?
Me either. ☺
Love,
Deuteronomy 15:10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.
Thank you for quoting Deuteronomy 15:10 as I too believe we should give generously to the poor without a grudging heart. If we all did this out of love the poor would have a much better life indeed.