Have you ever felt a nudge to speak to someone – to go somewhere – to do something and you did not want to do it?

Have you ever refused to complete that call – share a verse or message and regretted it afterward?

Have you had someone in your life ask you to do something and you said – in a minute – or as soon as…. And either never did the requested thing, or were too late (failed or missed the opportunity/they got someone else to do it or decided not to (trust) call on you again?

I’ve been studying some Hebrew words and one that really stood out was the word for listen is Shema.

Shema means more than your ears working – hearing words and understanding them. It means to listen with the intent of creating an action to complete what I hear.

When Samuel as a young boy said, “Here I am, Lord.”  (I Samuel 3).  He was doing far more than telling God his location.  He was presenting his body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

To put a worldly, but sweet twist to it, it’s like saying to your loved one, “As you wish.” (quote from Princess Bride movie) usually interpreted as I love you).  When I say as you wish to my hubby, I am not “just” expressing the tingly feeling of the emotion of love, I mean I love you more than myself, and I want to put your needs first. It is a total commitment.

That is what Samuel was saying – Here I am Lord – I am listening – I want to do as you wish –

Whatever it costs.

Ummm – there’s the hard part.

Even knowing my loved one never wants to hurt me or even disappoint me.

Even knowing that Jesus, my beloved, wants only good for me – Jeremiah 29:11 (I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future)

Even knowing Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose. Do I say Here Am I Lord – Send Someone Else?

Have you ever felt a nudge to speak to someone – to go somewhere – to do something and you did not want to do it?

Have you ever refused to complete that call – share a verse or message and regretted it afterward?

Have you had someone in your life ask you to do something and you said – in a minute – or as soon as…. And either never did the requested thing, or were too late (failed or missed the opportunity/they got someone else to do it or decided not to (trust) call on you again?

I’ve been studying some Hebrew words and one that really stood out was the word for listen is Shema.

Shema means more than your ears working – hearing words and understanding them. It means to listen with the intent of creating an action to complete what I hear.

When Samuel as a young boy said, “Here I am, Lord.”  (I Samuel 3).  He was doing far more than telling God his location.  He was presenting his body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

To put a worldly, but sweet twist to it, it’s like saying to your loved one, “As you wish.” (quote from Princess Bride movie) usually interpreted as I love you).  When I say as you wish to my hubby, I am not “just” expressing the tingly feeling of the emotion of love, I mean I love you more than myself, and I want to put your needs first. It is a total commitment.

That is what Samuel was saying – Here I am Lord – I am listening – I want to do as you wish –

Whatever it costs.

Ummm – there’s the hard part.

Even knowing my loved one never wants to hurt me or even disappoint me.

Even knowing that Jesus, my beloved, wants only good for me – Jeremiah 29:11 (I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future)

Even knowing Romans 8:28 Here Am I Lord – Send Someone Else

Have you ever felt a nudge to speak to someone – to go somewhere – to do something and you did not want to do it?

Have you ever refused to complete that call – share a verse or message and regretted it afterward?

Have you had someone in your life ask you to do something and you said – in a minute – or as soon as…. And either never did the requested thing, or were too late (failed or missed the opportunity/they got someone else to do it or decided not to (trust) call on you again?

I’ve been studying some Hebrew words and one that really stood out was the word for listen is Shema.

Shema means more than your ears working – hearing words and understanding them. It means to listen with the intent of creating an action to complete what I hear.

When Samuel as a young boy said, “Here I am, Lord.”  (I Samuel 3).  He was doing far more than telling God his location.  He was presenting his body as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-2).

To put a worldly, but sweet twist to it, it’s like saying to your loved one, “As you wish.” (quote from Princess Bride movie) usually interpreted as I love you).  When I say as you wish to my hubby, I am not “just” expressing the tingly feeling of the emotion of love, I mean I love you more than myself, and I want to put your needs first. It is a total commitment.

Shema begins the prayer known as the Shema: Hear oh Israel, The Lord is our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

That’s total commitment

That is what Samuel was saying – Here I am Lord – I am listening – I want to do as you wish –

Whatever it costs.

Ummm – there’s the hard part.

Even knowing my loved one never wants to hurt me or even disappoint me.

Even knowing that Jesus, my beloved, wants only good for me – Jeremiah 29:11 (I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future)

Even knowing Romans 8:28 -And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

Even knowing from my past experiences and those of thousands gone before me that the ‘good” mentioned is not necessarily physical or financial comfort, but something leading to growing us spiritually, using both painful and positive things that result in a greater redemptive action than we can imagine.

The word pain shuts me down rather quickly but when I see the action of Christ and his Gethsemane prayer that had him sweating blood – he prayed three times – “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will”

And I ask myself is that what I mean when I pray and tell God there is this needy person – there is this need- there is this call – and I say “Here I am, Lord?

I challenge myself – and I challenge you if/when God speaks to you and says go, say, share, listen

You/I will lean into what we hear from God, fully intending to act on what we hear, our hearts saying Here I am Lord – As you Wish

.

Even knowing because of my past experiences and those of thousands gone before me that the ‘good” mentioned is not necessarily physical or financial comfort, but something leading to growing us spiritually, using both painful and positive things that result in a greater redemptive action than we can imagine.

The word pain shuts me down rather quickly but when I see the action of Christ and his Gethsemane prayer that had him sweating blood – he prayed three times – “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will”

And I ask myself is that what I mean when I pray and tell God there is this needy person – there is this need- there is this call – and I say “Here I am, Lord?

I challenge myself – and I challenge you if/when God speaks to you and says go, say, share, listen

You/I will lean into what we hear from God, fully intending to act on what we hear, our hearts saying Here I am Lord – As you Wish.

Even knowing because of my past experiences and those of thousands gone before me that the ‘good” mentioned is not necessarily physical or financial comfort, but something leading to growing us spiritually, using both painful and positive things that result in a greater redemptive action than we can imagine.

The word pain shuts me down rather quickly but when I see the action of Christ and his Gethsemane prayer that had him sweating blood – he prayed three times – “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will”

And I ask myself is that what I mean when I pray and tell God there is this needy person – there is this need- there is this call – and I say “Here I am, Lord?

I challenge myself – and I challenge you if/when God speaks to you and says go, say, share, listen

You/I will lean into what we hear from God, fully intending to act on what we hear, our hearts saying Here I am Lord – As you Wish.