My Utmost for His Highest - The Voice of the Nature of God

I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: ’Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?’ —Isaiah 6:8

When we talk about the call of God, we often forget the most important thing, namely, the nature of Him who calls. There are many things calling each of us today. Some of these calls will be answered, and others will not even be heard. The call is the expression of the nature of the One who calls, and we can only recognize the call if that same nature is in us. The call of God is the expression of God’s nature, not ours. God providentially weaves the threads of His call through our lives, and only we can distinguish them. It is the threading of God’s voice directly to us over a certain concern, and it is useless to seek another person’s opinion of it. Our dealings over the call of God should be kept exclusively between ourselves and Him.

The call of God is not a reflection of my nature; my personal desires and temperament are of no consideration. As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God. But when God brings me into the right relationship with Himself, I will be in the same condition Isaiah was. Isaiah was so attuned to God, because of the great crisis he had just endured, that the call of God penetrated his soul. The majority of us cannot hear anything but ourselves. And we cannot hear anything God says. But to be brought to the place where we can hear the call of God is to be profoundly changed.

January 16 ... My Utmost for His Highest ... Oswald Chambers
http://utmost.org/the-voice-of-the-nature-of-god/

Praying for Hope in Haiti

Dear brothers and sisters, as Tom Donnelly and Barb Deradoorian are in Haiti this week with LCMS World Relief and Human Care, and Michelle Garland is working at a Samaritan's Purse cholera clinic in Cite Soleil, we join together praying for all the happenings. Last night several of us gathered for prayer in the sanctuary ... January's Prayer Agenda will be included in this week's News & Notes ... please be in prayer ... it is truly a gift from God to communicate with Him ... He offers and desires this relationship between you and Him ... take time, turn off the TV or set aside any worldy thing that can distract you from the most important time spent, get into a comfortable position (or down on your knees, which is not always a comfortable position) and spill your heart out to Him ... He hears your every word and will lift your heart!

Here is an update from Barb:

First impressions: Haiti is beautiful (like the other islands) and Haiti is devastated. It is difficult for my mind to comprehend the extent of it - the people are living in conditions that the world should be ashamed of - and I think that much of this existed prior to the earthquake - but the extent to which it affected this entire country is undeniable. Yet, among all of this, the people are joyful, happy, friendly, warm, beautiful and making a way to live. I'm not sure I could do it.

We (the team - 12 of us from around the US and Haiti) are currently in Jacmel. We took a very interesting bus ride from Port-au-Prince (which is amass with people who are living in tents) through some of the most beautiful mountains I have ever seen. All the while honking our horn to warn those on the other side of the hairpin turn we were coming through. People, babies, children, buses, tap-taps (the local mode of transportation which consists of a brightly painted bus with open sides, jammed to the gills with people and goods, including stacked on the top with people on top of that), cars, everything - sharing the same road. And I do mean sharing - lanes are nonexistent here. We arrived in Jacmel yesterday(to more people living in tents, but also a beautiful city in its own regard) and are staying at a very Westernized hotel - I would not say this is a typical mission trip experience in that regard. It is directly on the ocean - but no one is in the ocean here - very different from my experiences in other islands. Of course, the litter in the ocean perhaps has something to do with that. No form of garbage disposal here whatsoever. Even the burning of rubbish doesn't keep up with the debris. We visited a build site yesterday and had an evening sharing with a missionary group here from the University of Illinois - Urbana - students, pastors, professors. It was a wonderful evening. Today has been filled with meetings this morning - I met with a Pastor who is the head of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti and we are developing a business plan for microfinancing throughout Haiti. We have already applied for a $500,000 grant which has been awarded pending our plan. It looks like I will be returning here in a few months to begin training with the board of directors and others involved in the financing. I have a lot to learn before then. This afternoon we will be traveling to a tent city to distribute shoes and soap and then attending worship service at Pastor Markey's church (a 30x40 slab of cement with 4 "walls"-open air and a metal roof). I understand we can expect standing room only - with about 300 to 400 people worshiping. I can't wait!

I'm not sure what tomorrow or Friday will bring, although we hope to go work at one of the home building sites. I do feel there is some progress being made here, but it is incredibly slow. The one organization you can't miss seeing making an impact is Samaritan's Purse (Franklin Graham - Billy Graham's son, is the CEO). They are meeting the needs of the people with shelter, clean water, food, medical care. They will be holding a revival in Port-au-Prince this weekend - Franklin Graham will be here to share the good news of Jesus Christ.

If you would like to see some pics of the trip, you can visit www.lutheranchurchcharities.org and see what Tim Hetzner has put up. I haven't been to the site yet, but check it out. You can also visit a blog by a young lady on our team, Sofie Martin, at www.gospelinmotion.blogspot.com (hope4haiti).

Heavenly Father, we thank you for everything; for every good gift is from You! Your creation is spectacular and even though devastated, the country of Haiti is full of majestic mountains, sparkling ocean tides, and joyful, hopeful, happy, friendly people who You have made to be natural survivors, enduring the worst conditions most of us will never be able to comprehend!

Thank you, Father God, for providing opportunity for our friends to use the resources and talents You have given them to make this trip. Continue to be with them, providing for them in the areas of health, rest, strength, wisdom, and unity. Be their Guide as they meet and plan and organize projects that You have called them to do. Keep each person focused on You, Lord, so they can do the work You have laid out for them to do and so that everyone around them will know the love of Jesus through them. Lord, with You there with them, controlling the plans You have made, big strides can be made; may everything be done to glorify Your Holy Name, Lord God!

Father God, we raise up to you Franklin Graham and all of Samaritan's Purse; continue to bless the work they are doing in Your name. Give Mr. Graham Your words as he speaks to the people this weekend ... speak through him, Lord, as your children seek hope! Do mighty works in Haiti, Lord God, and as progress is made let it be obvious it is all because of You, Your goodness and mercy!

We pray all this in the unstoppable name of Jesus, amen!

First Tuesday Prayer Gathering

Heavenly Father, as we gather tonight to pray please bless us with the presence of Your Holy Spirit, knowing that You are there and hear our prayers. Give us that peace that only You can give, O God, and draw us close to You as we surrender our hearts to Your bidding. There's so much on our minds as we begin this new year, Lord, and we just simple need to give it all to You and trust You with everything. Bring us together as one voice this evening, whether we are with You in Your sanctuary at Good Shepherd, or whether we're individually in other physical locations, speak to our hearts and encourage us all to be in communion with You in the precious gift of prayer. Teach us to pray, Lord Jesus. We bring it all to You, in Your name. Amen.

First Breath

Heavenly Father, thank you for the opportunity You provide for us to worship You this Christmas! No matter where Your children are spending Christmas eve, day, week, You give us every breath and we praise You for that and for all Your good gifts! As Christmas "winds down" and we look ahead to the new year, keep us focused on Your Son, Our Savior's birth, first breath, reason for coming, last breath, and ultimately, the greatest gift ever ... His resurrection! Loving Jesus, thank you for coming, for living, and for sacrificing everything for us. Keep us strong and faithful and surrendered to You, and working together to build Your Kingdom as we wait for You to come again and take us home. In Jesus' holy name, we pray. Amen.

A Time for Quiet

Wednesday, Dec 22, 7-8pm
Instead of dinner and a worship service, the sanctuary will be open for a time of quiet, peaceful prayer. Allow yourself to stop during this busy time of hustle and bustle to just be still in the Lord. Ask Him to fill you up with His Holy Spirit and to dwell within you as you work, play, worship and enjoy and spend time with family and friends. Call on Him with the desires of your heart. Seek His will for you, your purpose, and how you can help others know, love, and follow Jesus, our beloved savior ... the Way, the Truth, and the Life!

Father God, you know exactly the plans You have for us, individually and as a congregation. Help us to cling to You as we work together to meet the lost and attempt to introduce them to You, Lord Jesus. We know that we can't make others have faith in You, Heavenly Father; only the Holy Spirit can do that. We know we can't do this without You, Lord; and in all things, without You there can be no true success. Guide us, lead us, bless us, and bring the unsaved to faith in You, God, for the sake of Your Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.

Teaching the Way of the Shepherd

In honor of Pastor Van Dellen on his "retirement", the GSLC Praise Team wrote and performed this song as a gift to him.

Prayer Gathering Tonight - 1st Tuesday of every month

Father God, please bless our feeble efforts and fill us with your Holy Spirit as we seek Your face, coming before You with bent knees, bowed heads, and surrendered hearts. Flood Good Shepherd, the church building itself and the hearts of everyone who enters it, with Your Holiness. Reign down Your loving kindness and guard against the evil one who comes to destroy. Use us, Lord, as instruments of Your peace and love, as we serve to help people know, love, and follow You, Jesus. In Your name, we pray. Amen

The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
Psalm 145:18-19

"Prayer is the deliberate and persevering action of the soul. It is true and enduring, and full of grace. Prayer fastens the soul to God and makes it one with God's will." Julian of Norwich