THE CALL...
The Master called my name one day because He
needed someone to go:
I said, "Lord, in my spare time, between school,
spending time with my
husband, working from 8 to 6, and trying to
coordinate a program for
my community to help our children do better, I
will help You look. See,
I know I can't go right now cause I have so much
to do."
He said, "Well, where shall I find such a
person? I thought I saw your
name on My list of available people." "Well,
Lord, that was the prayer
that I prayed last year, but since then, things
have changed."
He said "Like what?"
"Well, I'm working on my Ph.D. and I'm needed by
so many people and
my husband is always wanting something done, and
on top of that, my
community expects me to help and give to them
so..."
"Well, since you're busy, I'll let you go, but
we will talk again, if YOU
have some time." I went on through the days, and
the weeks, and the
months completing my tasks as always.
One evening, while studying for my comp exams, I
received a call from
the hospital concerning my husband. He had been
in a terrible accident
and was in critical condition. I dropped
everything and ran to the Hospital
where I found my husband hanging on for dear
life.
I immediately begin to pray: "Lord, don't take
him now, I can't bear it,"
but my prayer echoed off the wall and returned
into my own ear.
That next morning I left the hospital tired and
weary, and walked in the
door of my classroom just in time to begin my
comps. As the professors
began asking me questions I opened my mouth to
speak, but nothing came
out. In my mind, I began praying, praying hard,
but my prayer echoed
again and I found myself upset at the Lord
because He was nowhere to be
found. I could not explain to them what was
happening.
After leaving from my exams, I called in to work
because I was so distraught
at all that was going on. I explained to my
supervisor what had happened
and she demanded that I take some time off.
After visiting my husband in the hospital that
evening, I went home and fell
into a sunken state, crying and despairing. Just
then I heard someone calling
my name. "Lord, is that YOU?" "Well, yes it is.
Do YOU have some time?
I wanted to see if I could just talk ..... "
Instead of waiting to hear His questions, I
lashed out in anger and resentment.
"How is it that when I needed You today, YOU
couldn't be found and last
night I cried and cried, but all I heard were
echoes from the walls.
My husband is dying, I'm flunking out of school,
I may not have a job, and
You can just sit and say YOU want to talk."
The Lord interrupted me in my foolish
speaking... "My child, I was busy,
out looking for someone to go and tell others
about Me when you cried.
By the time I came to answer, you had moved on
to something else. So,
I decided to let your husband rest, and keep you
home for a few days.
That way, maybe you would get in touch with Me,
if YOU had some time.
For you see, before your husband, the community,
or your job needs you,
I Need You!
And if all these things take you away from Me, I
have to almost take them
away from YOU in order to get a moment."
I calmed down and began to cry. For I remembered
my prayer of wanting to
go and do for the Lord.
He said, "I just wanted to check with you to see
if you knew of anyone
that I could send to be a witness for Me and
tell others about Me, anyone
at all?"
With tears in my eyes and feeling so unworthy I
said, "Lord, send me, I'll go..."
The Lord should never have to ask us if we have
some time. When He died
on the cross He put aside everything to insure
us eternal life.
We should be more than grateful to do service
for the Lord, to witness,
and to tell anyone we can about Jesus.
Don't let your (things), whatever they may be,
get you so tied up that the
Lord has to become a meeting time in your yearly
planner. He had more than
enough time for us. The least we could do is
have time for Him.
Simply say a small prayer for the person who
sent you this:
"Father, I thank You that __________ took the
time to send this to me.
Please bless her/him for allowing me to be in
her/his prayers, and taking the
time to remind me how vital You are to my very
existence. I thank you
that they respond to Your presence and Your call
on their life in a
meaningful way. Thank You for placing on their
heart those things that are
close to Your heart. Give them an understanding
of Your purpose, and let
not fear have any place in their lives. Allow
them to walk close to You, and
show them Your ways, in Jesus' Name."
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