Don't Talk Back

"The word of the LORD came to me, saying; "Berfore I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." "Ah, sovereign LORD, "I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 1:4-8)

There I was; standing all alone, 52 pair of eyes staring at me, waiting, looking at me; I could tell that they were thinking, "Ok! let's see what this guys going to say. I hope he is better than they last one." So I decided, I will not let them intimidate me, so I stared back at them. There was this moment, it seemed like a lifetime. I heard this thumping sound, I thought, "did someone bring in a bass drum?" No, it was my knees knocking together, my lip began to tremble, they were getting the best of me, I was losing this battle of wits, so, I decided to pick my guitar and sing a song that will teach them. I strummed and the sound, well Mozart would have covered his ears and run from the room, Beethoven would have covered his deaf ears, Santana would have become a car salesman, the chord, (if you could call it a chord) was definitely not from this world. Great start! In my mind I yelled out, "God why did you send me here?" Then I remembered what he said, "Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you, declares the LORD." DO IT NOW LORD! Have you ever faced off 26 octogenarians? It might have been easier to face the lions in the Roman arena. On top of that these were long time Christians and God wanted me to speak to them? "You must go to everyone I send you"

The word of the LORD came to me: "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem (these octogenarians): 'I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the desert, through a land not sown" (Jeremiah 2:2).  Well, they didn't attack, they sang, when I finally began to strum the right chords, and listened intently. They were so eager to hear the word of the LORD. We laughed, teased, prayed. Words of hope from 1 Peter chapter one. I am so glad that God sent me there, I was more blessed I think than they. Isn't that just the way our God works? If we are just obedient He will lead us into amazing situations, life fulfilling situations. All they wanted was some comforting words from the Bible, not preaching, just good words, and the Holy Spirit provided those words. Oh, I had prepared but God took what I prepared and used it in His way.I talked back to God, but He said "go!"

Let me encourage you to listen to the "go" from God. It may not be where you would like to go or have chosen to go but that does not matter to God. He has His own plans and wants to use your gifts to reach others, sometimes just to bring laughter and hope. Who is God sending you too? Are you "talking back?" You want a blessed life? Get into the habit of listening to the voice of God. I can personally attest, it is worth it.

I was invited back to speak again next week. I got there number now! There will not intimidate me again! In fact, I fell in like with some of them already. Who would have thought? Preaching to octogenarians, and enjoying every minute. Our God is good! Did I tell you? God loves you! Take that love out of your heart and place it into others. Listen, do you hear that voice? Just try talking back and see how far it gets you. God is calling, "Feed my sheep."

Daily Prayer:

Thank you Father for loving me, thank you Jesus for saving me, Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me, may my ears be attentive to your call for my life and may the words you spoke to Jeremiah become words spoken to me. Use me!                                                          Amen