When God calls us, does He get a busy signal?

One day I bought a toy telephone for my son. One of the sounds it makes is a busy signal. It's not that often that we hear a busy signal nowadays since most of us have 'call waiting'. One day as he played with it I thought "What an annoying noice. I forgot just how annoying it can be". Somehow it made me think of God. When He 'calls' us, does He get a busy signal?

There is a beautiful hymn called, "Here I Am Lord". Some of the words go: "I have heard you calling in the night. I will go Lord, if you need me. I will hold your people in my heart." For many years this hymn could easily bring me to tears. One because of it's simplistic beauty. The second because it made me feel kind of guilty. I felt God starting to call me to serve Him. And I was not answering. I was giving Him a busy signal. I was either too "busy" to hear His call, too afraid to answer His call &/or too afraid to follow His plan for me once I did answer it. But I couldn't get around it when I heard that song. I was in church so I couldn't leave! I was forced to listen to it. Finally it got to a point where I had to be honest & admit that I had heard Him calling (in the night) & I was not picking up. I slowly started opening my heart, my mind & most of all my attention to Him & His Word.
Slowly I started to spend time in prayer & reading the Bible. I liked what I read. While reading the Bible, I was shocked at what I read, amazed, laughed, shed a tear & even was on the edge of my seat sometimes! But a funny thing happened. "Coincidentally" my life, attitude, results, got better. I was calmer, more in control, more healthy, less judgemental. I became a better person, a better wife, mother, a better Christian. I got more confident, smart, wise, but mostly I got even more receptive to God's work for me. Why do you think I'm writing this now? Because that's one of God's assignments for me. To bring people to Him through the words that He gives me. Praise Him!
When God calls you, do you pick up? Firstly do you even hear Him calling? Is your caller id on to even be aware that it's Him who calls? Or if you know it is Him, do you pick up? If so, when? On the first ring, the first time He calls you to do something? Or do you let it ring a few times? Do you let the 'answering machine' get it, meaning we hear Him speaking but do not call back or don't respond? Do you let His message blink away like on your answering machine for a while while you stall? Or worse, when He calls you, does He get a busy signal? That sound that's so annoying?
It's easy to get busy, isn't it? At any given second there is probably at least a dozen things we could be doing. And instead of technology giving us more time, somehow it hasn't. It's just made us more demanding of what we do with our time because we're all so "plugged in". But even if it's not technology or work that keeps us busy it's other things, family, child-care & elder-care, paperwork, home repairs, working out, even social engagements, you name it. Yes, it's very easy to get 'busy' & keep busy. But busy doesn't always mean you're doing anything or accomplishing anything of real value. There's a great phrase that says "Work smart, not hard". I think we all work hard but when we don't make time for God, we're not working very smart. People wonder why we're so exhausted, stressed and have no energy; we're drained. Lack of energy is one of the most common complaints to Doctors by patients. Ask yourself, "Am I working hard or smart? Am I staying conencted with the real source? Am I spending time with my Heavently Father? Am I reading & staying close to His Word?
I'm no different from you. I'm here to tell you with 100% surety that He is calling you too! Ask yourself right now, "Am I answering His call? Am I letting it ring, giving God a busy signal?" If so, now, today, is the time to pick up. You don't have to turn your life completely upside down. You just have to open up a little bit. That's all you have to do; just start. Make today better. Ask yourself what you think God wants from you at this moment. It may be as little as a smile to someone; that's all it may be! Then ask yourself that same question tomorrow & the next day & trust the answer you get.
Wake Up! God is calling you. Like Uncle Sam, HE WANTS YOU! He loves you. He died for you. Pick up the phone & open your heart & your life to greatness!
God Bless & Praise God!

"When will you rely on me?"
A question that Jesus point blank asked Gordon Robertson at the moment right before he performed his first healing. Gordon had never healed anyone & thought that that wasn't for him but on this day the Lord told him He wanted to heal the sick. Being obedient he announced this later that day at an event he was at in India. A person came forward with a 12 year old boy who'd been born with polio & had never walked. Gordon did what he thought would work. He annointed the boy with oil, got the elders & they all laid hands on him. This will work, he thought. After all, it's right out of the Bible. When it didn't however Gordon thought & said to the Lord: "Lord I'm doing all that I know." "That should have been a clue" said Gordon later on! That's when he heard the voice. Jesus asked him that pointed, yet simple question: "When will you rely on me?". So Gordon did just that. He did the next thing that came to him. He walked quite a distance away, turned around, pointed right at the boy & shouted "Walk!". Needless to say that boy struggled to his feet & by the time he reached Gordon he was walking normally!
As I reflect on that I am awed. How could one not be? It's black & white. We make it grey. We make it conditional. We put up barriers to it. Or should I say we allow someone else to put up the barriers for us. There are slings & arrows thrown at us, I'm convinced, constantly throughout our days. Almost every second the enemy is throwing something or someone at us trying so hard to drag us down, to cause strife, anger, impatience in us. He's working overtime constantly trying to rattle the armor of our faith. Even a slight nudge at times is all he needs. But enough of these little nudges, along with a few blows & we're floundering in faithlessness. What's more we're wondering how we could feel this way when we know that Jesus is our Lord & Savior. I know I am sometimes. But that's why we need to search out these stories. An awesome story like this not only restores my faith but makes me feel electric with God's power! I know that Gordon is not some lucky guru but that everyone can do what he did b/c of God's awesome power!!! Amen!
Jesus said that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains! I've always loved that phrase but sometimes felt like maybe I don't even have that much faith b/c I haven't done certain things in my life. I'm looking for evidence of things done; feats &/or goals accomplished. But I realize now that I had it backwards. The point is you don't need "alot" of faith. A mustard seed is about the size of the head of a pin. It's small, real small. That's Jesus's point. We don't need alot of faith. We just need a little. Yet with that little bit we can do anything, even move mountains!!! I put the conditions on it, you see. I thought I had some faith but not maybe enough. But I was actually believing the father of lies. My eyes were opened just about 30 minutes ago to the truth & I wanted to share this with you asap!!!
That's the funny thing about God's truth. As long as we keep seeking Him, we learn new & wonderful things about it all the time. Who knew when I woke up this morning that I was going to get this gift? This wisdom will serve me & make me better so that I can give God all the glory. I had it backward, I wanted to see things & then get the faith from the evidence but we all know that "happy are those who do not see but believe!" Jesus said to believe that you've already received it & it shall be yours. I believe. I believe that I'll grow & do more & be more for God with this knowledge & I thank Him & praise Him and thank Him for this beautiful gift He's given me today & I'm even more thankful that I have a venue to share it with you. Our God is an Awesom God isn't He! Now share this with others! Don't get sidetracked, side-swiped, or side-anything by the enemy! He'll beat you up all day if you let him, even us who have Jesus already as our personal Lord & Savior. Stand up, throw your shoulders back (I'm not kidding, when you walk away from your computer I, correction God, wants you to do just that!) So in review, stand up, stand tall, throw your shoulders back, hold you head high & walk tall with the Lord by you side. He is by your side in every sence of the word. And remember his pointed question to Gordon/You: "When will you rely on me?"
God Bless You!

Unborn child

I have a dear friend who tried having children for years. After they found out that it was medically impossible they decided to adopt. One day I was browsing through an adoption web-site someone referred her to. In it there was a section where hopeful parents have their photo & a short section to write to the pregnant birth mothers to look through & hopefully choose them to adopt their unborn child. That got me thinking of those pregnant girls & women. There must be a lot of emotions they are going through at this time in their life. Maybe they feel badly, scared, confused, alone, regret, etc.

But then I realized that they have a wonderful person to identify with. The Blessed Mother Mary!!! She, too, was an unwed girl who became pregnant. True it was through divine intervention but she was to tell no one, not that anyone would have believed her anyway! Back then it was even a capital offence! Those of you out there that are in this situation, pray to Mary. She knows exactly what you’re going through. Can you imagine during that time how people must have pointed fingers, judged her, ridiculed her? But what a person to have as a role model! You have something in common with the queen of heaven & earth! Not too shabby! And another thing, God does not make mistakes. You’re pregnant because God wanted to bring your child, His child, into this world, at this time. There is a plan for this child, just like there is a plan for you. Just like there is a plan for the couple that may adopt him or her; just like there was a plan for Mary’s unborn child.

The average healthy woman is only fertile a few days a month. And even then there is only a 20% chance of her getting pregnant. The odds aren’t all that great. Yet you got pregnant.

How scared Mary must have been at times; how confused, how even unsure maybe. Probably all the same emotions you’re having right now. I’m sure she went through them too. I know you’re going through a challenging time right now too. But as hard as it is be strong! God needs you. In today’s world & in this country it’s very easy to make a decision you’ll probably regret. A decision that may make you feel worse because you can never never take it back. But Mary is there for you. She knows how you feel. And there are people out there to help you & most of all to help your child.

You are not alone

Jesus said in Matt 28:20 “Behold I am with you always until the end of the age.”
Imagine Him with you right now, standing next to you with His hand on your shoulder. Now realize that you don’t have to imagine it my friend because He is there. God’s promises are rock solid. He’s stronger than you & is always there with you. He’ll give you strength that you never knew you had. Yes, you can do this with some earthly help & some help from above. Just remember what the Bible says in Ephesians 6:10:
“Finally, draw your strength from the Lord, & from His might power”. You’ll be doing an awesome thing.
God Bless You!