Ordinary Time

Pause

Vision brings new understanding, like turning on a lamp in a dark room at night. Pray that God will bring new vision - and new understanding - to you as you consider the scripture and wait for insight.

Listen

A vision of a man from Macedonia came to Paul during the night. He stood urging Paul, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” Immediately after he saw the vision, we prepared to leave for the province of Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.

Acts 16:9-10

Think

Have you had a vision? What about a calling? What about an impulse in your gut that moved you to action, even though you didn’t know the details? My wife has. Back in 2005, she was watching the international news and caught the end of a story about drought in Malawi, Africa – a country dear to her because she grew up there. She felt God calling her to figure out how to make a difference. In the years that followed significant money has been raised by teenagers and church groups to fund deep bore wells for drinking water, to purchase pumps that allow agricultural projects to succeed in this mountainous region of Southern Africa, and to build bathrooms in schools. To learn more you can visit www.wateringmalawi.org.

God chooses to move God’s people to action through dreams and visions. If we are not careful, the church can sometimes get in the way. “We need to form a committee to study the implications…” God says “Go.” God whispers, “Do something.” God gives a vision and it is our job to follow. If our lives aren’t making a difference in and for others, then we have missed the vision. Maybe you will indeed need a committee. Wise counsel is always a good thing. And then do something. You will be amazed at what God will do, and how humbling it will be.

David Burroughs

Pray

God, I hear you calling and I have seen your vision. But I lack the courage to move. Help me to find wise counsel who can shepherd my journey. I want to move. I want to help. I want to bring your vision to reality. In you I can find my strength. Amen.

Go

Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art -
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.

Ancient Irish hymn