Ordinary Time

Pause

On the Discovery Channel show Dirty Jobs, host Mike Rowe took on some of the most challenging jobs that vary from absolutely disgusting to humanly impossible. While we watch, we wonder, how can a person do that task day after day? We acknowledge that someone has to do it – please, just not me!

This may be the very response God hears when a mere mortal gets the call to be a prophet. Yes – someone needs to go forth and proclaim What the Lord says … God’s call is clear, commanding, and convincing. It’s a Dirty Job with little to no reward – sometimes resulting in death. Episode “The Prophet’s Call” can be seen this week on d365.org.

Listen

Have mercy on us, Lord! Have mercy because we’ve had more than enough shame. We’ve had more than enough mockery from the self-confident, more than enough shame from the proud.

Psalm 123:3-4

Think

Music has a way of speaking to my heart that stays with me long past the song is over. No recording has ever lifted my spirit as Crowder’s “Come As You Are” from his Neon Steeple album. I first heard Crowder sing this song on Good Friday with thousands of people standing out in the cold stormy night for hours as these words flowed and healed.

Next time you have had enough, or the job has been too hard, when you’re ready to cry out, “Have mercy, Lord!,” may these words from Crowder’s song bring hope and healing:

So lay down your burdens, Lay down your shame,
All who are broken. Lift up your face.
Oh wanderer come home, You’re not too far.
So lay down your hurt, Lay down your heart.
Come as you are. […]
There’s joy for the morning, Oh sinner be still,
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal,
Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal.

Natalie Nicholas Adams

Pray

God of mercy and grace, hear my cry! I give my life to you as shattered and broken, tired and afraid. Wrap me in your loving arms. Begin to heal what is broken, so that I may sing your praise with joy. God of mercy and grace, hear my cry! Amen.

Go

We are people of habits and routines. Our comfort zones include safe places, kind people, good food, and ready-made excuses. And in our comfort zones we often find our rhythms of grace.

But … what if today God is calling you to a new place, a new face, or a never tried skill?! There may never be a thank you or any applause, but God will supply all you need to do what is being asked of you.

As you go, remember that God does not call the prepared – God prepares the called.