Are you listening?

My new tattoo that is a depiction of Isaiah 6:8

Isaiah 6:8

"And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

Sayra's story

Have you ever had an evening of story telling? I am finding that it is something I quite enjoy! Hearing others stories and telling mine. Though I recognize I talk a lot and have always had a problem letting others share, it is something I have grown tremendously in and am learning more and more every day what it means to listen.

The other day I got to do just that… I baked some banana chocolate chip bread, brewed some decaf coffee, and waited for my sister to return with her old friend and my new friend named Sayra. We got to sit and listen to Sayra’s story (btw, I’m not going to share much of her story because it’s her story to tell) and my heart went out to her for many different reasons some of which was because I could relate to her from my experiences. Although there was a lot I could relate to, one specific thing that I could not relate to was the fact that she wasn’t a citizen of the U.S. and for most years of her life she was an illegal immigrant. This wasn’t something she planned for herself, or even a result of her decisions, actually all of her siblings were born here in the U.S., so out of her siblings she is the only one with this battle in life. After paying a lot of money out of pocket she was able to obtain a working permit that allows her to work here in the U.S. legally, but it is only good for 2 years and she isn’t allowed to leave the country. If she were to leave the country she would give up her rights to be here with her family and the only life she has ever known. Now many Americans would take this the political route and only focus on the fact that she was illegal for many years, but let me tell you something else about her story.

She told me about the first time she’d ever heard a missionary’s testimony. Coming from the Catholic Hispanic background, when she would hear missionary she pictured a nun doing all the work. She never realized that it was something she too could do.  So from that day on whenever asked what she wanted to be when she grew up it was a missionary. I would say she was called out in that service. After hearing her story, when I asked her ‘what was stopping her from pursuing a life as a missionary?’ She reminded me about the not being able to leave the country due to her citizenship situation.  This now showed me she didn’t only want to be a missionary, but she wanted to be a foreign missionary.

Listening to the Call

This morning I woke up with a lot on my mind due to a night full of vivid dreams. I was waiting for the little girl I baby sit to arrive, when I got a text explaining she wouldn't be here today. Well, since I was up so early and had already taken time to get ready, there was no going back to sleep. I felt the tug to spend my morning seeking the Lord. I opened my "My Utmost for His Highest," and read the devotion for January 14 (since thats today). You know what its title was? "Called by God." Instantly, I knew that the Lord wanted to speak. So I started to blog, because I've found I receive a lot when I reflect on how/what God has been speaking to me as of late. The scripture that was tied to this passage by Oswald Chambers, was Isaiah 6:8. Which hit me even more since I just got this passage tattooed this past weekend. I wanted this scripture because it reminded me of missions. I mean seriously, how often do you hear missionaries quote this?? "Here am I, Send me!" It's a common occurrence. Here's the thing, it is so much deeper than that, in fact it isn't even what he said that we should be paying attention to. It was that Isaiah listened to the Lord. He didn't act out of his own motives to impress the Lord, it was merely a response to the Lord's Call! He was doing exactly what God made him to do. That was to be in relationship with Him. As I was reflecting on that scripture, the Lord reminded me of  the story from 1 Samuel 3:4-10:

"Then the Lord called Samuel, and he said, "Here I am !" and ran to Eli and said "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call; lie down again." So he went and lay down. 

And the Lord called again, "Samuel!" and Samuel arose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." But he said, "I did not call, my son; lie down again." Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord, and the word of Lord had not yet been revealed to him. 

And the Lord called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, " Here I am, for you called me." The Eli perceived that the Lord was calling the boy. Therefore Eli said to Samuel, "Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, 'Speak, Lord, for your servant hears.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place. 
And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears."

Samuel was literally born into a consecration. He existed to serve the Lord, but here you see that he listened and at first didn't realize that it was his Lord calling to him. He heard the voice so clearly, but wasn't in close enough relationship yet to be able to identify His voice. He had to learn to listen. The other thing we see is that he was "called" as well. 

Many times today Christians look at the prophets of the Bible in amazement that they heard from the Lord, and their call was so great. That's just it though... they learned to listen. I think they wanted to hear! No one can force you to listen. It takes discipline, it takes the choice to lay self down. 

Responding to your Sayra

For me, after listening Sayra's story, I realized that she has a heart for foreign missions. It's all she's ever wanted to do with her life. I am now helping her obtain her God given dream. Honestly, all she wants to do is respond to the "call on her life." Since, I have had some experience in speaking with embassy's and problem solving with visa issues I am now looking in to how legally she can do what God has laid on her heart. As you can see, I am excited to gather information to help make this possible for her. Had I not listened, and instead been self-absorbed I'd never be able to know of ways that I can possibly assist.

So, I ask you are you listening? Are you available? It may be God has you in a specific place for a reason. If you aren't listening then you may miss the very mission available to you in the moment.