Here we are. Friday Eve. It’s when a few of my favorite people and I spend time at #fmfparty (Five Minute Friday Party) on Twitter, 
where we encourage each other, pass around the plate of chocolate chip cookies (thanks Anita!), and we chat about real-life stuff. My favorite kind of stuff.
Then we free-write for five minutes on a one-word prompt. We gather back again at Kate’s place as she hosts all of us crazy ones. Honestly, it’s a highlight of my week. I love it.
I invite you to join us. Don’t have a blog? Feel free to use the comment section below to write your five minutes.
This week’s word:
–SEND–
Go.
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8
I was a young girl when I first heard these words in church. I was too young to really understand their meaning.
Fast forward a few years. I was sitting in a different church, and my Bible study leader asked a similar question, as we were studying the account of Jonah. She asked, “What if God would send you to Nineveh. Would you go?” I remember–as if it was two days I ago–I silently prayed, “God, please don’t ever send me to Nineveh.”
I never wanted to face that decision.
That same year, however, you guessed it. God sent me to “Nineveh.”
I recalled the Isaiah verse from my little girl memory, but this time, it made sense to me.
God was calling me to a life of serving Him.
How could I say no?? After all He had done for me? After how He transformed my heart, my soul, my life??
I gave up my will, and with a somewhat reluctant heart, I said, “Yes, send me. I’ll go.”
My Nineveh wasn’t across the seas, and I never left familiar soil. But I did walk into unfamiliar ground, with unfamiliar people, in an unfamiliar role. But I wasn’t alone. God equipped me to love those whom most wouldn’t love. He gave me a heart for the hurting. He opened my eyes to the reality of homelessness and addiction.
My life would never be the same. I’m thankful I said yes. “Nineveh” ended up being a beautiful place.
Could God be asking you, “Whom shall I send?” Is He tugging on your heart to venture into something new? Could He be calling you to serve Him wholeheartedly, maybe even in Nineveh??
Friend, say yes. Go. Go where He is sending you. God will be with you, and He’ll bless you beyond measure.
Whom shall God send??
Stop.
Okay, I wrote for seven minutes. My heart was so full!
God bless you!
Julie
Julie- I loved hearing how God provided for you after you trusted Him enough to say “Send me”. It’s a beautiful picture of our relationship with Him. We take His hand and let Him lead us to where He has much work… and many treasures – not to mention the deep joy that comes from obedience. Beautiful writing once again, friend. I love stopping by your place.
Thank you, Karen. You are such an encourager, and it’s always a joy to have you here. May God bless you this week in all you do for Him. Keep sharing your story. You and it matters. Blessings!
Julie, great minds think alike. “Here I Am Lord, Send Me” prompted my post tonight too! God has sent me to my places of Ninevah too. I think God may be calling me to something new; not a new job but something that has been on my heart for a long time
Tara, how exciting! May God bless you on this “something new.” Hope I get to read about it soon. Bless you!!
Argh! Nineveh (the word always makes me think of fish-slappers and Bob and Larry and friends)! I’m such a chicken for the unknown. I’m such a wuss when it comes to going deeper (maybe that’s why God gave me that word–hopefully, I don’t have to go so deep that I spend three days in the belly of a whale). Thank you for the reminder to listen to God’s whispers and the tug of the Holy Spirit on my heart. After all, that’s how I can get deeper into the heart of God–listening when he talks.
Anita, that’s hilarious! And exactly what I was thinking of. That’s my favorite version of Jonah and the one that makes sense to me the most! Love your heart and your humor. Praying He takes you deeper this year, my friend. Thanks for sharing a piece of your heart here!
Worth the seven minutes. Good stuff.
God sent me to Nineveh, too. But fortunately, He allowed me to get tooled up, and used me to put a certain sort of drastic stop to things He didn’t seem to like very much. (“Vengeance is Mine, sayeth the Lord…but He subcontracts.” Indeed.)
I came home. Some guys didn’t. Too many.
Would I go if He called again, even as I’m dying?
Sure. Who wants to die in bed?
So thankful God is with us, even in Nineveh. Praying for you today, Andrew.
How wonderful that you answered God’s call. I’m sure you’ve touched many lives, and I know you’re doing that on this blog! Thanks for bringing up this important point that sent doesn’t necessarily mean a foreign country. We are all “sent” not matter where we are! Blessings.
Thank you, Betsy. Good point… we are all ‘sent’ no matter where we are! May I remember that the next time He calls. God bless you, sweet friend!
“I did walk into unfamiliar ground, with unfamiliar people, in an unfamiliar role. But I wasn’t alone.” This is so true of our lives when He calls us. We walk into situations where we feel unprepared and unequipped but He says, I am with you! Thank you for these encouraging words!
Rachel, I’m so glad He’s with us. I can’t imagine live without Him and His leading. Thank you for stopping over. Have a blessed week!
I love the encouragement in your words but this line “I did walk into unfamiliar ground, with unfamiliar people, in an unfamiliar role. But I wasn’t alone.” pushs me to go the next step. “I did walk on unfamiliar ground, but only with familiar people, in an unfamiliar role.” He has been calling me to reach out to the unfamiliar people but it is beyond my comfort zone so I have not gone. I need to surrender and say Yes Lord send me. thanks your sweet words that encourage.
Oh, Amy, I appreciate you sharing here. What a blessing. Praying God encourages you and equips you to take the next step with Him. What a sweet example you are, friend! Bless you!
That decision you did change your life, don’t you? God never gives us commands that we can’t bear them… He is always supports us and He feel our hearts with joy as we follow Him. Thank you, I will say yes to Him next time
Hi Sandra! I’m praying we all say yes when He calls next time. Thanks for stopping by and for sharing!
Julie, what a great post. How easy it is for us to fear what we THINK we know, but we really don’t. I love how you said Yes to God and began serving the “least of these” in your Ninevah.
God gives us the opportunity to say yes or no, but how much we miss when we don’t follow His lead.
Loved your post!
Visiting from FMF. 🙂
Hi Jeanne! Thanks for stopping in! I cringe when I think of all I have missed out by not following His lead. May we continue follow when He calls! Blessings to you.