Amos was a shepherd whom God called to speak God’s word.  There was concern about justice in the nation, and the people of God being aligned with their purpose.  Were they being who they said they were?  Were they being who they thought they were?

In order to get the accurate picture, God gave Amos the vision of a plumb line to set before the people.  A plumb line is a string with a heavy object attached to it.  By letting the plumb line hang, nature’s pull of gravity will tell if a wall, post, etc. is accurately vertical.  I learned this from my Dad when I used to help him with projects. Later I found it helpful in my work on mission trips.

Being an artist, I love that God gives images to help us see and understand.  The Bible is full of images.  Jesus taught in parables which are images that contain the truth and help us realize the truth!  We might ask ourselves, “Where is our plumb line?”  Words from the Declaration of Independence might be a good plumb line for America…

How how are we measuring up?

The Bible is a plumb line for people of God who are willing to be open to understanding the scriptures as revealed by the Holy Spirit.  It then becomes the “Living Word” for every person in every time and place. The Bible was the measuring place for my grandmother.  This is her Bible which originally belonged to her mother.

The cover page is a little difficult to read, but it says that the Bible was given to my great grandmother by her church in 1919.  Now the “plumb line” for my grandmother is revealed in the back of this Bible as she recorded her readings…”finished reading Bible through”…and then gave the year.

Every single year for 22 years my grandmother read the entire Bible.  I have to tell you that I stand in awe of this!  I feel that as she did this prayerfully, with an open heart,  she received the words and images God wanted to give her to help her live her life.  It was her plumb line for her journey of faith.  The discipline of her regular reading was her measure for “How am I doing ?”.

Dear Grandma, I remember how I used to brush and braid your hair while you told me stories. I loved that time with you.  It helped me understand about life and gave me perspective. Sometimes I wish you were still here.

Pondering…

What is a “plumb line” for you?

Has God given you an image that helped you see the truth?

nk

 

Samuel was a young person assisting Eli the priest in the temple.  The Bible tells us that there were no frequent visions in those days…the word of the Lord was rare.     Samuel was lying down in the temple one night sleeping near the ark of God, considered to be the most holy place at that time.  The Lord called Samuel and he immediately responded, “Here I am!”.

(“Through His Eyes”, painting by Jean Pederson)

Samuel did not realize it was God who was calling him.  That was a totally unknown and unexpected experience for him.  He ran to Eli and said, “Here I am.  You called me.”  Eli groggily replied, ” Not me.  Go back to sleep”  God called Samuel three times and each time the boy ran to Eli saying, “Here I am!”  Eli finally realized the Lord was calling.  He told Samuel to go lie down and if the Lord called again he should reply, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.”.  God spoke and told Samuel that he was about to do a thing in Israel at which “the two ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.”  Yikes!  That is quite descriptive!   There were some pretty harsh words that would have to be proclaimed to the people.  I wonder if Samuel was scared to death?  Or perhaps he thought he would be a Superhero?

Samuel seemed to move forward in his journey of life confidently trusting in God’s calling.  He grew and the Lord was with him.  All of Israel knew that Samuel was established as a prophet of the Lord. (I Samuel 3: 19-20)).

I wonder if sometimes God just wants us to simply say “Yes, here I am Lord.”  Then we watch and listen for God to explain what the calling looks like, to direct our path, and to empower us to live that calling….just a step at a time.

I love the words of the song, “Here I am Lord, is it I Lord?  I have heard you calling in the night.  I will go Lord, if you lead me.  I will hold your people in my heart.” (Words and music by Dan Schutte)

As I reflect upon my own calling, it is that last phrase that holds all the meaning…”I will hold your people in my heart.”  Yes! That’s it!  If that love is not present, then nothing else matters!

Pondering…

What were you like as a child?  Is there a story that exemplifies you as a child?

Have you ever said “YES” to God without fully realizing what that meant?

Do you  feel that you have ever “held God’s people in your heart”?

nk

The King had chosen Esther as the most beautiful young woman in the land to be his Queen.  She went to live in the palace with all its accoutrements lavished upon her.  It was dazzling to be Queen Esther!  No one knew that she was a Jew.  She kept that secret hidden deep within her.

Then one day all that glamour was disturbed.  A decree went out that Jewish people were to be destroyed.  They did not keep the laws that were a profit to the King.  Esther was asked by her family to go to the King to beg his favor and plead to him on behalf of her people.  Her response was “WHO ME?”.  She knew the law of the inner court…Anyone going in to see the King without being summoned would be put to death.

(Previous two paintings by Juan Wijngaard from “Esther’s Story” by Diane Wolkstein)

Esther was faced with a hard choice.  She risked giving up the life of luxury and notoriety.  Indeed, she could be facing death.  Mordecai said to her, “Who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”  (Esther 4:14)

(“Your Turn” by artist Dina Wakley)

Esther realized this was her moment.  It was her turn to make a difference in the world.  Everything she was created to be and everything she was meant to do could be wrapped up in this moment, this time, this place.  She had to say “Yes!”.  She asked all the Jews in the city to fast and pray for her as she prepared to follow what she knew was God’s call to help save her people. She must be brave!

The King received Esther, granted her request, and the Jews were saved.

Perhaps there is “such a time as this” for each of us. In his book “To Bless the Space Between Us”,  John O’Donohue writes this…

Pondering…

Has there been a moment when you felt you were the right person at the right time to make a difference?

When have you had to make a difficult choice for something bigger than yourself?

nk