Looking toward a New Chapter

Alan took this picture at a gig--I'm not sure what the switch was for, but I have to love the label.

As of today, July 1st, I begin a new employment chapter. For the first time in 10 years, I'm working one full time job instead of one or two part time jobs. For the first time in 25 years, I'm not a teacher. For the first time ever, I'm a Director of Development.

Gulp.

I am very thankful that my two-part-time-jobs era is here and gone. It is bittersweet that my teaching era is here and gone. And as I look to the era of Development, I am at the same time thrilled, awed, humbled, and yes, scared.

It is a new era of HERE.

HERE I am "for such a time as this," to seek to honor the Lord in listening for His voice, in seeking wise counsel, and in diligently working for the betterment of a ministry I deeply respect, admire, and to which I feel a fundamental and powerful connection.

"For I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.'" (Is. 41:13)

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you." (Deut. 31:6)

"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.'" (Luke 2:10)

HERE I am to be helped, strong, courageous, inspired by the presence of God and the good news of Christ.

HERE I am to have joy, and to make sure other people know they can have it, too.

So often in the Bible there are stories of people being called--Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Samuel all say, "here I am" at various points, most often to God. Isaiah says, "Here am I. Send me," when God asks, "Whom shall I send?"

And then, later in Isaiah comes my favorite "Here I am." It is not from the lips of a person, but from the mouth of God. In a passage where God proclaims what is acceptable to Him--loosing the chains of oppression and injustice, caring for the poor and hungry, and doing away with finger-pointing and malicious talk--He then says,

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say, 'HERE I am.'" (Isaiah 58:9)

So HERE I am, asking God to help me do what is acceptable to Him, that I may know His presence, His help, His guidance, and His pleasure in this new chapter. 

Because I know all too well that this chapter, too, will someday be gone, and I would like to know that it brought honor to God while it was here.