HERE I AM LORD
I manage the website and Facebook
page for our church.
The Facebook page has three, reoccurring,
weekly posts: Monday Funny, Wednesday’s Songs and Sunday Worship times. I search for cartoons (church appropriate),
listen to song after song on YouTube (believe me there are some really bad
singers out there), and put together a “come to church” reminder. This is a way to reach out to the
congregation and friends during the week.
There is one problem with picking
songs. No matter how hard I try to use
each song only once, one song has been used three times. I can guarantee it will be used again. Hey, I am picking the songs and this hymn is
my most favorite.
Here I Am Lord, was written in 1981 by Dan Schutte. 39 years – does that mean it is old enough to
be a traditional hymn or still new enough to be contemporary? Either way, I love this hymn. It touched me the first time I heard it and
that feeling has never changed.
This song covers it all. It tells us who the Lord is. He is the Lord of the sea, sky, snow, rain,
wind, flame, and stars. The Lord hears
our cry, borne our pain, and tends the poor and lame. He will save us from the dark and sin, has
wept for us, and will set a feast for us with the finest bread. The Lord will make our darkness bright, give
us hearts full of love, speak to us, and give us life.
This song, sadly, tells us what
the people do. The people turn away.
In this song, the Lord asks, “Who
will bear my light to them so I can speak my word and give them life. WHOM SHALL I SEND?”
I have used this song after almost
every message I have given. I have never
sung this song without raising my hand, as I asked the question, “Here I am,
Lord. Is it I, Lord? I heard you calling in the night.”
I have never sung this song
without tears in my eyes, as I answered, “I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.”
Where does the Lord want me to
go? I know he gives me words and then I
turn them over to him. I have no control
over who will or will not read them. He
will direct those words where he wants them to go.
I know he has put trials in my
life that I did not want and did not understand. I also know those trials have given me an
understanding of what others are going through and the opportunity to encourage
them.
I know he gave me a desire to hear
other’s stories. I have met amazing
strangers because they made a comment and I asked a question. I have heard joyful and sad stories from
people I know. I love to record their
stories and need to start doing that again.
Or maybe, recording stories is something the Lord had me do for a
certain time and place.
Sometimes I have no idea where
the Lord is leading me. I only know one
thing. After hearing this song, all
those years ago, my hand raises and my heart, my very soul, cries out, “Here I
am, Lord. Is it I, Lord? I will hold your people in my heart.”
If you have never heard this
song, please use this link:
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