Prayer Tip: Good Church
Daily Scripture
Isaiah 6:1-8
1 In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. 2 Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about. 3 They shouted to each other, saying:
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces!
All the earth is filled with God’s glory!”
4 The doorframe shook at the sound of their shouting, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 I said, “Mourn for me; I’m ruined! I’m a man with unclean lips, and I live among a people with unclean lips. Yet I’ve seen the king, the Lord of heavenly forces!”
6 Then one of the winged creatures flew to me, holding a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. 7 He touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips. Your guilt has departed, and your sin is removed.”
8 Then I heard the Lord’s voice saying, “Whom should I send, and who will go for us?”
I said, “I’m here; send me.”
Daily Reflection & Prayer
It was January, 2001. My wife and I had not yet joined Resurrection, though we were pretty sure we wanted to. We attended a special event for leaders and aspiring leaders at Resurrection–we met in what today is the Student Center in Building C. As the event ended, Carol Cartmill invited us to write our dreams for the church on a sticky note and bring the notes up to put on a surface at the front of the room.
I’d been around church all my life (my parents were missionaries), but as we walked up with our notes, the music leader began to sing a hymn which I had never heard. The words reached out and grabbed me by the heart:
I, the Lord of sea and sky,
I have heard my people cry.
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save.
I, who made the stars of night,
I will make their darkness bright.
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?
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.
I still remember walking to the front, tears running down my face, thinking, “I want so much to be a part of this church, this ministry. I don’t know what I have to offer, but, Lord, I offer whatever I may have. Please use me if you can.” I count myself incredibly fortunate that, under God’s guiding hand, Resurrection has found a place for me to serve. This family of faith has upheld me through the death of my wife and given me the privilege of using my gifts regularly and rewardingly.
You can click here to hear Collin Raye sing the entire hymn that touched me so deeply that day. And I invite you to make its words your prayer as you respond to this week’s message:
Prayer
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.
GPS Insights
Darrell Holtz
This week's prayer tip is by Darrell Holtz. Darrell joined the Resurrection staff in 2006 after working for 18 1/2 years at Hallmark Cards. He holds a D. Min. degree from Fuller Theological Seminary. Darrell currently serves as Curriculum Writer on the Discipleship team, with the privilege of writing the daily GPS summaries and thought questions, and coordinating and editing the Insights blog.
