God Still Calls at Home
I am, at least for a time, reordering my days.
This morning I slept in until 6:30. By the time noon rolled around, I’d checked in on the online world, been to the gym, sat still with the Father, read from A Praying Life, done dishes and laundry, vacuumed a day’s portion of mud from my living room carpet, attended a business meeting and talked to the outplacement folks.
I even saw my kids standing upright before they left for school instead of the hunched shapes that would grunt back from under blankets when I stepped into their darkened rooms to whisper, “Love you, Bud. Have a good day at school.”
From rising late to leisurely reading in the daytime, this takes some serious reordering. I didn’t even drink my coffee until nearly 9:30. This is not how I am accustomed to spending my days.
Not that I’m complaining.
With the exception of the housekeeping, I relished the morning.
But at 9:00 this morning, I jumped.
(Just a little.)
And then I remembered: God still calls at home.
This part of my day, while all else changes, this part remains the same.
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About many things, I am not a natural.
I do not spontaneously remember God. He is not always my first thought. I do not always readily recognize the divine.
Last winter, I asked God to do just that. To remind me.
Now, every day at 9:00 and noon, He calls.
Oh, we spend our time together during the day. We talk; we listen. I open the Word; He opens my heart. But once that time passes, life distracts me and I forget. I set Him back down in a worn out box and go about my business. And sometimes, I’ll admit, I forget where I left Him.
And so, I’ve asked Him to call.
I’ve asked Him to interrupt me.
::
Today, at 9:00, He did. Just like He always does.
And it startled me. My routine had changed. Things were out of order. Way out of order.
And yet, He knew when to call. He knew when to interrupt.
He knew when to remind me.
This routine we do, this morning call, it fills me up. I remember Who He is. And who I am. And why I’m here.
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. (Deuteronomy 6:4-5)
Shema Yisrael Adonai eloheinu Adonai ehad.
Shema – Hear
Yisrael — Israel
Adonai – Lord
Eloheinu – Our God
Adonai – Lord
Ehad – One
It’s what He told His children to do way back in Deuteronomy, because they were prone to forget just like me. He told them to paint this on doorframes and gates, to write it on hands and bind it to foreheads, and to talk about it all day long.
I have reminders on my wrist, hung on my wall, stacked on my desk. And sometimes I still forget.
But God? God still calls at home.
He still knows my number. And I guess that surprised me today.
::
When the sun hung straight overhead today, He called again. He always calls at noon, too.
This time, He didn’t startle me. When I heard Him buzzing, I was ready for Him.
I knew He’d be calling, reminding me of this truth I am so slow to believe.
Though my days are reordered, some things remain the same. Tomorrow, at 9:00 a.m. Central Standard Time, He will call me again.
At home.
He will tell me Who He is, who I am, and why I’m here.
He always does.
What time will He be calling you?
::
I believe He just called — right here and now in this place.
Incredible post, Lyla.
2009/11/02 at 9:42 PM
He calls a lot. A lot. Sometimes I’m too dull to answer.
2009/11/02 at 11:07 PM
Oh yes–through all the change, God is still waiting to meet with us. He is our constant. What an awesome way to use technology to structure your day! Is this a special app you can get to send you scripture? I love this.
2009/11/02 at 10:38 PM
Fixed hours have to be forced for me or I forced them right out the window. No special app, I just have reminders on my calendar. The truth? It’s the same verses every single day. The Shema in the morning because it is so foundational and it draws me into a time of reflection. And the noon verse is what it is until I learn it for good. It’ll probably be there forever. I’m kinda slow about that one.
2009/11/02 at 11:09 PM
I love this Lyla! Now I am going to set up my reminders in my outlook…right now!
I get so distracted throughout my day-and this is a great way to get my mind back on the right track!
Thanks!
P.S.- and it is great that no matter where we are or what we do or how our schedules change..He is right there-no matter what!
2009/11/03 at 9:50 AM
So then Julie, what did God tell you today?
2009/11/03 at 5:28 PM
So much! Its is amazing how your attitude gets a pick me up just when you need it! I set my outlook to go off at 9 , noon and then another reflection at 3. Mid afternoon I am a crank-miester…this will help me stay focused.
My verses I am focusing on for this month are:
1Peter 5:7
Philippians 4:8
Psalm 107:1
I think I will switch them up each month that way I can tackle memorizing different verses that mean alot to me!
Thanks again…
2009/11/04 at 8:45 AM
Lyla:
I’ve been practicing spelling your name. I read this earlier this week but thought that since it is Wednesday (11/4) I’d wish you a happy birthday. It is just another milestone in life’s journey; graduation, wedding, birth of children, anniversaries, employment, changes in employment, etc.
As Ed McMahon used to say, “Your are correct”. Unlike the medical profession, God still makes house calls. And he visits us where ever we are. God’s not limited, but we too often limit him. For some reason, your post reminded me of the picture that hangs in numerous churches. The picture shows Jesus standing at the door and knocking. Thanks for the reminder of the presence of our limitless God.
Dad
2009/11/04 at 12:26 PM