{"id":22421,"date":"2024-09-16T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-16T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-16-september-2024"},"modified":"2024-09-16T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-16T05:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-16-september-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-16-september-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion 16 September 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"

Isaiah 6:6-8<\/strong>
Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, \u201cNow that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.\u201d  Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, \u201cWhom shall I send, and who will go for us?\u201d And I said, \u201cHere am I; send me!\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/strong>
A vocation (from the Latin vocatio ‘a call, summons’) is an occupation to which a person is drawn or for which they are suited, trained, or qualified. Though now often used in non-religious contexts, the meanings of the term originated in Christianity.<\/p>\n

My \u201ccall\u201d or \u201cvocation\u201d has been a very slow process which started in my mid-teens. When I first felt that I should be doing something more than just going to church, ministry came to the fore of my thinking. However, I tucked that away somewhere deep in my mind knowing that God was waiting.   I just got on with life burying that \u201ccall\u201d deeper and deeper under the laundry pile we call life.<\/p>\n

Then along came my Seraph in the shape of my then minister. No, he did not come flying at me with a hot coal but did see in me the \u201csomething\u201d buried at the bottom of my laundry pile, helped me to pull it out, ironed it to remove the creases, and through encouragement set me on the journey I find myself on now.<\/p>\n

But which path to take? Age restricted me from stipendiary ministry; my own lack of self-confidence meant Non-Stipendiary Model 4 appealed.  Here I would go back to the churches, communities, and people I know;  a comfort blanket with a familiar journey\u2019s end.  I was almost there when, again through others, my very patient God asked, \u201cwill you take a bend in the road?\u201d and that \u201ccall\u201d had to be looked at once more and some more creases ironed out.  Now my path is leading me to the rather more uncomfortable non-stipendiary model 1-3 where when ordained I will be deployed by the Synod. I no longer know what faces me at the end, but my journey is more fulfilling, exciting, and challenging.  <\/p>\n

Through others, with training and education, I am continuing to discern that \u201cvocation\u201d as God calls, challenges, holds, and loves me.   There are mountains to climb, rivers to cross, but on a journey like this you are never alone!<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/strong>
Comforting God,
You set us challenges, lead us on journeys, and ask us to respond.
We ask for the openness of mind to hear you,
and the strength to follow.
Bless those who come on the journey with us,
those who teach, encourage,
and see us the way you do.
You ask \u201cWhom shall I send, and who will go for us.\u201d
Help us, God of love to respond, \u201cHere am I; send me!\u201d
Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Isaiah 6:6-8Then one of the seraphs flew to me, holding a live coal that had been taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. The seraph touched my mouth with it and said, \u201cNow that this has touched your lips, your guilt has departed and your sin is blotted out.\u201d  Then I heard the … <\/p>\n

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