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Anchor House Week 10: I Love It

This past week was week 10 at Anchor House. When I run into friends who I used to work with at State College of Florida or friends I haven't seen in a while, the first question is, "How do you like it?" I typically reply, "I love it."

This week I've been challenged about that answer. It just won't do. It is too generic of an answer to truly describe what I am experiencing. It's too simple to describe the blessing of God working through you. It is too plain to explain the feeling of knowing you are right where God has planned for you to be. 

I always thought I had purpose in my career. I know we are to worship God through the work He has provided for us to do. At times, however, the work I previously did seemed mundane and lacking purpose. I felt like I could do God's work where I was, but I had this feeling as if there was something more. 

A week or so ago I was with one of our partner churches sharing how God works through Anchor House. One of the songs they played in worship was "Here I Am Lord". Since childhood this has been a special song to me. Before I joined Anchor House, I can remember saying, "Here I am Lord, you have me here so you must want me here. Help me to glorify your name." Many times this came by way of serving at church or with Downtown Ministries. Occasionally, it occurred at work as I was able to share my faith with an employee or student. 

The chorus of the song is as follows:
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

That chorus has always been powerful to me, but these last few months I’ve found it hits me hard. If it were on the car stereo, I’d be that guy belting the lyrics out at top of my lungs with all the windows down. Not a care as to who pulled up next to me. Truthfully, I was grateful that I was not the first to speak to the congregation of our partner church after we sang it in worship. I’m not sure I could have kept myself together. 

The message of surrender, submission, trust, service, and love are all powerful. These last few months, God has used each of them intimately in my walk to draw me closer to Him. When I say I love what I am doing now I mean, “I have heard God calling me to serve Him and His people at Anchor House and I am here. He is leading the way and in this I have strength to go.”

Isaiah 6:8 says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” God may be calling you to “Go” right where you are. He may be calling you to “Go” somewhere else entirely. My prayer is for you to be open to where He has called you to hold His people in your heart. As He calls you, be bold enough to “Go”, run to your Father and love His people like He loves us. 

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