Kathy and I did come to Wallowa, OR yesterday afternoon and so I’ve just finished my devotions in the solitude of my sis-in-law’s home surrounded by meadows, deer and mountains capped with snow.  It is a beautiful place.  As I was reading my Bible this morning two things hit me which God has confirmed He wanted me to know from Him today.  I’m in I Samuel and King Saul is in hot pursuit of David.  Samuel has already proclaimed that David is/will be king and Saul will disappear from the picture due to his disobedience.  The reference is made to Abraham and his willingness to sacrifice his son Isaac when God told him to do so.  In Abraham’s obedience God provided an alternate sacrifice–because of his obedience.  My first hit this morning was that God wants my obedience simply because He’s my God–not making it easy knowing the outcome.

The second hit was about Him and me.  As I was journaling all of this and thanking Him for directing me to journal directly to Him last July which has built a much more intimate relationship between us, He showed me how He’d sacrificed His own Son Jesus as my alternate sacrifice so I can live forever with Him.  He does want my obedience and I want to give it.

After arriving in Oregon last evening I was called by my friend who coordinates our quartet performances.  We are singing for a church next Wednesday in Boise.  I knew that.  I am to give my testimony again to this new group of people as I did with the group last Sunday afternoon.  This time I know I am to do it in complete obedience leaving the paralyzing fear out of the picture and being fully awake to everyone in the room.  I’ve sung for God literally thousands of time in my lifetime, but this will be the first one where I consciously approach the throne taking God’s story of His work in my life and share it with the audience.  I commit to staying fully awake to the story and to the audience I’m sharing it with.  This has been God’s direction and will be my next step of obedience.  The human feelings I have right now I’m calling nervous rather than anxious.  I can handle nervous but anxiety has controlled me in times past.  I know to let God be in control.  To God be all glory!