Yesterday’s entry was about koinonia–the intimate relationship with God that resembles His relationship with Christ Jesus.  Today in my devotions I sense God now taking our relationship a step further.  I mentioned yesterday too about the Unit 11 topic in Experiencing God.  It is:  Kingdom Work.  These two topics tie together:  KOINONIA and KINGDOM WORK.  God does not have us join Him in His Kingdom Work until we have begun a relationship with Him–Koinonia.

I have wanted to learn more about the group that is coming to our church supporting the conference we are doing in October entitled:  Hope for the Hurting.  The group’s topic is one of 13 but it is the one I’m wanting to be directly involved in.  It is Sexual Identity–Homosexuality.  I had contacted this group asking if I could possibly come and visit their work and curriculum ahead of the conference.  They come from western Oregon.  Last, late evening I was contacted by the two coming inviting me to come Sept. 16 when they do a training for group leaders.

As I began my scripture reading this morning I was starting the book of Isaiah.  Isaiah 6 tells the part where God’s angel touched Isaiah purifying him.  Isaiah 6:7 says:  “…Behold, this has touched your lips, your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven.”  The very next verse is when Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord asking, “Whom shall I send and who will go for Us?”  Isaiah then replies, “Here am I, send me.”  As I was reading this I was deeply touched sensing God has been doing exactly the same thing with me.  He has been cleansing me of the guilt and shame and showing me how He has forgiven the sins of my past and present.  He is now asking me to join Him in this Kingdom Work.  I am saying yes to Him.

I have a flood of emotion surging within from humility to unworthiness to anticipation and eagerness–all mixed together.  I will keep the words of the serenity prayer in mind as I approach all of this–“…One day at a time and one moment at a time, accepting hardship as a pathway to peace.”  God had done so much for me in the past several years turning my shame into a passion to serve Him in an area I kept hidden for almost 60 years.  God is good and I will be forever grateful to Him.  We will see just what God has in mind in the days ahead.