Here I Am Lord - I Am Listening

Awake in the middle of the night... I listen to the sound of the rain on my window. After two crazy nights of strong winds and heavy rain... this weather seems reasonable, I think.

As always, when I can't sleep, I seize the conscious opportunity and ask, "God, Is there anything you want me to know... right now... in this moment?" I figure as long as I'm awake there must be something I'm supposed to be doing or learning. So... listening deeper still, I ask, "What is it, Lord? Speak, I am listening." Then... beyond the sound of the rain on my windows... I hear the pumps in the basement working to keep the water out.  Just what I needed to hear, I am thankful and so glad I asked.

I am reminded of a rich piece of Scripture I can really relate to...
1 Samuel 3:1-21
Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon.

2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!”

“Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did.
6 Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!”
Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
“I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.”
7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”

Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.
10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”

If you want to know the rest of the story... read through verse 21.

The song that rings in my brain at times like these is not one of my own! It is called, Here I Am Lord. It was written by Dan Schutte.

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I recorded his song for personal use. I have never received any money for said recording nor do I want to. It is a beautiful song that has been around for many years and has inspired me for a good part of mine. I have written songs about the Still Small Voice but sometimes other composer's music gets the message across just right. Until now... this recording has only been for me to hear. If you like this song... the guy who should get all the credit is Dan Schutte. His website is: http://www.danschutte.com/WordPressSite/. The song's publisher is Oregon Catholic Press. Everything highlighted here is linked for your convenience. Here also is the link to the printed sheet music, and author recordings: http://www.ocp.org/search?query=Here+I+Am+Lord

Text And Music (c) 1981, OCP Published by OCP. 5536 NE Hassalo, Portland, OR 97213 All rights reserved. Used with permission. Thank you, OCP!