Here I am.

Faith is a fascinating phenomenon. It’s where the story of the Divine finds us and connects with the story of our lives. It is sometimes difficult to speak about our experiences of faith or to put our finger on the yearning and beckoning within our deepest selves that seems to be beyond our comprehension.

Donald Miller in his book, Blue Like Jazz says that talking about faith is like talking about an imaginary friend. He says that he feels almost like a palm reader, or someone who works at the circus, or a kid who is always making things up or somebody at a Star Trek convention, when talking about faith.

Many of you have stories of how of your life unexpectedly met with the story of God. And God became real for you. You may articulate your stories differently… but the reality is when we cross paths with God and our stories intersects with God’s story—we are changed.
It’s not so much that we find God, but more so that God seeks us out and finds us and loves us far more than we love ourselves

It doesn’t seem to matter who you are or what your thoughts are of God. I’ve met folks all walks of life, from homeless heroin addicts to CEO’s who may have different life stories, have similar stories of transformation that takes place within them when they have unexpectedly discovered or have been found by God—stories of how they have they are known, invited and called by God. Hneri Nouwen said, "It seems that God, for whatever reason, has forever made human flesh the privileged place of divine encounter."

There was a time in my life that I said I would never be religious or spiritual... perhaps I was afraid that I would have to pass out bible tracts in China if I allowed myself to pay attention to the deeper stirring within. But one evening while playing a video game in an arcade I met a man who changed my life forever. He too encouraged me to “come and see” and shared the story that I am known, invited, called and loved by God. He told me that God has called me to something in life; something beyond just myself. As our friendship developed I was changed…I came to believe there was a God; that this God knew me and that this God loved me. I cannot shake the experience to this day… and here I am.

You are known by God who knows and loves you better than you do yourself and you have been graciously accepted as a living member of Jesus Christ.

You are invited by God to “come and see” and to open yourself to the Mystery of God’s love and and to be fed with Spiritual food where your deepest fulfillment lies.

And your called to participate with God… to walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself for us. to be sent out into the world in peace to love and serve God with gladness and singleness of heart.

There's only one response God is waiting for, "Here I am, God."