Why not you?

Yesterday I received such an inspiring response from my cousin who lives in Washington state. First of all, I loved it because he addressed it to “Laura Jean”.

My Washington state relatives are the only ones who call me by my full name, because the Jean came from our beloved Aunt Eugenia who lived out west with them, but made all of our lives incredibly better just by being on the planet. The memory of her laugh still rings in my heart and makes me smile down to my toes. She had the most incredible gift of music, as did many on my dad’s side of the family.

Kenny is one of those gifted musicians who now directs a church choir. His response was about a comment made at practice this week by a member who wondered if Seattle could fill both stadiums and streets to celebrate Jesus, as they did for their Seahawks.  Apparently they were filled to capacity and spilled outside into the streets.

He also shared about the young man I mentioned yesterday, Russell Wilson, who was inspired to pursue his dreams by his father’s challenge: Why not you, Russell?

He has taken that on with him and amped it up to: Why not us? inspiring the Seahawks to an incredible win.

It reminds me of the challenge God has given us.

A number of years ago, I read Ezekiel 22:30

 So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.

NO ONE????

Not one single person who was in the middle of that big old mess was taking the time to get on their face before God and intercede.

Then I looked up from my Bible and I saw the newspaper headlines.

All the things that were so shocking and overwhelming. I saw all that was coming against any hope for our children to walk in faith and love and purity. I saw what the world was calling “entertainment”. I saw the world calling good, evil and evil, good. And I shuddered to think, is there anyone? Just one?

And suddenly my hand flew up in the air, and I made a vow. If it takes one, I will be one. The image of a shipwrecked survivor building a drift wood fire and waving her arms frantically for any approaching planes or ships became entrenched in my mind.

Prayer is the way to call out to God and so I set about asking God to teach me how to pray.

And He has answered. Teaching me, raising up Scriptures, waking me in the wee hours of the morning to intercede. Breaking my heart and transforming my mind.

Thankfully He has also raised up mentors and fellow prayer warriors. Yes, He has shown me many who have answered the call to stand in the gap for this world, for the generations to come, until His return.

Are you troubled by the way things are going around you? Does it feel like there is no hope? Listen carefully. That overwhelming sense of impossibility that nothing will ever change may be drowning out the still small voice, asking…..

Why not you?