Shout to the Lord

1: to utter a sudden loud cry
2: to command attention as if by shouting
3: to utter in a loud voice


There have been a lot of things shouting for my attention lately. In fact, all of the shouting has distracted me to the point of paralysis; I haven’t been able to blog in three months! (Thanks gentle friend for the reminder) I feel like I’ve been taking in news and messages from all sides, and unable to stop and process, or ponder what all of this news means to my life. Be prepared, this is going to be a big one.

I have been busy dealing with my own family. My daughter, who is in middle school (sheesh), is dealing with common middle school crises. She is a good girl, but not impervious to the immorality that seems to confront her far too often. She has serious questions that shout at me and I need to take to prayer in order to answer. In addition, I have to make sure my husband is taken care of and my son is growing up to be a good, decent young man.

I have a ministry that I work for; Timber Bay. There I minister for, pray for, and worry about ten young ladies that need love, care and Jesus. Their problems, which are very serious, shout at me for immediate attention. I slowly feed them the milk of the Gospel, praying fervently that God uses my words to reach their fragile hearts.

I listen to a daily radio talk show that discusses world events and where we seem to be headed. Fortunately, or unfortunately for me, the commentator is an extensive reader, as am I. Because I find his show so accurate and fascinating, I tend to read all of his suggestions. I just finished Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, which is 1069 pages. It took me a week to complete the work.

And then there is the world news. I am completely and utterly addicted to Fox News and biblical prophecy. Both of those make for a daunting combination. I am convinced that Jesus will return soon, and each news headline reaffirms that on a daily basis. A small example:

Over 100,000 Certificates of De-Baptism have been downloaded from a Secular Society website. Said the President of the organization, "The growing amount of interest in the concept of de-baptism indicates that people are not just indifferent to religion, but are actually becoming quite hostile to it."

Stories about Israel are all over the news; “US says Jerusalem to be Capital of Palestine.” “Iran tests a missile that can reach Israel,” “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not stand for Iran provocation.” “Scotland to boycott Israel.” I could go on and on for pages about this subject.

Add to this equation the President, the economy, the environment, the declining birthrate, the radical decisions made by our government and I have a lot of things shouting for my attention.

“So, Romans 323 girl, where is God in this mess?’ Good question.

I know Jesus Christ. I met Him when my life was at the very worst point it could sink to. I was literally at the end of my rope and losing my grip. He saved me; He dusted me off and raised me up. I know Jesus Christ.

Jesus lost my attention lately. Jesus isn’t shouting for me to look at Him, to see what new things He’s doing. He doesn’t shout when I hear my children praying to Him, singing Him songs of worship, squealing with delight over the sunset He’s created. He doesn’t shout when He answers the prayers of my Timber Bay girls, when He shows up in their lives, when His word finally resonates in their hearts. He doesn’t shout when a plump red strawberry peeks its head out in my garden.

And why should He? He is the Author and Creator of all these things. I know that. It’s so frightfully easy to forget sometimes. I forget that He doesn’t need to shout. He’s God.

Don’t misunderstand me, I know Jesus can shout. He shouted with all He had on Calvary’s Hill, didn’t he? Without hardly saying a word.

He shouldn’t have to shout to get my attention now. He captured it that day six years ago when He changed my life.

Everyone who proclaims Christ as their Lord and Savior knows some simple truths. God is in control of all these situations. He is going to return to get us when it’s time. He loves us and holds us in His hands, no matter what the conditions appear to be at that moment. He hears us when we pray and cries when we cry.

When Jesus was wooing me, He led me to the Parable of the Great Banquet. It spoke to my heart; because I was one of the crippled, the poor; crippled in the heart, poor in Spirit. I think this Parable can be analogous to the disinterest I have been suffering from lately. I have found excuses in the shouting clatter to ignore the only One who can truly invite me to sit with Him. I have to remember that I was someone in an alley that He was interested in inviting to feast. From Luke 14.15-23:

When one of those at the table with him heard this, he said to Jesus, "Blessed is the man who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God."
Jesus replied: "A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests.
At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, 'Come, for everything is now ready.'
"But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.'
"Another said, 'I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.'
"Still another said, 'I just got married, so I can't come.'
"The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.'
“‘Sir,' the servant said, 'what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.'
"Then the master told his servant, 'Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full.
I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.' "

But I’ll leave these thoughts with one more thought from the only words that truly have eternal value; one day Jesus will come shouting, and no one will miss it. It will be another invitation to feast. From Revelation 19.6-9

Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah!
For our Lord God Almighty reigns.
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!
For the wedding of the Lamb has come,
and his bride has made herself ready.
Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear."
Then the angel said to me, Write: 'Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!' “And he added, "These are the true words of God."

Heaven awaits us! For those who believe, He is coming! These are the only things worth shouting for, and I know it. Jesus Christ deserves to be front and center of my life every day for the rest of eternity! Good words, if I can remember them. What I need to do is to listen for Jesus’ silent shouts; in my children, in the skyline, in my garden, in my Spirit. That is the food that needs to sustain me until I get to the feast.