Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad: Put God First in Everything

This week Kendall and I have been busy preparing for the Rockingham County Fair where she will be showing her market lambs.  It has been such a blessed time for us both, but also very tiring.  This morning, Sunday, when I awakened late, I thought it would be okay to miss church this morning.  Then I heard, "Put Me (God) first, then everything else will fall into place."  I thought YES!  YES that is so true.  God must always be first in every aspect of my life.  I had already lived and learned through painful past lessons from when I did not put God first in every aspect of my life making poor choices and decisions.  In no way do I want to repeat those same inappropriate habits, choices or decisions.

I then jumped out of bed as I prepared to get ready for church praying the Shema (Deeteronomy 6:4) in Hebrew to God.  I repeated, "Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad, Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad, Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad."  As I continued to pray the Shema, I became so joyful and at peace.  I would love to go into detail sharing with you the historical context of the Shema and how even in today's context the Jewish people recite the Shema four to five times throughout their day, however, I will save that for a sermon for another time.

Kendall and I arrived at Beaver Creek Church of the Brethren and pulled into the parking lot.  As I got out of the car, guess what I discovered?   Two bird feathers!  For those of you that don't know, God speaks to me profoundly in the silence by placing bird feathers on my path in the most unlikely places at the most appropriate time.  God places bird feathers on my path when I have been praying, questioning, or even doubting His plans for me.  He affirms my path and calling with the placement of bird feathers giving me affirmation to continue following His leading for me even though it often times does not make sense or I don't understand.

Then as Kendall and I are walking up the steps to the church, guess what we find?  Another beautiful white bird feather.  I am now glowing, in awe and internally telling God how much I love Him and His ways!  I was so glad I was in church.  I was present to God's silent whispers to me reminding me that He must be first in all I do!

My Pastor, Glenn Bollinger's sermon was even timely and appropriately titled, "Where Do You Seek Him."  It was based on scripture 1 Kings 19:9-18.  The message was about being sensitive to God's presence in all things, everyday in our life.  Glenn revealed that "God speaks to us in the silence in expected and unexpected ways."  For me, it is always with bird feathers!

As Kendall and I were walking out of church down the sidewalk and steps, there laid more bird feathers!  If I wouldn't have been obedient this morning by listening to God's whisper to put Him first and go to church, I would have missed God's silent symbolism of His LOVE and affirmations for me.  Oh how God loves to show us His presence in all things if we are open and available to Him first in all of our life's details.

God is inviting and calling us to give our full attention to Him.  "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One."  And what is the greatest commandment?  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind and all your strength."  And the second greatest commandment is, "Love your neighbor as yourself."  Will you make God first in all details of your life, loving him with all your heart, mind, body, soul and strength?  That is what He is calling us too!
"Sh'ma Yis'ra'eil Adonai Eloheinu Adonai echad."