Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

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Hineni - Here I am!

Dear Friend

There is a simple Hebrew word “hineni,” (he-ney-nee) that means, “Here I am.” It means, “I am fully present to you. How may I serve you today?”

God called to Abraham and he replied, “Hineni - Here I am, Lord.” Genesis. 22:1  

God called Jacob and he replied, “Hineni - Here I am, Lord.” Genesis. 31:11  

God called Moses and he replied, “Hineni - Here I am, Lord.” Exodus. 3:4

God asked of Isaiah, “Whom shall I send?” he replied, “Here I am, send me!” Isaiah 6:8  

We see that being fully present and willing to serve is a really big deal to God and to God’s people!

There is no sarcasm in hineni offered with downcast face and raised eyebrow. If you reply to a request to take out the trash or to stay up all night with a sick child with a “here I am“ accompanied by sarcastic folded arms and a frowning face, that’s not “here I am – to serve,” but instead its “here I am – not.’ It’s a hinen-no and not a hineni!

Do you need me to drop by the grocery? “Here I am,” said warmly. You asking me to rake the leaves? “Here I am,” said graciously. Want me to lead a group at church or make a generous offering or serve on a board? “Here I am,” said confidently. Send me! I will do it with all of the grace and excellence I am capable of! Hineni!

Respond to our Lord and to the people in your life with hineni – here I am – fully present to you - how may I serve you today?

For a wonderful song about hineni by Raquel Pomerantz Gershon & Max Jared, check out https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msL0ywAiviM

Joy to you -- E. Stanley Ott            

© Copyright 2020 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

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Is there a situation facing you for which you are being asked to do something - or see an opportunity to be involved. Are you willing to be a hineni person, to say, "Here I am" and to be available to serve? What would hold you back and how will you counter that?

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Hineni by Linda Hirshhorn http://www.lindahirschhorn.com/writings/hineni.html

Hineni (Here I Am) Raquel Pomerantz Gershon & Max Jared  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msL0ywAiviM

Here I am:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uylFDx0HvoY

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Photo by Kelli McClintock on Unsplash