Hinneni. “Here I am, Lord.”
According to Jewish author, Scott Volk, the Hebrew word hinneni has two parts: one is the response of those who hear the call from God. “Here am I, Lord.” Yet, there is a second part to hinneni. It’s when God says, “I’m here. Ask me whatever you will. I’ll walk with you.”
Years ago, I heard a call from God to start a quilting ministry to support Lutheran World Relief at my church. The call was clear and continuous. And it wasn’t my idea. Hinneni.
There was no quilting ministry in our congregation, and I knew no quilters there. I didn’t own a sewing machine, and I had never made a quilt. God works in revealing ways, and suddenly I was connected with a woman who wanted to donate fabric. Word got out, and the Piecemakers Quilters of Living Water was born.
We’re now a group of a dozen women. Using three knots per tie, “in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” we’ve now made hundreds of quilts, most designated for LWR.
Hinneni. Here we are, Lord. We’ve heard your call.
This message is excerpted from “Heeding the call” by Myrna Wells-Ulland from the May 23, 2022, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Matthias, apostle.
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