Equipped, Shoes Double-knotted, and Ready to Roll

 

...and we do not know

with what we must 

           serve the LORD

until we arrive there.

          Exodus 10. 26

We have no idea how

God has prepared,

   provided and equipped us

for where we are today

and for whatever is unknown

   coming down the pike.

Why are we going through

  this struggle or hard stuff?

That we may be strengthened

         and compassionate,

ready to go wherever God

  has strategically positioned us,

not as spectators

         but as first responders.

Even in this situation today.

"Oh, so that's why that happened."

"Ahhh, that is what this is about,"

all those odd things

  we don't understand at the time.

And sometimes still remain

               beyond our reach.

But not His.

O LORD,

Prepare our hands

  and soften our hearts

that we would be aware of You,

especially where You

   have placed us 

for Your goodness and glory.

May nothing

    --fear or lack of understanding--

stand in the way

of our faithfulness to You.

You have formed 

    something new in us,

forged by experience

and by the Holy Spirit

  surging in our souls.

Go Forth Into This Day

Let My people go,

that they may serve Me.

       Exodus 8. 1

From what has God 

  released us 

or unleashed in our 

        circumstances

that we may serve Him?

On the surface, 

it may not appear as 

     an opportunity,

but a hardship of some kind,

but God provides a path

    through the storm

and portals of ministry

to love others

  every which way we can.

Serving God

  arrives in unusual ways,

  in unexpected places,

and among the unlikely.

When we seize an opening,

something always unfolds

     in the spiritual realm,

sometimes in ways 

       we may not realize.

Let My people go?

 Have at it.

 Go forth into this day.

O LORD,

You have released us today

   to serve You.

Help us to be watchful

for every opportunity,

even those that are 

     not so obvious.

Bring Your glory

   to this place

and to our service

that others may see

Your steadfast love through us.

And aware that a thousand galaxies

  explode into view,

even beyond our scope.

 

Unfolding Every Detail

 

But the LORD said to :Moses,

"Now you shall see

      what I will do....

           Exodus 6. 1

No matter our circumstances

or difficulties or struggles,

  God tells us the same thing.

"Trust Me.

         Now watch this!"

Everything is in place

and moving forward,

far before we see the results

    or God's redeeming in this.

Refrain from claiming,

"This is what God is doing,"

because His work is

  way beyond our comprehension.

But some day, looking back,

we may be able to discern pathways

        that extend into eternity.

O LORD, 

We live in expectation 

  of what You are doing.

Help us to accept

     and run with it.

Prepare, provide 

    and redeem this time

for Your Kingdom

             and Your glory.

There is no randomness here.

You unfold every detail 

   for Your purposes.

Find us faithful, Almighty One,

even when we don't understand.

Help us to trust Your ways

      and follow Your leading.

Strength In What We Don't See Coming

 

For You equipped me

with strength for the battle...

         Psalm 18. 39

We cannot fathom 

the situations God uses

to prepare and strengthen us,

    for both what we see

    and what we don't see coming.

Or through experiences that seem

   random at the time.

Or accepting the "needless" things 

   God puts in our lives

   to equip us for storms that are

          not even on our radar.

His strength is like none other,

  and certainly not of ourselves.

O LORD,

Battles arrive in 

     all kinds of packages

     and flavors.

And just about always

            overwhelming.

But we can count on You.

You live among us

and weave Your strength

   into the fabric of our souls.

You are with us

and have prepared us for this

in unexpected ways and

faithfulness in the everydays.

If Not For God

 

But Moses said to God,

"Who am I

that I should go to Pharaoh

and bring the children of Israel

           out of Egypt?"

He said,

"But I will be with you...."

            Exodus 3. 11-12

Remember not who am I,

but who God is,

      the great I AM.

But I will be with you.

     No exclusions.

God never sends us off

   without that assurance.

And that changes

                everything.

When frightened in the night,

one of our little girls once said,

"Oh, I wouldn't have been afraid,

       if I knew you were here."

Trust Me in this, God whispers.

Holy ground is where

                        God is.

And that is right here.

What am I doing now

that would be impossible

     to even consider,

if not for God?

O LORD,

How differently we would

   see this situation of ours,

if we considered 

     Your Presence here.

It is not who we are,

   but who You are.

Guide us.

Cover us.

Bring us through

 what seems impossible.

You are with us.

And You are faithful.

We won't even be able

   to count Your wonders.

But What We Do With It

 

But Jesus said,

"They need not go away.

You give them 

    something to eat."

They said to Him, 

"We have only 

        five loaves here

        and two fish."

And He said,

   "Bring them to Me."

          Matthew 14. 16-18

It's not a matter of what we have

  or what we don't have,

  but what we do with it.

Bring it to Jesus,

whether praise or pain,

provision or project,

   problem or panic.

Lay it before Him.

Not to give God a chance at it,

  but to open the door

for the Holy Spirit to infiltrate

        and enlarge it.

And open our hearts

  to His Presence.

O LORD,

May we be willing 

to come before You

not as a last resort,

but our first response.

When we are faced

   with the impossible,

or even with the familiar,

abide in us

that we would not just see

needs around us,

but the people with struggles, 

both visible and invisible.

May we not just be

    willing to help,

but bake the bread

    and watch You multiply

      the loaves and lives.

Spread Your love thick,

and use us to do so.

Opening All Kinds of Portals

 

And now do not be distressed

or angry with yourselves

because you sold me here,

for God sent me before you

            to preserve life...

So it was not you

who sent me here,

                 but God.

          Genesis 45. 5, 8

We may be swallowed up

by regrets,

but God redeems

even our messing up.

He uncovers His ultimate glory

and prevailing purposes 

      despite us,

in things and ways

   we cannot fathom.

Joseph forgave his brothers

      some really hard stuff.

Forgiveness 

  always opens all kinds of portals

   for God's goodness 

   and an incredible story of redemption.

We cannot make this stuff up,

                      but God.

O LORD,

I am so sorry

   for what I have done

   and what I have left undone.

I am swallowed by regrets

     but bring them before You.

Help me to not be hampered

           by so many what if's

but to go forth forgiven

  and empowered

      to follow You

      into what is now.

I cannot rewind,

  but You redeem

          the brokenness.

Find us faithful.

Surprise us by Your new creation

  coming even out of ashes,

pushing back the darkness

and helping us once again 

   to witness Your Presence here.

It is not in us, but You, O God.