...for I know it is

because of me

that this great tempest

has come upon you.

             Jonah 1. 12

(Sin always says

"It doesn't matter."

"No one will notice."

But our sin

     -- our rebellion--

always costs someone,

not just ourselves.

In the same way,

our obedience

  --our walking with God--

always impacts others,

again not just ourselves.

What do I choose

   to do in this situation?

Rebellion against God

    never ends well.

Responding to God

    changes the world.

We are vehicles

          of His compassion

in this broken world

that God loves so much.

Because of each one of us,

               He died.

Because of Him,

               we live.)

O LORD,

We thank You

that You are already

      redeeming this day.

Help us to be aware

and respond to Your call

          into this day,

cultivating this

      little patch of dirt

where You have placed us.

Help us to see it

       as the holy ground

       that it is.

Help us too to

    nurture the tribe,

the rag tag group,

    this flock of lonely people

    You have placed

          all around us

and put on our hearts.

It is not that

You will make this day count.

Every day already does.

Every act of compassion.

Every prayer golden.

Every response

           to Your voice

   and to Your Word.

Fill us with Your Spirit

that we may see

   and respond differently.