And he rebuilt the city

     and settled in it.

               Joshua 19. 50

(This may be exactly why

God strategically positioned us

    in this strange, barren place:

to bring His name here,

to restore the brokenness,

to rebuild,

to bind wounds,

to plant, nurture

             and bear fruit,

and to make it home for many.)

O LORD,

This morning, we hold up our hands

                     to You

to show us Your way in this day,

             right where we are,

how to love and serve You

   even in unlikely places

   and among unexpected people

      whom You have placed on our path.

You redeem,

even in ways we cannot yet see.

Help us to accept Your invitation

          to be faithful.

Even in the hard places,

     Your glory prevails.

We see only dirt.

You already see the forest here.