that they might be for Me

a people,

a name,

a praise,

      and a glory,

but

  they would not listen.

            Jeremiah 13. 11

(Years ago,

when our oldest grandchild

was about four years old,

she described sin:

"Sin is missing out."

Absolutely.

Sin is not getting away

       with something,

but missing out

on what could have been,

on what God intended,

and we did not listen

            or respond.

We are not just the ones

      who miss out

but everyone around us.

The world loses out too.

But when we listen,

when we respond to God,

even when

       don't realize it,

everything changes.

Even us.)

O LORD,

We have missed out

on Your goodness,

on Your wonders,

on Your strength,

and taken another path

that promised

           better and easier,

and ended up

    in the miry bog.

Forgive us, O LORD,

redeem our trespasses,

bring us back

   to what You intended,

for You abiding

          in the midst of us

and for us

        called by Your name.

For Your glory,

for Your Kingdom,

in Your name.