And the LORD

appeared to him

by the oaks of Mamre,

as he sat at the door

of his tent

in the heat of the day.

He lifted up his eyes

and looked,

and behold.....

            Genesis 18. 1-2

(God does not just

suddenly appear

and disappear,

but He is with us,

even when we

    are least aware,

even on the most

    ordinary of days,

even right

    where we are.

Am I abiding with Him?

Am I responding?

Nothing is beyond

            His grasp,

nothing beyond

           His timing.

He is

       God Almighty.)

O LORD,

In peaceful times

and in tumult,

You are with us,

You are our shield,

Your Presence with us,

Your name is written

             over us.

You say, "Stay with Me,"

   and "Trust me in this."

Help us to realize

that anxiety

     is stepping away,

saying, "I can do this

              on my own."

Your shield, O LORD,

protects and provides

and strengthens

even in what

we consider ordinary.

There are

no insignificant days

or ways

in Your economy.

You are with us.