And he said to Him,

"Please, Lord,

how can I save Israel?

Behold, my clan is

   weakest in Manasseh,

and I am least

   in my father's house."

And the LORD said to him,

"But I will be with you."

                Judges 6. 15-16

("But I will be with you."

And that makes

    the ultimate difference,

not our own power

or ability

or special talents

or achievements.

But God.

Throughout Scripture

and throughout history,

God chooses the most

        unlikely candidates

who already know it is

by God's Almighty hand

     and not their own.

"I can't do this."

And God replies,

"Exactly.

That's why I chose you."

I am not in this alone.

And I have no idea

  the magnitude

  of what God is doing.)

O LORD,

Help us to not just

     be aware of You,

but sensitive and

responsive to Your Presence.

As we enter into this day

and this week,

help us to be faithful

             to You alone,

in what You have

  placed before us,

our work,

our attitudes,

our struggles,

the big rocks

   and the pebbles.

Help us to

     build an altar to You

                over it

to bring honor to You

and gain our strength

     from You alone.