...and Penuel fathered Gedor,

and Ezer fathered Hushah.

These were the sons of Hur,

the firstborn of Ephrathah,

     the father of Bethlehem.

             1 Chronicles 4. 4

(Yes, that Bethlehem.

He had no idea the

huge importance of

    that sleepy little town.

God weaves

     the story of redemption

     throughout Scripture

and through ordinary days.

None of these individuals

realized how

    significant they were

    in that unfolding story.

Nor do we.

The book of Chronicles

   starts not just

   with a list of random names.

People matter.

God knows our names

            and our hearts.

No one is insignificant

          to Him.

Relationships matter.

Loving God

impacts how we love others.)

O LORD,

You love us

and know not just

       our names

but our hearts.

You have placed us

strategically in time

            and place

    and among people

for Your purposes,

Your Kingdom

       and Your glory.

Help us to be

   faithful to You

and to know more

      even in this situation.

Nothing is random

           in Your sight.

May we bless You

  in whatever we do today.