...a sacrifice of thanksgiving

                to the LORD...

           Leviticus 22. 29

(Am I thankful to God

even when I don't understand,

even when I can't perceive

  or see the outcome on my radar,

or even when

          I will never know?

Being grateful

      for what God is doing

             beyond our control

    and beyond our vision

is how we trust Him.

The sacrifice is not letting go

                  of anything,

but choosing to hold fast

   that God is good,

even in this,

no matter what.

God's work exceeds

      our comprehension.

God never works in

      singular outcomes.

And may I remember this situation

    is not about my glory,

but His.)

O LORD,

May it be foremost in our hearts

to be grateful to You,

acknowledge You,

and live in thankfulness to You

through all of life's blind curves

   and unexpected potholes.

Help us to know

what we need to sacrifice

to remove any impediment

to Your work in our lives

   and others.

Help us to approach this day

   with a new thankfulness

that bears witness to others

      of Your work in our hearts

and in the chronicle of

   Your great faithfulness.

Help us to see differently

  because we are thankful.

Help others not to

      see something different in us,

but to see You.

 

...for the consecration of the

anointing oil of his God

is on him...

                   Leviticus 21.12

(As believers,

we are all marked

by His appointing

         and anointing.

We are set apart

       by His grace

       for His purposes.

It is not that

   we are better in any way,

but forgiven.

We belong to Him,

and as a result,

how we live, love, respond,

serve and are

should look very different.

His love can't help

        but change our hearts.)

O LORD,

Please help us to

intentionally bring Your name

into all that we do

and all that we are.

You are the LORD.

You are our LORD.

May Your glory be

           seen and known

through all the earth,

through every unlikely situation,

through every unexpected opportunity

        to honor You.

May we choose

     not to "be different"

but known as Yours

by how we live faithfully

with love, grace and hope,

no matter

      the circumstances.

 

...but you shall

love your neighbor

           as yourself.

        Leviticus 19.18

(Not to earn God's love

but how we share

God's love with others,

those we know

    and don't know.

Not that we have to,

    but we get to.

Does anyone see

   anything different about us?

That would be hearts

        changed by Jesus.)

O LORD,

You love us

    because You love us.

Help us to love others

           like that.

Empower us to love others

   because we can't help

           but love them,

even those we do not know,

even those we do not like

      or who do not like us.

May we not just be aware

                   of need,

but respond to needs

  both visible and invisible,

a tangible task,

an unexpected word of kindness,

that others would know

they are heard,

they are seen,

they are loved by us

             and by You.

Fill our pockets with Your grace

      for the day ahead.

 

"How can one feed

these people with bread here

    in this desolate place?"

And He asked them,

  "How many loaves do

                  you have?"

             Mark 8. 4-5

(This verse always reminds me

of the movie One Fine Day

when the mom keeps

pulling out of her purse

   whatever is needed at the moment.

God does the same for us.

God equips us for ministry

       in unexpected ways

       and in unlikely places

with resources and strength

  we didn't know we had.

What are we holding in our hands?

   More than we realize

   when we come before Him

              with a willing heart.

All given before Him

                  is multiplied.

          Nothing wasted.

          More than enough

God's fundamental law

                of leftovers

   is that He does not just add,

                  but multiplies.

We are faithful to make bread

        on ordinary mornings,

to do what He has placed before us,

to use what He has put in our hands

              and on our hearts.

We have no idea how God

         enlarges and deepens it.)

O LORD,

Help us to see where we are

    not as desolate as we thought,

    but where Your glory is seen.

May we realize that

             You multiply

  in a billion different dimensions.

Your glory triumphs,

     not circumstances.

With You, O LORD,

the landscape

             and our lives look

                very different.

We do not just see need.

    We can respond to it

    with a new heart.

Not what I don't have,

    but what I can do

in Your strength

and for Your glory.

 

But may all who seek You

   rejoice and be glad in You;

may those who

               love Your salvation

say continually,

     "Great is the LORD."

                  Psalm 40.16

(Not just when everything seems

     to be going our way,

not as slapping a smiley face

     on the hard stuff of life,

not cheerfully pretending,

but knowing and

     grasping with both hands

the reality of who God is.

How differently

       would we see circumstances,

how differently would we respond,

what a new path we would take,

if we said continually,

             Great is the LORD?

My strength is not my own

                 but His in this.)

O LORD,

May we not just seek an exit

          to this difficulty,

or prescribe our great solutions

          to these problems,

or tell You, Almighty One,

          exactly what to do

                       and when.

But may we seek You.

May we dwell

             in Your strength

and know You are with us.

You are God.

       And You are greater still.

Help us to never forget that.

             Even in this.

 

But immediately

He spoke to them and said,

"Take heart;

              it is I.

   Do not be afraid."

And He got into the boat

                   with them,

and the wind ceased.

              Mark 6. 50-51

(How differently

would we view,

approach,

and respond

to this situation,

difficulty,

or storm,

if we knew God was in it

   and He is in the boat

                     with us?

Not just being aware

            of His Presence

but trusting Him in it.)

O LORD,

Grant us the courage

to follow You,

knowing that

     You secure our steps.

Help us to listen to You

    and respond

    and trust You,

whether a frightful journey

  or right where we are.

It doesn't have to be a storm

or a new threshold

or a scary situation

     for us to be faithful to You.

And to know

     You are in the boat.

 

And if any place

   will not receive you

and they will not

         listen to you,

when you leave,

shake off the dust

that is on your feet

as a testimony against them.

               Mark 6. 11

(God does not call us

        to be popular

        or achieve success,

        win the struggle,

        or gain accolades,

but to be faithful

and bring His name there,

  no matter where we are,

  no matter among whom.

Whether others accept us

            or accept God

     does not define us

     nor limit God's power.

We need not feel failure

          but compassion.

Many people did not even

       listen to Jesus.

But God's Word

            always bears fruit

       in unexpected ways

   and among unlikely people.

   God radically transforms

               the landscape

   and plants a forest of sequoias

     through tiny seeds

                   of faithfulness.

Even in what we cannot yet see.)

O LORD,

We walk through and abide in

places that only appear barren.

But You see something different

    and always have deeper plans.

Help us to be faithful,

not looking for others' acceptance,

but seeking to accept them

      and welcome others

           right into Your Kingdom.

We cannot change hearts,

              but You can.

      Even ours.

Show us the way of faithfulness

   in whatever we do today

and know You are already

       bearing fruit through it.

May we follow You,

  even in what we don't yet understand.

 

Whoever walks in integrity

        walks securely,

but he who makes

        his ways crooked

will be found out.

             Proverbs 10.9

(There are no

         small obediences.

Faithfulness grows

         in the details.

Faithfulness to God

   holds us steady

      and strengthens,

even in ways

          we do not know.

Integrity means

       completeness,

all the pieces fitting together.

But sin and selfishness

     will always find us out,

the pieces falling apart

    particularly under pressure.

Live above reproach.

Make different choices,

          even in this.)

O LORD,

Help us not just to

       make good choices,

but choose to have a new heart

   in whatever we face

   in this day and week.

Guide our steps,

direct our thoughts,

and align our hearts

                    with Yours.

Grant us the courage

   to walk uprightly,

to choose

   what brings You glory

and to live as Yours.

Place in our minds

   a different way through

that we have not

   even thought of before

that has Your name

            all over it.

 

Mark the blameless

   and behold the upright...

          Psalm 37. 37

(Who are those godly people

          in our lives?

May we seek them out.

Watch what they do,

observe their ways,

how they live,

how they respond

             differently,

how they worship God

      and love others.

What distinguishes

              their choices?

How do they navigate

   the hostile

      and the favorable?

And may we realize that

others are watching us

        as followers of Christ

not to see that we are perfect

     but that God is real.

Not that we never make mistakes

   but how we respond

                when we do.

Not that our lives are easier or harder

    but how we live it out

                    with God.)

O LORD,

Help us to seek out

those who love You

that they may teach us

     a different way of life.

Help us to

   not react to circumstances

   but choose to be faithful

                  to You.

May we be a witness

          of Your love and grace

as we walk side by side

with those You have

           placed in our lives

   to point them to You

as others have done

                  for us.

    

 

 

And Moses said, "This is the thing

that the LORD commanded

           you to do,

that the glory of the LORD

may appear to you."

              Leviticus 9.6

(Whatever God has

      placed before us,

    in our field of vision,

    and on our hearts,

may we be faithful

and bring His glory to it.

        Yes, even in this.

When we listen, obey,

respond and are

      faithful to the LORD,

God redeems,

   reveals Himself in some way,

          and brings good of it

          and His glory to it,

even if we never understand

     or see the result.

God never works

             in singular outcomes.

 We can trust Him.

             No matter what.)

O LORD,

May we be faithful to You

in the favorable

and in the deep valleys,

knowing that

      You are at work

      in us and through us.

Your fruitfulness

           outlives us.

And the story You give us

reveals Your glory

to everyone around us

and to generations

             beyond us.

Help us to follow You

    into this day,

bringing Your glory to it,

building strength for the next.

 

Trust in the LORD,

         and do good;

dwell in the land

and befriend faithfulness.

             Psalm 37.3

(Trust, do good, dwell,

and pasture, tend, graze,

   and feed on faithfulness.

These are action verbs.

Trusting in the LORD

develops a new heart in us

  and empowers us

                 to do the rest.

Trusting Him does not

 open new doors

       or new options,

but creates new responses

               in our hearts.

    "I never saw that before."

We dwell among others

               differently,

stirring up faithfulness

tending it like a flock,

and feeding on faithfulness

     as one of our

          daily food groups.

Our lives cannot help

              but be different,

   not just look that way.

Trusting God in this

    means different choices,

          different fruit,

    a different journey,

    and a different outcome.)

O LORD,

We do not just trust You

   for a particular answer,

but we seek You

   and trust You in this

because You are our LORD.

We are not walking alone

     but walking with You.

Help us to be faithful to You

   in all that we do,

   knowing that changes us.

May we be known as Yours.

Because we trust You

          in the ordinary,

we know how to trust You

      in the known, the unknown,

              and the extraordinary.

Trusting You impacts everyone

       around us.

 

If anyone sins unintentionally...

             Leviticus 4.2

(Even when

            "I didn't mean to"

or "I had no idea"

or we are deceived into doing

           something wrong,

when we realize

       our transgression

and confess "I was wrong,"

God's forgiveness

    has already covered it.

Jesus made atonement for us.

We are forgiven.

We are not defined by our sin.

              But forgiven.

We cannot afford

     not to deal with our sin,

nor to not seek forgiveness.

      Sin changes us.

But God's grace redeems.)

O LORD,

We ask and accept

           Your forgiveness

           and Your grace.

Thank You for

    making things right

in what we have done

    and what we have

              left undone.

Your forgiveness

      has already covered it.

We cannot earn Your favor.

We don't have to,

    because Your grace redeems.

Grant us Your peace about it

and the courage

      to go forth in Your grace.

 

...a pleasing aroma

          to the LORD.

           Leviticus 1.9

(This phrase is repeated

   seven times

   in the first three chapters.

Is this what lingers

         in what I do,

in how I respond,

in how I treat others,

in how I serve God?

Far deeper than

    having a good attitude

but having a new heart

   even in the hard stuff,

   even in the ordinary.

This is what faithfulness

        smells like.)

O LORD,

May all we do

and all we are

    be pleasing in Your sight

and leave a lingering aroma

         delightful to You,

drawing others to You.

May we know that

spending time with You

infiltrates everything

                about us,

changing our thoughts

         and responses,

and aligning our hearts

                   with Yours.

Help us to be aware

    of Your aroma today

in the choices we make.

 

...they made finely woven garments,

for ministering

        in the Holy Place.

                      Exodus 39. 1

(What's in your closet?

Grace, kindness, goodness,

a transformed heart,

a new attitude,

a desire to bless others?

Take thought and care

in what we put on

    first thing in the morning

    and into our day.

What is hanging in our closets,

what have we put there,

what do we reach for,

what is our favorite covering,

how do we layer

     for hostile weather,

what is our daily response

      to serve God

      and bless others?

What we wear

   determines what we can do.

What we wear

          when we step out the door

   reveals our hearts.

Wherever we are

is a place of ministering

            and holy ground.)

O LORD,

Please show us how to approach

          our situations differently

    because we love You.

Clothe us with Your grace

   in impossible circumstances.

Help us to be prepared,

           trained and ready,

to minister wherever

     we find ourselves today

in the expected, the unexpected,

       the unlikely and the surprises.

May we write Your name with love

               all over it

and be known as Yours.

Help us to wear

        something different today.

         

 

He made the basin of bronze

and its stand of bronze

from the mirrors

         of the ministering women

who ministered in the entrance

         of the tent of meeting.

                  Exodus 38.8

(We don't know anything

about these women

except that they

     ministered to others,

and they willingly offered

         what they had

         for worship.

What a beautiful thing

    to be remembered by.

What a beautiful thing

    was created

    by their sacrifice.

God does not just use us

or our stuff

          for His glory.

 He draws out the beauty

     from what we give

     and from our hearts.

How can I serve Him today?

What is before me

        or around me?

What is in my hand?

Where is my heart in this?

Those who seek God

   see all things differently.

Step into the need.

His glory is there.)

O LORD,

We do not often see

      the outcome of our service

      or our work

           dedicated to You

           in all that we do.

But we don't have to see

      the end result

to know that You create

     goodness

     all along the way.

It is rarely about

       the end of it,

because You always work

   in a billion outcomes.

May we worship You today.

Reveal to us not just

   how we can serve You

but trust You

        in how You redeem.

 

So the people were restrained

           from bringing,

for the material they had

was sufficient to do

all the work,

               and more.

             Exodus 36.7

(Think about this difficult task

       or impossible dilemma

     with a new heart.

Bring the creativity of the Almighty

            to the assignment.

God provides more than enough

      to do His work,

           in what is set before us.

And He uses us to chime in

   with what resources we have.

We can't do everything,

       but we can do something.

Generosity brings solutions

  to previously unsolvable problems.

That's what community does.

We are not in this alone.

God never intended that.)

O LORD,

Help us to not just be aware

           of the needs around us,

but to seek out and respond

      even without being asked.

Help us to engage with compassion

    and creativity

    and what we have

to fill the potholes,

put food on the table,

strengthen the saints,

bring Your name

              to this need,

in building Your kingdom,

      every brick profound.

You are not

    the God of just enough,

but the Holy One who provides

              baskets of leftovers.

Help us to step into the need.

 

And all the people

among whom you are

shall see

    the work of the LORD,

for it is an awesome thing

   that I will do with you.

             Exodus 34.10

(God is working

even in what

  we cannot yet see,

even when it does not appear

        to be working out.

Awesome things

are far deeper

      than we define them,

far beyond what is

            on the surface

because they impact

    more people than us,

not restricted by time

            or place

   or our understanding.)

O LORD,

Help us to listen to You,

watch with You,

wait for You,

   and respond to You.

Help us to trust You

in what we see

    and what we cannot see.

Our hope is in You,

      in both the now

      and the not yet,

not in changing circumstances.

Draw us to You, O LORD,

which may be

     Your point in this all.

 

Is it not in

    Your going with us,

so that we are distinct,

I and Your people,

from every other people

    on the face of the earth?

            Exodus 33. 16

(Do others see

    any difference at all in us?

God's Presence,

    His abiding in our hearts,

changes everything

            in what we see,

            do,

            respond,

and how others see us.

How do I approach

       this difficulty,

       this impossible task,

       this hard relationship,

                   differently

   because I follow Christ?

Our relationship with Him

      alters our hearts,

      our choices,

      even our vocabulary,

not just on clear blue days

   but in the hard stuff,

especially in the hard stuff.)

O LORD,

You don't just go before us.

You walk with us,

aligning our hearts with Yours

    through everything

    we are experiencing.

Draw us nearer, Almighty One.

Your ways

             always reveal

a different kind of walking,

a new response,

a radically different outcome

  that is not even

               on our radar.

May we be distinctive today,

           known as Yours,

walking in Your name,

for Your Kingdom,

for Your glory.

 

...and I have filled him

with the Spirit of God,

with ability and intelligence,

with knowledge

   and all craftsmanship,

to devise artistic designs,

to work in gold,

        silver and bronze,

in cutting stones for setting,

and in carving wood,

to work in every craft.

           Exodus 31. 3-5

(It is not in me,

     or any one of us,

but God who fills us

with imagination,

creativity,

and ability to bring His glory

  to whatever task is before us.

       --in all our work,

  not just what we consider art.

That is what happens to

   a heart willing to serve God

           in every capacity,

    nothing too big and

    absolutely nothing insignificant.

We may think that we see

            the final result,

we may consider it

            infinitesimally small,

but God uses all our work

                 exponentially,

       far beyond our radar.)

O LORD,

We are Yours.

We are made in Your image.

We are all creative

  in so many capacities,

  because You made us that way.

Help us to approach our problems

       with a new and different heart,

not just to solve

but to bring out Your glory

and write Your name

                all over it.

May Your hand guide ours,

may our heart reflect Yours.

Please let Your Spirit

        cover,

        saturate,

        infect in new ways.

 

Not as I will,

but as You will.

         Matthew 26. 39

(How to pray

     in any situation.

How would praying that way

change what we pray about,

what we pray for,

how we respond,

how we walk with Him,

what we see and hear,

how God

       opens our hearts,

seeking not just an answer,

                 but Him?)

O LORD,

You do not just open doors

   but open our hearts to You.

You do not just answer

   but align our hearts to Yours.

Help us to know You more

        even in these circumstances,

  even in what we don't understand.

May we seek You.

           And stand amazed.

Help us to expect,

watch,

listen,

    and look for You.

Order my day.

Guide my steps.

Direct my thoughts.

Align my heart

             with Yours.

Not my will

          but Yours.

 

You shall make them

    for glory and beauty.

              Exodus 28.40

(Do we even consider

the vast dimensions of

         glory and beauty

in what we do,

in how we serve God,

in how we love others?

God is not just about

      getting the job done,

   but in how we do it

     with love, grace and beauty.

God puts the

       flowers on the table.

Am I bringing His glory

   and beauty to this?

Is it an act of worship

     or just a task?

A way of serving Him

     or see this work

     only as a paycheck?

How can we approach

what is before us today

            differently

    in love with Him

    and love for others?)

O LORD,

Help us to see our work

and the needs of others

as opportunities to

         love You more.

May we not just fill the task,

and get the job done,

but fulfill Your glory and beauty

      to overflowing.

It is not about what it takes

          for the minimum

   but for the eternal.

You created the world

beautiful beyond words.

May we serve and love You

   and serve and love others

in beautiful ways

unexpected in time and place.

May we walk and respond

   for Your glory,

so seamlessly,

   all the difference in the world,

that which is visible

  an outcropping of the unseen.

 

It shall be made

with cherubim

skillfully woven into it.

          Exodus 26.31

(How am I approaching

what is before me today?

Bad attitudes,

    irritation,

    grumbling?

Or weaving angels

     into the ordinary?

Skillfully brings

    willingness and intention,

    creativity and excellence

                        to the task,

           no matter what it is.

Not having to be the best,

but as we used to tell our kids,

           do your best.

In whatever we do, produce,

    respond and approach,

the glory of God,

His strength,

     and His Presence

seamlessly woven.

There is no distinction

   between visible and unseen,

   significant and insignificant.

All is profound to God.)

O LORD,

In all that You have

          placed before us

     or around us

     or blocking our path,

please help us

   to skillfully work

   a different heart

               into this.

And be faithful to You

     no matter the journey

     or the outcome,

              beautiful to You.

 

I will fulfill

the number of your days.

             Exodus 23.26

(God is not just

     filling our time,

but fulfilling each moment

--to complete in its entirety,

plant trees to maturity,

bear fruit that lasts

     far beyond our lifetime,

fully develop

  even what we see

           as ordinary,

           or a roadblock,

   or a sudden turn in the road.

A detour

   is never secondary

   in His ways.

The pieces don't just

             come together,

    but designed to fit

            with no remainders.

God is already working.

God is already preparing us.

Trust in the slow work of God.

He is completing our days

   and covering them

   with His glory.)

O LORD,

Grant to us the courage

   to follow You

   into Your days for us,

even those we don't understand,

   those times and places

   and weird situations

              only You can fulfill.

Help us not just fill up our days

     but seek You in them.

May we be found faithful to You.

May we be found in You.

And someday on the Other Side

     be amazed at what

                 You have done.

    

 

If you meet your enemy's ox

or his donkey going astray,

you shall bring it back to him.

If you see the donkey

    of one who hates you

   lying down under its burden,

you shall refrain from

   leaving him with it;

you shall rescue it with him.

               Exodus 23. 4-5

(Grace sees others differently.

Grace goes beyond

       the call of duty

       and what is expected

and comes alongside.

Grace is never

    a result of earning,

but of yearning,

setting aside rights

   and wounded feelings,

and stepping into need.

Beware of pride getting in the way

of doing what is good,

              right and kind.)

O LORD,

May our love for You

saturate our relationships.

Help us to live

  in such a way

  that Your love is seen

            through us.

Reveal to us

    the needs around us,

    both visible and

          hidden in hearts.

Show us

     how to respond

     in meaningful ways.

Grant us the courage

    and selfless love

that should so mark us

            as Yours.

 

    

 

...keep My commandments

              and live,

keep My teaching

     as the apple of your eye,

bind them on your fingers,

write them on the

    tablet of your heart.

                 Proverbs 7. 2-3

(Write God's name

    at the top of your paper

and at the beginning

              of your day.

How we view God

  changes how we view others,

  how we see circumstances,

  how we respond to favor

          or difficulty,

  which path we choose

    through this situation,

and how we view ourselves.

Not that God is important,

nor prominent,

but preeminent.)

O LORD,

Integrate our lives

     all the way through.

In every place we go,

in all that we do,

may we bring

    the name of Jesus there

        in every dimension.

You, Almighty One, do not just

         change our hearts.

Your Presence

      changes everything.

 

You shall love

    the LORD your God

with all your heart

and with all your soul,

and with all your mind.

This is the great

      and first commandment.

And the second is like it:

You shall love your neighbor

                as yourself.

               Matthew 22. 37-39

(These verses show us

not how to earn God's love

but how to abide in it.

The first commandment

    from Deuteronomy 6.5

impacts all that we do

    and how we live.

Faithful Jews repeated it

    twice daily

    to stay on track

        in following God.

But Jesus takes love

            to new level.

Responding to the first

empowers us to

naturally complete the next:

   to love others just as

   we are loved by God.)

O LORD,

Reveal to us today

all the ways we can

       show our love for You

in what we do,

in our attitudes,

in what we think,

how we respond to others,

and how we can love them

        in tangible

        and unexpected ways.

Remind us of Your Word

and of Your love today

in all things great and small

      You place before us

that we may honor You.

 

...but the people of Israel

walked on dry ground

in the midst of the sea.

            Exodus 15. 19

(Walk differently.

Approach the difficult

and defiant

and the impossible

    with a different heart.

When we walk with Him

       in the daily stuff,

we know how to walk

       in the scary stuff,

the rocky parts,

the cliffs,

the miry bog,

    and the midst of the sea.

Not just His hand over mine,

           but His heart.

Circumstances do not prevail

     over His grace.)

O LORD,

May we not just be

           aware of You,

but recognize

        Your Presence

and see in the dark.

Guide us on our paths

that we may

    walk differently before You

and respond differently

                 with Your grace,

     no matter the situation.

Bring Your glory

   to what only appears

   as an impossible Red Sea.

Help us to walk on dry ground

and help others along the way

            to see You.

 

My foot stands

    on level ground...

            Psalm 26. 12

(Watch your steps,

       but don't look down.

Look to Him.

When we walk with God,

   He provides a foothold,

a level spot amidst the rocks,

no matter how impossible

            the circumstances.

Trust Me in this.

And the next step

     will become evident.

And having done all,

                    to stand.

And maybe just a moment

    to take in the view.)

O LORD,

No matter if we are

     climbing upward,

     descending the rocks,

or faced with

  our own personal Red Sea,

          You provide a path.

Help us to be faithful to You,

even when we don't understand,

even when circumstances

             are too much for us.

Because there You are,

   all along with us.

Help me to take Your hand

         in this situation,

ready to follow,

           shoes tied on.

Lead the way, O LORD.