Moving That Mountain

 

Truly, I say to you,

whoever says to this mountain,

"Be taken up

   and thrown into the sea,"

and does not doubt

                   in his heart

but believes that what he says

       will come to pass,

it will be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, 

whatever you ask in prayer,

believe that you are receiving it,

          and it will be yours.

                 Mark 12. 23-24

In Hebrew literature and scripture,

moving a mountain

  was a metaphor for doing

  what was obviously impossible.

No little molehills,

   nor sand dunes,

but the big stuff in our lives

     that we all encounter.

Impossible for us is

  always right down God's alley

  and in realms of His power.

But the mountain we want to disappear

   may be exactly what God is using

   for His eternal purposes.

Sometimes God moves that

      overwhelming burden,

sometimes He removes it.

But He also may show us

   a way through, around it, 

how to dig a tunnel with a spoon,

   or scale the heights with Him.

God supplies our every need

  to handle those mountains,

     even carrying it with us.

Confidence in God's power

  always works hand in hand

  with submission to His will.

God may have planted it here

    for deeper purposes

    than we can fathom.

What is God forming in me

      through this?

What does this mountain

               make possible?

O LORD,

When we are faced with the impossible,

   You reveal Yourself

    in incredible ways.

Help us to trust You 

  with what we cannot comprehend

  and know that You are good.

Fulfill Your purposes

  even in the mysterious

 and the majestic.

Help us to ask in prayer.

Help us to trust You in prayer.

Surprise us by Your power,

   even in this.

Never Just A Wilderness

 

The LORD spoke to Moses

in the wilderness of Sinai....

            Numbers 1.1

What in the world

           am I doing here

in this unfamiliar, unknown 

and uncomfortable place?

God speaks to us too

in the most unexpected places

     and unlikely situations,

even in those barren

  wildernesses of our lives.

Why here?  

Why in this forsaken place?

Perhaps because 

we could not -- or would not--

   listen or respond to Him

   any other way.

God does not just say

         Look to Me,

but Look Me in the eye.

Sometimes it takes a wilderness

  where we have no one but Him

         for us to listen.

"But there's nothing here, O God!"

            I am.

It's never just a wilderness. 

O LORD,

Thank You for leading us

   even into the desert

   or the deserted places

that we may listen to You.

Thank You for speaking to us

       right there,

revealing not just Your majesty

     and wonders in this place,

        but revealing Yourself.

Help us to be still

     and know that You are God.

 

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Not Running Ahead

And they were on the road,

going up to Jerusalem,

and Jesus was walking

          ahead of them.

                   Mark 10. 32

Whatever path we are on,

  may we follow God on it,

even if we do not quite know

  where this road is leading.

Because He knows.

God has prepared us for it.

Just don't get ahead of Him.

Jesus may be directing us

   to places or situations

   or people we do not know,

or to pay attention to those

       right where we are.

We do not just pass through.

God has many divine appointments

  and sacred encounters

                    along the way.

He may be protecting us

 in some way that doesn't

       seem to make sense.

God does not just show up

          but shows us.

We are not alone on this road.

He guides us, feeds us,

and gives us His strength

             for the journey,

all the way through.

Are we there yet?

         Just follow Me.

O LORD,

We may feel like 

  we are just wandering,

but You know

 exactly what You are doing

and where You are taking us.

Grant to us Your wisdom

and stir up in us

   the willingness to follow You.

Help us to fulfill Your purposes

      wherever You guide us.

And to not miss Your beauty

           along the way.

Take our hand

           and guide us.

Help us to not run ahead of You.

 

Not Just A Nice Person

 

Consecrate yourselves, therefore,

and be holy,

for I am the LORD your God.

Keep My statutes

           and do them;

I am the LORD

   who sanctifies you.

        Leviticus 20. 7-8

God says in no uncertain terms,

          Be Mine.

That people will not only see us

    as different or just nice,

           but that we are Yours.

Because the LORD is our God,

we have the freedom to live differently

             in this broken world.

May we set our minds,

set our hearts,

set ourselves apart to love God,

  love others,

and take another path through.

The sacred is instituted, 

not just in listening to what

  God says in His Word,

not just agreeing with Him,

                  but by doing,

putting God's love into action

in our work and relationships

      and daily choices.

O LORD,

May we be known as Yours.

May we be marked by

     Your anointing

  and Your appointing.

Help us and guide us

  in setting ourselves apart

in whatever we do today

in Your name,

for Your Kingdom,

  and for Your glory.

Others are not just watching us,

but desperately want to know 

      You are real

and that You transform lives.

That's Why

....for I am the LORD your God.

          Leviticus 19. 3

The LORD spelled out directions

in how to treat, love,

and relate to other people

--family, friends, neighbors,

poor and rich, strangers,

         and even our foes.

Because from the 

   very beginning of time,

He knew we needed

           a little help there.

    And we all still do.

It's not just friendly advice.

Jesus calls love your neighbor

  the second great commandment.

Why should we take heed?

   Because God says so

and He knows what happens

             when we do,

      and when we don't. 

I am the LORD your God

  is repeated eight times

  in the first eighteen verses

          of just this chapter.

I am the LORD.

           That's why.

O LORD,

You are not just the LORD,

  but You are our God.

And our relationship with You

  infiltrates not just

           how we behave,

        but how we love,

   and how we relate to others.

May others see Your love in us.

And may we realize that 

   You love others through us

    and make Yourself known.

You have strategically placed us

   right here today for that purpose.

Find us faithful, dear Jesus.

 

Not About To Abandon Us Now

 

"And do you not remember?

When I broke the fives loaves

   for the five thousand,

how many baskets 

  full of broken pieces

            did you take up?"

They said to Him,

            "Twelve."

           Mark 8. 18-19

Do we recall all those times

   when God did not just show up,

   but He beat us here,

       the table already set?

   Over and over again.

Even among His disciples,

Jesus had to point out 

they took up 

   twelve baskets of leftovers,

   ironically one for each of them.

God's faithfulness is so immense

  we can't even count that high.

God gives each of us

     a chronicle of His faithfulness

                        in indelible ink.

He is not about 

      to abandon us now.

Do not fear.  I am with you.

Even in the hard stuff.

O LORD,

You have taken care of us

        in the past.

You are caring for us now.

You carry us into what is next.

Help us to know

    You've also got us

         in this particular situation,

not with just barely enough,

  but twelve baskets full.

Finding Something More In The Midst Of It

 

Blessed is the one

   who considers the poor!

            Psalm 41. 1

The needy, the weak,

    the helpless, the lean,

appear in many dimensions,

even among those 

  we would never suspect.

The poor are not restricted 

to physical and financial lack,

but perhaps even more,

  to find oneself relationally weak.

That is where, when and how

  we can do something

        to strengthen another.

Not just to pay attention 

    to those around us,

    but attend to them

             (same root word).

Call and response.

O LORD,

Open our eyes and our hearts

   not just to need,

but how we can follow You into it.

Reveal our way through

   that we may solve, resolve,

   and encourage others

           out of the miry bog

           or pothole of despair.

You multiply kindness across the board

to aid the helpless and hopeless

   in their day of trouble.

And we find Your blessing there.

   

Hey, It's Me!

 

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

For the 40 days of Lent this year,

I am giving up fear and anxiety.

And while it seems at first

   to invite even more worries,

God is leading me through,

  how to respond differently

  when they rush through the door

and take up every chair in my heart.

When we take Jesus at His word,

    "Hey, I'm right here.

     Do not be afraid,"

the wind ceases

  and He brings His peace to it.

O LORD,

We are caught in storms

  and struggles

  and what in the world

            is going on?

And You assure us,

   it is You working 

    something mighty here

of which we are unaware.

Help us to trust You in it

   and not be afraid of it.

Because fear distracts us,

and we miss out

     on Your wonders here.

Bake Extra Loaves

But He answered them,

"You give them something

              to eat."

..."How many loaves

                do you have?

Go and see."

       Mark 6. 37-38

We cry out,

"Oh God, do something!"

And He replies to us,

"I have.

 That's why I put you there."

The ancient saints

   are all depicted

   with something in their hands,

what marked their lives,

their way of ministering

   to those around them

and to whom God positioned

                on their paths.

God uses us to bless others

    and change the world.

What has God called me to

        in this day?

May we be aware of the loaves

   God has placed in our hands.

May we ask God's blessing

   on what we have, what we do,

and how we can love others,

  even in desperate situations.

And God multiplies exponentially.

How many loaves do we have?

In God's hands,

          more than enough.

O LORD,

Reveal Yourself to us, today,

in opportunities to bless others,

to feed them in their hungers,

to come alongside

    even in the everydays,

to bring Your blessing

  in barren places of the soul.

Help us to bake extra loaves,

    come prepared

and share generously

          Your love and grace,

no matter where 

    You guide us today.

We ask Your blessing.

But we also ask

     that we may bless You.

 

Don't Go There

 

....unclean to you.

        Leviticus 11. 4

Not the words we want to hear.

Yet perhaps the ones

    we need to hear,

despite all our excuses:

     No one will know.

     Everyone is doing it.

     It won't hurt me,

         nor anyone else.

And our adversary's favorite

          "It won't matter."

But yet, unclean to you

    or detestable to you 

is repeated 42 times 

  in the 47 verses of chapter 11.

Not all things are helpful,

  some will trip us up,

  some will enslave.

Be aware of ambushes.

When God tells us,

           "Don't go there,"

     stop in the name of love.

Our lives depend on it.

And so does our witness.

Trusting God builds strength

to resist the shiny distractions

  and avoid crater-size potholes.

O LORD,

We are so blind to the 

   consequences of downright sin.

We call our rebelliousness 

   a lot of things,

like mistakes, misunderstandings,

   accidents, or I-didn't-mean-to's.

What is unclean to us

   -- the next wrong thing--

impacts not just us,

but generations after us

and our witness among others.

LORD, grant to us Your strength

   to walk with You

through this day,

       our eyes on You.

That which is good and gracious

 and honorable in Your sight

      reverberates forever.

Right Here In The Boat With Us

 

And they woke Him

and said to Him,

"Teacher, do you not care

  that we are perishing?"

And He awoke and

rebuked the wind

and said to the sea,

"Peace!  Be still!"

And the wind ceased,

and there was great calm.

He said to them,

"Why are you so afraid?

Have you still no faith?"

        Mark 4. 38-40

The disciples asked Jesus

the most ridiculous question:

    "Don't you even care?"

And Jesus replied

      also with a question,

"Why are you so afraid?"

He's right here in the boat with us.

Faith is not a chosen list of beliefs,

but conviction 

and confidence in the Almighty.

He asks us, "Did you think

I would not take care of you?

      Trust Me in this."

O LORD,

You do not promise us

   that life will not be hard.

You did not say

   that we will be in control,

            but You are.

You are with us,

even in all manner of storms.

Help us to sleep like You.

 

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The Grand Imprinting Of Our Souls

 

And Moses and Aaron went

      into the tent of meeting,

and when they came out

  they blessed the people,

and the glory of the LORD

appeared to all the people.

         Leviticus 9. 23

Worshipping God matters

          in all forms

whether in our work,

  our service,

  how we treat others,

or even in going to church. 

When we worship the LORD,

we cannot help 

    but be changed by Him,

even in the very act of 

            worshipping.

Worship is a coming before,

a submitting to,

a trusting in,

and communing with 

          the Almighty God.

He refreshes

  and aligns our hearts with His,

and thereby blesses all those

   around us and through us.

His glory infiltrates the day.

O LORD,

At the start of the day

and all the way through,

when we worship You,

we are not just mindful of You,

  but You implant in us

  the mind of Christ.

Whatever we worship changes us.

       May we worship You.

We see circumstances

    with a new heart.

We treat others with

   Your love and grace.

Worship is manifest

  in our comings and goings.

We see opportunities

       to serve You

in whatever we do today.

 

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Wow, What Is That?

 

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

What are we doing that

    opens that door?

When we obey God, 

follow and respond to Him,

even in what may not

            appear to matter,

something profound

     and deeply significant

  is released and put into motion.

In trusting God into

  whatever He has put before us,

God strengthen us,

covers us,

and shifts the tectonic plates

           of the universe

in ways we personally

             may never witness

   --but sometimes we do.

Wow, what is that? 

God brings His glory. 

Watch for it.

O LORD,

Enlarge, we pray, our hearts

   and our vision

that we may follow You

and trust You with our path

   and with what we do,

knowing that You work

   in eternal dimensions.

It is not a matter of You

     bringing Your glory, Almighty One,

  but revealing it is already here.

We just don't see it yet.

Allow Your glory to change us.

Deepen Your fruit

  far beyond our lifetimes.

You show us a different way

to approach the hard,

to navigate the rough places,

and to trust You through it.

Even what is before us,

even what is on our hearts today.

Messing Up Yet Again

 

If anyone of the common people

sins unintentionally

in doing any one of the things

that by the LORD's commandments

    ought not to be done,

and realizes his guilt

      ...he shall be forgiven.

           Leviticus 4. 27-28, 31

Even the mistakes we all make,

    no exclusions,

    no excuses,

    nor failures, accidents,

         or didn't mean to's,

God has already made provision

            for us to be forgiven.

The entire book of Leviticus

  reveals our need for Jesus.

  We are not perfect,

    which is hard to admit.

The word unintentionally

   is mentioned six times

   in chapters 4 and 5.

And he shall be forgiven

           eight times.

When we come before the LORD,

  forgiveness is already 

                 snapped into place

  --we just don't realize it yet,

Whether deliberate rebellions

   or really dumb mistakes,

we are covered by His sacrifice.

That is the gospel,

   which changes everything.

And we can go forth differently.

O LORD,

Please forgive us.

   We have really messed up.

Thank You for loving us

           that much.

May we in turn

  love others like that

  by forgiving them.

Grant us Your strength

  to drag our shortcomings

  to the altar

and find You already there.

Help us to leave our sin there

and know that we are forgiven.

It is not that we do not

               bear it alone,

but that we no longer carry it.

Redeem the impossible,

                   dear Jesus.

What Am I Going To Wear Today

 

From the blue and purple

and scarlet yarns

they made finely woven

  garments for ministering

in the Holy Place.

            Exodus 39.1

One of our first decisions

of the day is

what are we going to wear?

We take into account

the weather, our work,

 even who we see.

But how we minister to others

is determined by what

   we choose to wear --

compassion, kindness,

humility, meekness, patience

...and above all these,

                put on love.

     Colossians 3. 12, 14

We wear these things

into the day's activities,

even in what we don't

      consider ministry.

Because with them,

we cannot help but

worship, serve God

and minister to others.

And by them,

   we are known as His.

O LORD,

Make us aware of the

finely woven garments

with which You have filled

   our wardrobes

to minister before You.

Help us to pay attention

to what You have

   called us to today.

Prepare our hearts

for ministry

in every shape and size

and even in ways

  we don't recognize.

This is Your holy place

   and the sacred ground

where You have intended us.

God Can Use This?

 

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 often wonder 

  how we can serve God

  right where we are

and with what little 

              we have to offer.

God asks,

  What is in your hands?

  How about this?

Not just what we have,

     nor what we hold,

     but what we do with it.

No offering to the LORD,

--no matter what-- 

is insignificant in serving

and worshiping God.

And when we do,

     God changes us through it.

God has

  strategically positioned us

  in this place, time,

        and among these people

   for His profound purposes.

God invites us to participate

in the unfolding of His glory.

O LORD,

Sometimes it feels like 

we have nothing of substance

    that could possibly

               bring You glory.

But You multiply

        whatever we do,

and what You have given us,

  our time, talent, or mirrors,

                   willingly offered.

Even in what others

   don't see or recognize

                     as ministry,

        You build Your Kingdom

with faithfulness to You

               in unlikely places.

 

Use Our Words

 

I will bless the LORD

      at all times.

His praise shall continually

     be in my mouth.

                   Psalm 34. 1

What comes into our minds

when we think about God

is the most important

      thing about us...

                A. W. Tozer

What we verbalize 

              about the LORD

changes how we think,

how we approach our work,

how we treat others,

and how we see 

and navigate our situation.

It is not a matter of

  bringing God into this,

but seeing Him already here.

Do we praise Him

      or point to ourselves?

One is honoring to Him.

The other is arrogance.

O LORD,

We seek to bless You

     in this very day,

     in these circumstances,

whether in joy or hardship,

and in all that we do

             and say.

Please change not just

    our attitudes,

but transform our hearts.

Be blessed through us,

                    we pray.

Reveal to us opportunities

to speak of You

  and honor You before others

in words, deeds and service.

What Are We Training For

 

Be ready by the morning....

            Exodus 34. 2

Our responsiveness

             to the LORD

is dependent 

  on our daily rhythms

of being attentive to Him

--time in His Word,

continual prayer,

with-ness among

     other believers,

engagement in what

  God lays before us,

and awareness of ministry

          in all things.

We are changed by God

  in all these practices.

The night before a marathon,

I can set out all my clothes.

But my readiness that morning

relies on if I have been

training, listening, watching,

   and putting in the miles.

Even when it doesn't 

           seem to matter,

    it always does.

Shoes tied on, ready to roll.

O LORD,

May we be attentive 

         to Your daily call

to serve You

with all our hearts, souls,

    strength and minds.

Help us to be aware

 of what You are forming in us,

even if we don't know

what You are training us for.

Empower us 

   to be ready this morning

for all that You have designed,

every divine appointment

  and every sacred encounter.

Go forth with us

           into this day.

But Those Who Live It Out

 

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

Does anyone see

any difference in us?

Or do we recognize

  how His Presence

changes where we go,

what we do,

      and how we do it?

The biggest question is not

whether God comes with us,

    but do we follow Him?

Our witness is the earth-shaking

and life-changing difference

     that God forms in us.

Are we known as His?

O LORD,

Your Presence among us

is what distinguishes us

        as Your people,

not just the people of Your Word,

   but those who live it out.

Be evident among us

    in tangible ways.

Grant to us Your strength,

courage, grace and love

in the most impossible situations

and in our everyday 

                 comings and goings,

that others would be 

            drawn to You.

May we not just be 

         mindful of You,

but bear the mind of Christ.

Even in these circumstances,

         be glorified among us.

Cover Up or Cover Us

 

I acknowledge my sin to You,

and I did not cover my iniquity.

I said, "I will confess

my transgressions to the LORD,"

and You forgave

  the iniquity of my sin.

             Psalm 32. 5

No matter what we do,

we cannot cover up our sin.

Only God can cover us,

which is why He invented

          forgiveness.

Not a matter of saying to Him,

  "Oh, sorry,"

or to regret that we were 

      caught in a snare,

but "I was wrong.

       Please forgive me."

His forgiveness 

             is already there,

    ready for the asking,

    ready for the receiving.

That is why Jesus came.

And nothing can 

             remain the same.

O LORD,

We acknowledge the ways

   we have sinned against You

   and each other,

not just our shortcomings,

  but our many rebellions,

   belligerent attitudes,

   and unkindnesses.

Cover us, dear Father,

and keep us from the sin

   of trying to cover up.

Empower us to

      go forth differently today

because we know

      we have been forgiven

      by You.

You paid the price for us.

We are eternally grateful.

The Wiring Of God

 

...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,

      to work in every craft.

            Exodus 31. 3-4

God has wired us

      in many different ways

to serve Him

         and bring Him glory,

not just in natural talent,

    or working hard at something,

but with the moving of

  the Holy Spirit in us to do,

to be, to serve,

               and be faithful.

And over time, 

learning not just to get better at it,

but relying on the Holy Spirit

     to work through us.

There is no giftedness

          greater than another.

O LORD,

We are grateful for how You

  have imprinted us 

  with giftedness and talents

  and the desire to serve You

         through them.

Help us to realize

we are not limited to 

       one singular gift,

but that each opportunity

  enlarges our hearts

       to serve You

in far more ways

  than we can imagine.

Grant to us willingness

  to serve You

             even in the gaps

and even in what

   we have no natural talent,

but the supernatural.

Provide for us the courage

     to try something new,

          something deeper,

to bring You glory. 

No Greater Honor

...to serve Me...

          Exodus 28. 4

In all that we do today,

in all that we face today,

how we approach

     and navigate the hard stuff,

     the impossible schedule

                        or people,

this is the bottom line:

       to serve Me.

Serving the LORD 

   is the thread throughout,

   the focus, purpose and

         the whole enchilada

 in whatever we do today.

Even in this difficult situation,

      even in this mess,

      even in our work,

to serve the Almighty.

There is

         no greater honor.

O LORD,

Thank You for what You have

   placed before us today

not to get done

   but how to serve You

                 in it

                 and through it.

There is no divide

  between the secular 

                 and the sacred.

You grant us opportunities

   every day

      to creatively serve You

in every divine appointment

  and every sacred encounter,

even in those we do not

      recognize as such.

It is such a blessing

  to get to serve You in it.

 

The Secrets of Slow Cooking

 

...a pleasing aroma

      before the LORD.

         Exodus 29. 25

When the slow cooker

           is simmering,

and I enter the kitchen,

I am greeted by an aroma

  that can be created only

by the blending together of 

many ingredients and flavors.

That is what is produced 

by trusting God, 

responding to Him,

serving Him,

and loving others.

Every act of love, grace,

   faithfulness and worship,

blending together

            and slow cooking

into what is delightful to Him,

       the fragant aroma of Christ. 

O LORD,

May our lives today

be a pleasing aroma to You,

offering new flavors of loving You.

Help us to see 

   each individual ingredient 

              and experience

      --the sweet and savory--

in this day coming together 

     to bring glory to You.

What we love,

how we love,

       and who we love.

And that would be You.

Guiding Us In The Rest

 

And the disciples did

as Jesus had directed them...

          Matthew 26. 19

Even when it doesn't 

                 make sense,

or is terribly awkward,

or doesn't seem to matter,

or if we have a better idea

  for how it should be done,

         ...or done at all,

when we take heed

   to the voice of Jesus,

even His nudges 

  to the right or to the left,

God blesses not just

        our willingness,

but taking those actual steps

   of trusting Him.

God guides us in the rest.

And blesses far beyond

   what can be counted.

O LORD,

We seek Your direction

in the spaces and places

     before us right now.

Help us to listen to You.

And respond to Your leading.

Grant to us Your courage

   to take the first steps.

And then Your strength

       to trust you into it.

Help us to

    follow Your directions

          as we go forth

   into Your designs for us.

Write His Name All Over

 

In every place

where I cause My name

    to be remembered,

I will come to you

           and bless you.

          Exodus 20. 24

Worshiping wherever we are

changes us and even those

around us are altered

          by His Presence there.

Bring the name of Jesus

   in every place.

Someone is watching.

Someone is listening.

Someone's life is about

             to be changed.

His name is so powerful

   we cannot remain the same

...nor the place where God

has strategically positioned us. 

May we not be afraid

to speak of Me, write about Me,

     or serve Me there.

O LORD,

Write Your holy name 

    on this day 

    and in this place

and all over these circumstances.

You come to us and bless us

            by Your Presence.

May we come to You

  and bless You

through our worship and work

   and witness to others,

even those we would

    least expect

    to respond to You.

May Your name 

not just be remembered here,

but proclaimed.

While U Wait

Wait for the LORD.

Be strong 

and let your heart take courage.

Wait for the LORD.

                Psalm 27. 14

And while we wait,

pray like crazy,

be faithful to the work before us,

and trust in the 

         slow work of God.

God is on the move.

Be ready.

The issue is not

     just while we wait,

             but how we wait.

Wait in Hebrew is anything but

      a passive verb,

but means to look eagerly for,

to expect the LORD

  and fix our hope on Him,

and to bind and tie together

           a strong rope.

Waiting builds His strength

    and endurance in us.

What am I waiting for?

                   The LORD.

But perhaps He is the one

waiting for us to listen

         and seek Him.

O LORD,

Grant to us the wisdom

and strength to wait

when everything in us

wants to rush to the finish line.

Help us to trust You in this,

for Your perfect timing,

for Your purposes,

and for us to come and 

          abide with You.

The situation may not be complete.

And we may not be ready yet.

Help us to look eagerly

   not for a solution,

or end of a chapter,

          but for You.

 

Hope In Indelible Ink

 

Then the LORD said to Moses,

"Write this as a memorial

        in a book....."

                       Exodus 17. 14

Do not hesitate to write down

   what we are going through.

This experience of hardship

     or joy or difficulty

               is not for us alone.

But to share with others

to know that He is the LORD,

to trust God in unexpected

      and unusual places,

to see His glory

   even in impossible situations.

And to give others for generations

                hope

     in indelible ink.

Do not be afraid. I am with you.

                      Even in this.

O LORD,

You have given each of us

a chronicle of Your faithfulness

--episodes in the wilderness,

experiences in the familiar,

harrowing adventures,

a level path where there

           should not be one,

and a through-line

   of You abiding with us.

May we be faithful in sharing

      Your goodness

       and grace

 and the hope

 on which we can stake our lives.

Even so that

   we too would not forget.

     

        

Cannot Pray Too Much

 Whenever Moses held up his hand,

           Israel prevailed,

and whenever he lowered his hand,

           Amalek prevailed.

But Moses' hands grew weary,

so they took a stone

and put it under him,

and he sat on it,

while Aaron and Hur

          held up his hands,

one on one side,

and the other 

     on the other side.

           Exodus 17. 11-12

Never cease praying,

because even when we  

cannot discern how God is

working and infiltrating

  and moving mountains,

God calls us to be faithful.

As written in Les Miserables,

One can no more pray too much

  than one can love too much.

What if someday we will

   be held accountable

if we pray

            ...or if we don't?

O LORD,

Bringing our burdens to You

does not mean

            ceasing to pray,

but enlarging the scope

  to pray differently about them.

And to trust You more,

     not for a particular answer,

but awareness of Your Presence. 

Enlarge our hearts

   and our vision in how to pray.

Let not our hands grow weary

   in lifting up our concerns

                       to You,

even in what opportunities,

  struggles or situations,

       we face today.

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When We Can't Touch Bottom

 

When Pharoah let the people go,

God did not lead them

by way of the land

     of the Philistines,

although that was near...

But God led the people

around by the way

of the wilderness

        toward the Red Sea.

            Exodus 13. 17-18

O God, are You sure

   this is the right way to go?

Sometimes God leads us

in ways that make

   absolutely no sense to us.

Listen to Me.

Seek Me through this.

God has deeper purposes

  than what appears on the surface,

             even in adversity.

His glory covers the journey

  and the ongoing outcome.

This exodus experience 

        thousands of years ago

   still gives us hope

   on which to stake our lives.

Not wilderness at all,

         but God's wonders here.

And exactly 

      where we need to be.

O LORD,

Forgive us for second-guessing

   Your guidance,

and for trying to tell You,

     Master of the Universe,

what is best for us.

You guide us into unexpected

   and unlikely places

so that we learn that

   You are God and we are not.

Walk with us in the unfamiliar,

  on dry ground,

  and even through the sea

when we can't touch bottom.

We find Your strength

   and Your glory there.

And bring us over

               to the other shore.

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Uncomfortable, Inconvenient, and Ridiculous

 

Then the people of Israel went

         and did so,

as the LORD commanded 

               Moses and Aaron,

        so they did.

             Exodus 12. 28

What makes the vital difference

    in the trajectory of our lives

is following God's lead,

responding to His call,

listening to His voice,

even if we don't understand

nor agree,

   or see the point in it.

Not just raising our hand,

willing and able,

       but actually doing it.

Learning to obey God

may mean 

     -- as in this case --

the difference between

           life and death.

Trusting God into it,

even when uncomfortable,

     or inconvenient,

     or seemingly ridiculous,

changes the course 

               of our lives

and everyone after us.

O LORD,

Help us to realize 

the impact of 

  choosing to follow You.

Make us aware of You

and provide us the courage

  to trust You

even when we can't see

      the outcome,

    nor the next step after this.

We see the scary unknown.

You see opportunities

  to bring Your name there.

Find us faithful, dear Father.

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Equipped, Shoes Double-knotted, and Ready to Roll

 

...and we do not know

with what we must 

           serve the LORD

until we arrive there.

          Exodus 10. 26

We have no idea how

God has prepared,

   provided and equipped us

for where we are today

and for whatever is unknown

   coming down the pike.

Why are we going through

  this struggle or hard stuff?

That we may be strengthened

         and compassionate,

ready to go wherever God

  has strategically positioned us,

not as spectators

         but as first responders.

Even in this situation today.

"Oh, so that's why that happened."

"Ahhh, that is what this is about,"

all those odd things

  we don't understand at the time.

And sometimes still remain

               beyond our reach.

But not His.

O LORD,

Prepare our hands

  and soften our hearts

that we would be aware of You,

especially where You

   have placed us 

for Your goodness and glory.

May nothing

    --fear or lack of understanding--

stand in the way

of our faithfulness to You.

You have formed 

    something new in us,

forged by experience

and by the Holy Spirit

  surging in our souls.

Go Forth Into This Day

Let My people go,

that they may serve Me.

       Exodus 8. 1

From what has God 

  released us 

or unleashed in our 

        circumstances

that we may serve Him?

On the surface, 

it may not appear as 

     an opportunity,

but a hardship of some kind,

but God provides a path

    through the storm

and portals of ministry

to love others

  every which way we can.

Serving God

  arrives in unusual ways,

  in unexpected places,

and among the unlikely.

When we seize an opening,

something always unfolds

     in the spiritual realm,

sometimes in ways 

       we may not realize.

Let My people go?

 Have at it.

 Go forth into this day.

O LORD,

You have released us today

   to serve You.

Help us to be watchful

for every opportunity,

even those that are 

     not so obvious.

Bring Your glory

   to this place

and to our service

that others may see

Your steadfast love through us.

And aware that a thousand galaxies

  explode into view,

even beyond our scope.

 

Unfolding Every Detail

 

But the LORD said to :Moses,

"Now you shall see

      what I will do....

           Exodus 6. 1

No matter our circumstances

or difficulties or struggles,

  God tells us the same thing.

"Trust Me.

         Now watch this!"

Everything is in place

and moving forward,

far before we see the results

    or God's redeeming in this.

Refrain from claiming,

"This is what God is doing,"

because His work is

  way beyond our comprehension.

But some day, looking back,

we may be able to discern pathways

        that extend into eternity.

O LORD, 

We live in expectation 

  of what You are doing.

Help us to accept

     and run with it.

Prepare, provide 

    and redeem this time

for Your Kingdom

             and Your glory.

There is no randomness here.

You unfold every detail 

   for Your purposes.

Find us faithful, Almighty One,

even when we don't understand.

Help us to trust Your ways

      and follow Your leading.

Strength In What We Don't See Coming

 

For You equipped me

with strength for the battle...

         Psalm 18. 39

We cannot fathom 

the situations God uses

to prepare and strengthen us,

    for both what we see

    and what we don't see coming.

Or through experiences that seem

   random at the time.

Or accepting the "needless" things 

   God puts in our lives

   to equip us for storms that are

          not even on our radar.

His strength is like none other,

  and certainly not of ourselves.

O LORD,

Battles arrive in 

     all kinds of packages

     and flavors.

And just about always

            overwhelming.

But we can count on You.

You live among us

and weave Your strength

   into the fabric of our souls.

You are with us

and have prepared us for this

in unexpected ways and

faithfulness in the everydays.

If Not For God

 

But Moses said to God,

"Who am I

that I should go to Pharaoh

and bring the children of Israel

           out of Egypt?"

He said,

"But I will be with you...."

            Exodus 3. 11-12

Remember not who am I,

but who God is,

      the great I AM.

But I will be with you.

     No exclusions.

God never sends us off

   without that assurance.

And that changes

                everything.

When frightened in the night,

one of our little girls once said,

"Oh, I wouldn't have been afraid,

       if I knew you were here."

Trust Me in this, God whispers.

Holy ground is where

                        God is.

And that is right here.

What am I doing now

that would be impossible

     to even consider,

if not for God?

O LORD,

How differently we would

   see this situation of ours,

if we considered 

     Your Presence here.

It is not who we are,

   but who You are.

Guide us.

Cover us.

Bring us through

 what seems impossible.

You are with us.

And You are faithful.

We won't even be able

   to count Your wonders.

But What We Do With It

 

But Jesus said,

"They need not go away.

You give them 

    something to eat."

They said to Him, 

"We have only 

        five loaves here

        and two fish."

And He said,

   "Bring them to Me."

          Matthew 14. 16-18

It's not a matter of what we have

  or what we don't have,

  but what we do with it.

Bring it to Jesus,

whether praise or pain,

provision or project,

   problem or panic.

Lay it before Him.

Not to give God a chance at it,

  but to open the door

for the Holy Spirit to infiltrate

        and enlarge it.

And open our hearts

  to His Presence.

O LORD,

May we be willing 

to come before You

not as a last resort,

but our first response.

When we are faced

   with the impossible,

or even with the familiar,

abide in us

that we would not just see

needs around us,

but the people with struggles, 

both visible and invisible.

May we not just be

    willing to help,

but bake the bread

    and watch You multiply

      the loaves and lives.

Spread Your love thick,

and use us to do so.

Opening All Kinds of Portals

 

And now do not be distressed

or angry with yourselves

because you sold me here,

for God sent me before you

            to preserve life...

So it was not you

who sent me here,

                 but God.

          Genesis 45. 5, 8

We may be swallowed up

by regrets,

but God redeems

even our messing up.

He uncovers His ultimate glory

and prevailing purposes 

      despite us,

in things and ways

   we cannot fathom.

Joseph forgave his brothers

      some really hard stuff.

Forgiveness 

  always opens all kinds of portals

   for God's goodness 

   and an incredible story of redemption.

We cannot make this stuff up,

                      but God.

O LORD,

I am so sorry

   for what I have done

   and what I have left undone.

I am swallowed by regrets

     but bring them before You.

Help me to not be hampered

           by so many what if's

but to go forth forgiven

  and empowered

      to follow You

      into what is now.

I cannot rewind,

  but You redeem

          the brokenness.

Find us faithful.

Surprise us by Your new creation

  coming even out of ashes,

pushing back the darkness

and helping us once again 

   to witness Your Presence here.

It is not in us, but You, O God.

     

          

Fear Of Missing Out

 

What is this that

God has done to us?

           Genesis 42. 28

It's curious that 

when hardship arrives,

people cast blame on God,

but in the midst of blessing,

  claim it either as luck

  or one's own doing.

The truth is that

we cannot fully know

God's purposes in a situation,

nor yet see His redeeming,

    nor His bigger picture in this.

God is good.

On that truth, 

   we can stake our lives

   and trust Him in it.

Our real anxiety should be

the fear of missing out

        on His wonders.

Even in this struggle.

Love you bunches.

Praying for you

                   to not miss out on His mighty works.

O LORD,

Instead of asking 

what in the world

     are You thinking,

may we contemplate

 what You are bringing

 to this difficult situation.

And let You be God

        and not us.

May we see Your glory

    in Your mighty works,

even those we do not

         yet understand.

Help us to not miss out

  on the other side

             of trusting You.

Start By Dialing 911

 

I call upon the LORD,

who is worthy to be praised,

and I am saved 

              from my enemies...

In my distress,

I called upon the LORD,

to my God

     I cried for help.

From His temple

  He heard my voice,

and my cry to Him

         reached His ears.

              Psalm 18. 3,6

In our circumstances,

does it even occur to us

     to call upon the Lord God

   and cry HELP?

God does not just listen.

       God responds.

He will either airlift us 

   out of enemy territory

or carry us through,

    all the while holding our hand,

while we walk with Him.

 His wonders unfold

         along the way all around us.

And it all starts

         with that 911 call to Him.

He's got us.

 

O LORD,

Our foes are anything we fear,

both real and imagined.

Strengthen us 

to not bow before them,

  but bow before You.

In our distress,

   You are our first responder,

                   not last resort.

You hear our cries for help.

And remind us:

   Do not fear.  I am with you.

You are God.

         And we are not.

Hear us.

Hold us.

Help us.

Even in this situation today.

What Is God Bringing Out Of This?

 

God has made me 

  forget all my hardship.....

For God has made me

  fruitful

in the land of my affliction.

           Genesis 41. 51-52

Just because life may be hard

does not mean 

     God has abandoned us,

nor that we are not

  right in the center of His will.

God bears tremendous fruit

             in barren places.

    He always has.

We have only to trust Him,

  be faithful there,

  and get back to work.

God's Presence

             hovers over us.

In due time,

God reveals His purposes

                   in all this.

And the hardships fade

   in light of His glory.

What will God bring out of this?

His redeeming, 

              every time.

O LORD,

Help us to see past our fears

and our tears 

   and this wave of hardships

to what You are doing

  in us and everyone around us.

We can never know

   the full extent of 

   what You are bringing about.

You do not 

    have a singular reason for it,

but You weave eternal purposes

            in it.

Strengthen us!

Make us fruitful

  in this land of our affliction.

Because this situation,

even this,

            is holy ground.

Most Of Which We Are Unaware

 

A sower went out to sow....

Other seeds fell on good soil  

      and produced grain,

some a hundredfold,

some sixty,

some thirty.

             Matthew 13. 3, 8

We have no idea  

how God uses us for His Kingdom,

in the lives of others,

and for His glory in this time and place.

We have only to be faithful,

sowing His gospel and His Word

in our work, our words,

   and even our attitude.

God raises up His fruit

  in the most unlikely places

  and souls

     far beyond our lifetimes.

Pray for soil #4.

O LORD,

We pray for good soil

   already prepared

   and ready to accept You,

even those we least suspect.

Work into these hearts

  the miracle-gro of Your Spirit.

Use us mightily in what appears

      as ordinary situations,

knowing that there is

     no randomness here.

Guide us as we

       go out to sow.

May Your steadfast love

  take root and bear amazing fruit,

most of which we are unaware.

Help us to follow You

   into our conversations today

and allow ourselves to sow

              and be led by You.

 

Be That Kind Of Stubborn

My steps have held fast

    to Your paths.

My feet have not slipped.

           Psalm 17. 5

We have all witnessed

the persistent,

uncompromising, 

headstrong will

     of a three year old.

Be that kind of stubborn.

Kicking and screaming

    to abide with God.

Digging in our heels

  to hold tight to 

     God's way in this,

no matter the enticements,

  distractions or bribes.

Keep hiking with

              the Almighty,

loving others into the Kingdom,

serving God in unlikely places,

   responding in the long haul,

not just on barren land,

    but realizing this is sacred ground.

That's what faithfulness does.

Stay on the trail. Stick with Jesus.

   Trust Me where.

O LORD,

Help us to realize that

  being the best kind of strong-willed

is to insist on Your will,

              not ours.

Guide our steps

   and empower us to

   stay with You,

even when the terrain

  urges us off the path.

Give us the boldness

  to follow You into 

       Your purposes today,

wherever You lead.

And encourage others

   to be stubborn in You too.

 

 

In Case of Storms

 

Do not be afraid of sudden terror

  or of the storm of the wicked,

                  when it comes,

for the LORD 

      will be your confidence

and will keep your foot

from being caught.

             Proverbs 3. 25-26

Not if but when,

   be prepared for the storms.

Panic will grab us by the neck

  and push us off the cliff.

But Jesus takes us by the hand

  and guides us through.

Let not fear distract us

   or rob us from sleep.

Trust Me in this.

O LORD,

In trusting You,

we approach and navigate

these storms in our lives

       differently,

because we know

             You are with us.

Let not fear prevail,

   but Your Presence with us.

Wherever, in whatever, 

     whenever, 

You bring us through.

        You always will.

Lead us into 

      Your way in this,

and protect us from despair.

 

The Stickiness of Witness

 

...to bear witness before them

                and the Gentiles.

When they deliver you over,

do not be anxious

   how you are to speak

or what you are to say,

for what you are to say

  will be given to you in that hour.

For it is not you who speak,

but the Spirit of the Father

   speaking through you.

            Matthew 10. 18-20

This verse does not say

   do not be prepared,

but do not be anxious.

God places us

in the most unusual situations

  strategically for His glory.

Be not afraid to speak of Him

  in our speech, work, 

  conversations or writing.

God uses us in ways

   we cannot ever imagine.

The words He gives us

   are a sticky witness,

to draw others to Him.

Be prepared

        to bear witness

Why am I here?

   Bring the name of Jesus.

O LORD,

We have no idea what words

   will be remembered.

We cannot conceive

   how they bear fruit

           and multiply.

All we need to do

   is pay attention

        and be faithful.

Even in this unlikely place

   or awkward situation,

You change lives forever

  with the seeds we plant.

Help us to make space

   for Your Spirit to enter 

in every sacred encounter

that we too often ignore.

 

Not Have To But Get To

 

And whoever gives

one of these little ones

even a cup of cold water

because he is a disciple,

truly, I say to you,

he will by no means

       lose his reward.

         Matthew 10. 42

Because we follow Jesus,

  we can see and respond

               differently,

not because we have to,

      but we get to,

not out of obligation,

      but sheer joy of serving.

Even an unexpected cup of water

   --literal or metaphorical--

 can change the course of a life.

No act of mercy

     is ever insignificant.

Even if no one notices,

                God sees.

God redeems.

God multiplies.

O LORD,

Open our eyes,

not just to see opportunities

             to serve You,

but to respond with grace

    and mercy and joy.

We can go forth differently

into this day

         or into this fray,

because Your love abides in us.

Help us to see this hard situation

     as an opportunity.

Guide us how to love others

   in their moments of need,

even in the most unlikely ways.

Align our hearts with Yours.

          

The Original Just Do It

 

Now then,

whatever God has said to you,

            do.

            Genesis 31. 16 

Whether we understand

   the significance or not,

whether inconvenient,

  uncomfortable

or even what stretches us,

the actual doing

        is not the main point,

but responding to God

and being faithful to Him.

He brings His fruit to it.

O LORD,

I can't do this. It is beyond me.

And You say, Good.

           Because I can.

Grant to us Your courage,

strength and vision

    to see this not as

    a bothersome task,

but a divine assignment

  with eternal implications.

And to just do it.

   You will probably surprise us.

Help us to not question You

  but to follow You into this.

Find us faithful in the doing.

And in our trusting You.

          Even in this.

          Even today.

God Is Saying Yes

 

...and Jesus said to them,

"Do you believe that I am

      able to do this?"

They said to Him,

             "Yes, Lord."

Then He touched their eyes,

saying, "According to your faith

       be it done to you."

 And their eyes were opened.

                  Matthew 9. 28-30

Do we believe God is able?

Do we even come to Him with

  our needs and desperations?

Do we acknowledge and trust Him

      in what He brings about

                   and how?

Even if the outcome or answer

  is not what we are seeking,

God is saying yes to something more

          and something deeper,

perhaps even beyond our lifetimes.

    Or right at this moment.

O LORD,

Not our way in this,

            but Yours.

Use this situation, this condition,

   these difficulties

to draw us closer to You.

Encourage us to know

  that You are at work,

not limited by our

             puny thoughts.

And that You are able

to do far more abundantly

    than we can ever imagine.

May Your Presence cover us

    and guide us

even in this difficulty today.

Open the eyes of our hearts

   not just to what is possible,

but to Your extraordinary ways

      in this very day.