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.