Genesis 3:8 “They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”

My four year old son and his friend were playing yesterday.  When I came down stairs they both had innocent looks and said “nothing, nothing!”  What they don’t realize is that when they try to act innocent or run and hide from me it tells me right away I need to find out what they are up to.  When I come into a room where they are playing and I hear them say “hurry, hide” I know they are likely up to no good.  This is how I see this part of the story of Adam and Eve.  They had disobeyed God and were trying to cover themselves from nakedness when they hear God coming.  I can almost hear their voices saying “hurry, hide!”  Just as I know I need to call my kids out, God calls them out as well.   We cannot deceive Him or hide from him.  Our sins are already known by him but He calls us out so we can come clean and start over.  Even in His disappointment, he does not cut off relationship with us; He cleanses and renews us, and starts again.  Our God is an Awesome God!

Lord,

Forgive us for trying to hide our failings from you.  Help us come out from hiding to confess our sins and renew our relationship with you.  Strengthen our trust in you for all things until we only rely on you, and live in truth always.  Amen. 

Colossians 1:13-14 “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”

How do you experience forgiveness?  What does it feel like to forgive someone else; what does it feel like to forgive your own self?  Do you accept the forgiveness offered through Jesus?  These are the questions rattling through me this morning.  As I prayed for light and love to surround my loved ones and all those I lifted in prayer I realized I had not sought forgiveness for my sins or the cleansing purification that comes through his forgiveness.  For me, forgiveness feels like coming from a mud pit into a warm soothing shower or coming from being weighed down by heavy magnets to floating and flying in joy and light.  It is like coming from shadows and darkness where I cannot see and having light and warmth fill me until I glow in the light and love of the Lord.  We all commit sin but we must not abide in sin.  When we sin, we have the hope to call on the Lord to cleanse us, purify us and make us like him.  On this rainy, rainy day in Colorado let the raindrops remind us of forgiveness.  Let the rain help us release our sins and be washed clean in the forgiveness of the Lord.

Lord,

The rain is relentless right now; keep us safe and protected from damage and harm.  Allow us to see beyond destruction of the water to newness and renewal it will bring.  I pray your forgiveness will wash away our sins like rain.  Amen.

Exodus 3:2 “There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of a bush; he looked, and the bush was blazing, yet it was not consumed.”

Have you seen the horses that wear blinders near their eyes so they can only look forward?  It keeps them from being spooked or distracted by things going on around them.  I believe we live with blinders on most of the time.  We are taught from a young age not to stare at something or someone that is different.  We avert our eyes from anything we think is not good or right.  What if Moses had done that same thing when the burning bush appeared?  The scripture does not say he approached to put out flames or that he was worried about the blaze catching the desert on fire; he was intrigued and saw that the fire did not consume the bush.  He experienced the Lord in a whole new way because he looked and saw; he did not run away.  How has the Lord appeared to us and we either discounted it or averted our eyes because of fear or discomfort?  Invite the Lord to show you a burning bush.  His fire burns but it does not consume so let’s join Moses in coming closer to see this great sight.

Lord,

Your fire still burns, light it anew in our hearts.  Take the embers and coals and heat them again with your blaze bringing us from cool to blazing hot with your love.  Keep your fire burning within us letting nothing douse it so that we are led by it always.  Thank you for opening Moses’ eyes and thank you for opening our eyes too.  Amen.

Isaiah 30:18 “Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show mercy to you.  For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.”

Waiting is not my strength.  I know I have written about this in the past and sad to say, I am not much better at waiting than I used to be.  On this day of remembrance I look back over the history of our country.  Waiting is not something we, as a nation, have been very good at either.  When we face adversity we bind together and become a strong and united force.  We rush forth to do justice, redeem the situation or strike back for injustice that has been committed against us.  How often do we wait for the Lord?  How often do we seek His grace and mercy in the midst of adversity or any other time?  When things are flowing smoothly it is easy to see and feel the grace of God pouring down over us but when the going gets tough, we often get tough right along with it.  For one moment let us lay down our personal agendas, our national agendas and whatever else we hold tight in our fists.  Let us open our hearts and hand to the Lord and wait for Him.  He waits for us, He will be gracious and merciful to us if we will just receive it.

Lord,

Help us release to receive, guide us in waiting as you wait for us.  Allow us to feel and see your grace and mercy in the midst of our day today.  Thank you for all of the blessings you give us, apparent and disguised.  Thank you Almighty God.  Amen.

Psalm 34:8 “O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.”

I give you fair warning: this devotion could make you hungry!  What is your favorite food?  My kids know my common answer is ice cream.  I love that smooth cold vanilla flavor melting in my mouth; sweet and summery, not too strong.  There are other things I love the taste of: Tiramisu – that dessert transports not only my taste buds but my whole being to another realm!  I love the taste of warm pumpkin bread on a crisp fall morning; deep and rich.  There is also the aroma and taste of a hearty tomato meat sauce simmering to make lasagna...  when you taste something so good it does not only tantalize the taste buds.  Good tastings soothe you, renew you, and refresh you.  This is a small glimpse of what it is like to taste the Lord.  Try a sampling, just a small bite and He will transport you to a place beyond your imagination!  The Lord is good and He brings us true happiness and joy. 

Lord,

As we partake in food today, let us pause to remember to taste your goodness as well.  You are ever present and in the midst of our meals, we can taste your blessings and goodness.  In the midst of chores, tasks, appointments; wherever we are we can taste you and your goodness.  Thank you Lord!  Amen.

Job 19:25 “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the last he will stand upon the earth;”

I woke up late this morning... sigh.  I didn’t even hear the alarm much less cognitively turn it off before I rolled over back to sleep.  When I finally woke up I was sad to realize that I cannot get that time back so I must rush around a bit more this morning since we have more on our schedule today than past Mondays.  I couldn't really concentrate beyond my prayers for others and there was no quieting of my mind.  Despite all that, I feel the presence of God with me.  He has given me a song in my heart today to soothe the frayed edges of busy moments.  I write to share this song with you today; it comes from the book of Job.  Regardless of what our day holds and what we have on our schedule; regardless of what weighs on our minds and our hearts there is something we must remember and hold fast to in every moment:  our Redeemer lives!  As we work and play, pray and rest, eat and fellowship let us also rejoice that He will stand upon the earth and we will be welcomed home!

Lord,

Thank you so much for your unending mercy and the blessing of song in my heart.  Let my actions and words be a blessing to you and the song of my heart be an offering to you.  You are my blessed Redeemer, Hallelujah and Amen!

John 14:15-16 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.”

Since He created us He has sought our love.  Since He created us we have fallen short of the love He created us for.  When we live in love, we follow Jesus commandments.  He told us to love God and love each other.  Why is this so hard?  It is hard when we turn away from God and toward our selves.  I get wrapped up in my day, my agenda, my worries, my sufferings and before I know it I have forgotten anyone else around me.  Each time I stop loving it is like a shield of stone is put up.  If I am not careful I will be surrounded in stone shields and love will be blocked from coming in or going out.  Even then we are not alone.  In this passage Jesus promises to send another Advocate.  Even in the midst of our stone shields the Advocate, the Spirit, will break through and tear down those walls when we call out to the Lord.  If you are in a moment filled with Love, rejoice and give thanks.  If you are in a moment of stone shields and cold hearts, take courage in these verses and call on the Lord so you can be released and filled with His love again.  Rejoice, and go forth in love!

Lord,

Thank you for your love and your promise to be with us forever.  Give us courage through your Spirit to go out in love; loving God and loving others.  In this way we can be agents of your kingdom and beacons of Light.  Amen.