Storms

I can stretch out my arms and hold the sky
Flower open to sun and soft breeze
Til the world rumbles and clouds crowd round
Arms wrapped in my shrunken world to keep the hail from bruising using skin to seal it out, heal it up because storms come and we curl and shelter as lightning hurls until it passes ozone smell floats off and birds sing as warmth dries up the puddled tears through years of weathered cycle learning that the changes range from good to bad and back again and seasons reason us like planets orbit, moons waxing waning tides and rides on waves of life and strife is just a moment in a lifetime bought a ticket ride the ride enjoy the view from every side as all will end you don’t know when

Genesis 27

God you are amazing, and sometimes confusing and surprising. May we always find you, even in circumstances we do not understand. When we read a text like the story of Jacob and Esau and it seems that both parents show favoritism and family members deceive each other and because of their actions, grudges can be held for years. There is pain and separation, from you and from each other and sometimes we can’t see a way through. But you see and though our relationships with others may be a mess that we don’t know how to untangle, our relationship with you, our friendship with you. is forever. You are always faithful, always there, working for the good of everyone and we can trust that, lean on that, and hold tight to you. Amen. 

Genesis 26:1-5

God of Abraham, sometimes You tell us to move and sometimes You tell us to stay, even when staying doesn’t seem logical. But whether we stay or move, if we are being obedient to You, You are faithful to grow us right where we are. Amen

Genesis 25:27-34

God who created us and know every weakness and every strength that we have even from before we are born, help us to pay closer attention. You work in everyday circumstances while we are looking for big shiny miracles. Without Your guidance, we might give up what You have for us for something as mundane as a bowl of stew. Sometimes You are in the details and if we are not focused on you, we miss those everyday blessings. We ask that you keep our eyes on You because You are the true food that fills us, grows us, and blesses us with the better gifts. Amen

Genesis 22:1-18

God of Abraham, we confess that there are things and people in this world that we hold too tightly, too closely, and while it is not wrong to love this world or the things and people that You have placed in it, it is hard sometimes, to remember that we are to love You above all. Obey You above all, even when it means handing over those things and people that we hold precious, into your hands. Please give us the wisdom to know when, the ability to know how, and the strength to follow through in trust that you will provide all that is needed. Amen

Genesis 21:1-20

Holy God, the older I get, the more grateful I become that even with the aches and pains and changes, you still send laughter. Even when I think all is lost, and I am dry as a desert, you send a well in the form of friends who quench a thirst that only you knew I had. Amen

Genesis 19:26-29

O God, we get comfortable with where we are and you see when our lives need to change direction. Teach us every day to keep our eyes on You and to follow where You are leading. We are often tempted to look back at what was and think it was better, it was easier. Remind us that Your ways and Your plans are always good and while memories can be precious, spending too much time looking back can keep us from what You have for us right now, and cause us to stumble on the path you have set us on. Amen

Genesis 20

 

 Gracious God, you see the heart, even when we do the wrong thing with what we think are good intentions, You see beyond our actions and use us for good, all for Your glory. Teach us even through our mistakes, more about you and grow us to be more in your image so more people will come to know You, even through our weaknesses. Amen

Genesis 19:26-29

O God, we get comfortable with where we are and you see when our lives need to change direction. Teach us every day to keep our eyes on You and to follow where You are leading. We are often tempted to look back at what was and think it was better, it was easier. Remind us that Your ways and Your plans are always good and while memories can be precious, spending too much time looking back can keep us from what You have for us right now, and cause us to stumble on the path you have set us on.

Genesis 19:1-25

Precious Father, sometimes what you are doing seems incomprehensible and it looks like there is no way out and we are so overwhelmed that we respond in our humanness, in ways that we have trouble understanding  and forgiving ourselves for. But You are gracious and patient to forgive us and set our feet back on the path to lead us safely away from what would destroy us, back to You. Amen

Genesis 18:20-33

How wonderful you are God, that you would desire to have conversation with us. Not just because of Jesus but even as far back as Abraham when he bargained with you about the people of Sodom. You did not rebuke him, you did not shut him down, you saw him and his compassion for people and you responded in a way that makes me think you loved Abraham as he intervened for the people, asking Him not to destroy them if he found as few as ten people who were righteous. You knew the outcome and yet you graciously let Abraham see your compassion. Terrible things happen in this world and we cry out to you sometimes, trying to understand, but we know we can always bring our doubts, our pleas, our hurts, to you and you will listen to us. You are not just the God who sees, but also the God who hears. We thank you God for listening to us, and for your unfailing compassion. Amen

Genesis 17:4-5

Father God, the world names us many things. Some of them stroke our ego. Some break our hearts. The world judges us by its’ standards. We judge ourselves. We name ourselves. We look in the mirror and see flawed, we see a mistake, unworthy of love, an unredeemable sinner. We forget that we are looking in the wrong place and if we turn our eyes to you, you give us a new name. Loved, created in your image, forgiven, free. Help us to remember when we are caught up in that name game that you are the one true God, our Creator, and you have already judged us and sent Jesus to bear our sentence, our debt is already paid. You are the mirror that gives a true image and we can tell the world and our mirrors that they have no say over us. We are precious to You. We belong to You. You see us through the lens of Christ. Teach us to see like that O Lord, our redeemer, our comforter, author and finisher of our faith. Amen