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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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.

Lord, our redeemer, there are always serpents among us, ready to whisper lies. Lies that we are not enough, that you could not possibly love us, that you are not faithful and true. That we should be ashamed. When we fall, help us to recognize our sin and come running back to you, the one who loves us, the one who washed us clean, the one who knows our heart before we speak, and loves us anyway. Amen

Precious Lord, you knew it was not good to be alone. You created a helpmate for Adam and  showed us that we are stronger and better together. Thank you for the gift of community, of friendship, of relationship. We make mistakes, sin, fall down. But in community, we pick each other back up, listen to each other, lend each other our strength when we think we have nothing left to give. Amen

Father God, we praise you with the very breath that you gave us.You took dust and formed amazing and intricate bodies and breathed into that dust and made us alive. May we stop and take moments to just breathe, remembering what a precious gift that is. You poured your breath into us, so that we could breathe you out, with our thoughts, our words, and our actions. Let us remember that you put each of us in a garden that we are to take care of. We feel overwhelmed sometimes because we can’t fix it all. Show us what our particular garden is and how to use our unique gifts to help it grow, all to your glory. Amen 

Genesis 2:1-2

Father, our refuge, our shelter, our strong tower; you created the sabbath. In our busy world, help us to find tiny sabbaths – holy moments in every day, that we may know the peace that comes from resting in you. Amen

Genesis 1:3

O God, you created the heavens and the earth and Your spirit hovered over all that darkness and You spoke light into being. I ask that you hover over our sisters and brothers and when it seems dark, speak light to heroes that they may reflect Your light to those around them. Amen