I most often begin with many things …

But One Thing >>> to gaze …

Before I can gaze, I must dwell.

Once I have come to dwell, I can behold and then …

I can gaze upon beauty,

Pure, holy, radiant, magnificence …

Beauty.

The Beauty of the One.

The Beauty of the LORD.

Then, and then only, I can inquire ….

And I have MANY questions.

I like this. I like it very much.

Not only do I like the idea of the tragic comedy that is played out when false power is paralyzed, but I want to see my own arrogance crushed whenever it arises.

By the very nature of arrogance, I must have it dealt with by a power greater than myself – the power that is within me but not of me, the Power that puts down that which destroys and lifts up what heals.

The same war that is around us is also within us. When God wins, even though part of who we think we are loses, who we really are wins.

 “Build up, build up, prepare the way,  remove every obstruction from my people's way.” – Isaiah 57:14b, ESV

 The hard work of any sort of reconciliation, peace-making, love, and ministry is in removing obstacles.

It is not the fun work; the fun work is walking the trail, enjoying the conversation , and taking in the vista views.

Yet, without the hard grueling work, the rest cannot be done. Jesus demonstrates and initiates that with a cross. When we bear a cross, we, as Jesus did, bear the burden of another.

We build up. We prepare a way … as He did and does.

 "For thus says nthe One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
'I dwell in the high and holy place,
and also qwith him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly,
and to revive the heart of the contrite.'

 - Isaiah 57:17, ESV

The duel dwelling of God: the (not "a") high place and among the lowly.

He is immanent and transcendent.

He resides on high and come among us. It is the mystery of a God who is unlike any other.

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Pray as you will … standing, sitting, eyes closed, eyes open, head bowed or heads raised to Heaven, hands folded or hands open. Pray in church, in nature, in your room, in the shower, on the bus, but pray. Pray out loud or silently. Pray in song or from a prayer book.

Pray scripture or pray spontaneously. Pray with Spirit-led improvisation or pray with deep and coherent thought. Pray the "right words" or pray no words or any words that come to mind, but pray. When asked how to pray, Jesus gave us the simplest conceivable prayer of all.

Keep it simple. Keep it real. Let it go deep. Pray. Do not judge your prayers. Do not try to impress God or yourself. Certainly, do not pray to impress others.

Prayer gathers our scattered thoughts and hidden anxieties.

Prayer gives voice to the voiceless within us. Prayer centers us in God prayer opens the door for the possibilities we may not readily see.

Prayer is God's invitation to participate in what He is doing.. None of us are really ""good at it," but the good news is that we do not have to be. We just need to enter in and meet God.

Let us pray.

Father, I gather with my friends who choose to gather with me this morning to meet you. I come in the name of my Master, Jesus who invites all to meet you. I am grateful for the invitation.

I bring the souls and lives of many whom I love, who suffer, who are confused, depressed, broken, destitute, and overwhelmed with opportunity.

They are with me, Our Father, in my heart. I do not know what to say or how to intercede for them, so I bring them to You. You already know and love them so much and are already working in and around them.

Thank you for your welcome, You who are Mighty and Holy and Other than myself. Your grace, You have showers upon me.

By Your mercy and sacrifice, You have saved and forgiven this poor sinner.

Thank You. Thank you. Keep me free of the strong inclination than draws me into self indulgence and narrow thinking of myself.

I view the day before me with more questions than answers. I do not need to have each question answered, but I need to be set upon the right course for the day.

Help me dive into the stream of Your perfect purpose and live purposefully as a redemptive, gracious, loving, forgiving, and encouraging soul this day among the people I meet.

Cause me to measure my words, center my thinking, temper my actions, and be energized in my being to do Your will.

I rest in Thee and I rise in Thee.

Help me to meet the right people today who will be encouraged by having walked a mile by my side and then, I will leave them in Your care.

Measure my movements that I might close this day and mark it fruitful.

My heart, my soul, my life, my family, my dreams, my goals, my day, I bring to You and trust to Your care.

 

In Jesus' Name. Amen.