The fall colours seem to have been particularly vibrant this year. I have been wondering if they are more so than usual. Drives through the countryside lead to exclamation after exclamation over the beauty of God’s creation. Amongst the striking array of colour, one of my favourites is the “burning bush.” It would be hard to miss it because the bright red tones demand attention. During the summer months, it blends in with several other green leafed bushes. Yet this time of the year, it steps forward to garner special attention. The fact that it is called a burning bush reminds me of the remarkable encounter that Moses had with God in a most unlikely setting beside a burning bush. The burning bush took Moses’ notice because, although burning, it was not consumed. Moses’ experience of God in the burning bush is highlighted in Exodus 3:1-6a, 1Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. 3 So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”4 When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses! ”And Moses said, “Here I am.”5 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” When God calls out to Moses by name, Moses responds, *Here I am”. We can pray that however God chooses to reveal Himself to us that we will willingly answer, *Here I am”. Please plan to join us as we look to encounter God during our WEDNESDAY PRAYER TOGETHER. October 19th at 1 pm.
Thanking God for revealing Himself to us in unexpected ways, Pastor Lola
Thank You God for giving us the morning and for every day that is new. We view the beauty of fall all around us and we recognize You God as the Master artist. You paint the trees and inspire us with Your holy Presence when we stop to notice them. We know God that You hear every word that we breathe. This means that You hear both our words of gratitude and of complaint. Forgive us we pray for appreciating the gifts of today and then so quickly anticipating all that we think could be wrong with tomorrow. We wonder what wonder You want to reveal to us that we might miss seeing because we do not reside in the good You have given to today. We really do want to be ready to encounter You God in whatever ways you choose to reveal Yourself to us. It does not have to be something as exceptional as a burning bush. As we make our way through each day, we are praying for openness and receptivity to You our Everlasting God. We do not pretend that everything in any day is ideal. In these moments, we admit our struggles and uncertainties. Our prayer is to trust You for today. When we are growing tired with the duration of life’s hardships, we still want to be looking for You. Please linger near and guide us closer to You, whatever the season of our lives. With the dawn of each new day, please renew our hope in You. Our prayers move now beyond ourselves to cover others who are longing to encounter You and to receive grace for today. How do You want to work a change of outlook in us? We dare to imagine how life will be different when our outlook focuses on appreciating what You Lord have given us in today. Thank You for giving us the immeasurable gift of knowing You today. Thank You God that You do arrange for us to meet with You, sometimes while in the wilderness. As we know You more and more, we pray to take on Your outlook and for our lives to be permeated with the influence of what You have planned for us in today. We praise You God for all that You have been and all that You will ever remain. We want to hear You call us by name and we want to answer as Moses did, “Here I am.” In Jesus’ NAME. Amen