Ordinary Time

Pause

Repent. It’s a word that can challenge us, but simply put, it means to turn.

Sometimes we turn toward things and other times we turn away.

In the next few minutes, settle your heart, mind, and soul and turn toward God.

Listen

Oh, I must find rest in God only, because my hope comes from him! Only God is my rock and my salvation— my stronghold!— I will not be shaken. My deliverance and glory depend on God. God is my strong rock. My refuge is in God. All you people: Trust in him at all times! Pour out your hearts before him! God is our refuge! Selah

Psalm 62:5-8

Think

Rocks have found an unexpected place in our home. My young kids “collect” them — no matter how ordinary or uninteresting they may seem. “We have to take this home for my rock collection,” is a familiar refrain. Most would barely qualify as rocks, merely pebbles or small stones, but they find their way to our house. Our oldest child supplies the imagination. She finds the “rare” rocks and recently came across a painted rock with a moderate blue hue. She said, “This rock is not painted, but was just resting on the ground and a piece of sky fell on it.”

I don’t believe that’s what happened to make the rock blue and neither do you; but doesn’t that sound wonderful and beautiful? I wonder what it would look like if we all genuinely poured out our hearts before God, ignoring the cynics around us. Perhaps we can be sure enough not to hope in ourselves, but to put our trust in God who can do things greater than we can even imagine!

Neil Myer

Pray

God our rock, thank you for being my hope in the face of hopelessness, my rest in the face of restlessness, and my refuge in my wandering. Help me to have the faith of a child, to pour out my heart before you, and to place my trust in you. Amen.

Go

Christ is calling you today. Time to trust and follow the example of love.