Pause

What does it take to bring something into being, something that simply did not exist? Can you imagine a time “before time?”

The God we worship is not only unconcerned about such constraints; God works totally outside our perceptions of time and space.

This is the God who awaits you now in quietness. Seek the freedom to be in touch with your Creator.

Listen

John the baptizer appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And people from the whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem were going out to him, and were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 1:4-5

Think

Have you ever known someone to whom you were just immediately drawn? It’s hard to explain why they interested you; they simply did. I can’t explain why people were going out to the Jordan River to hear the man whose message called them to confess their sins; they were just drawn to him.

Notice that John is described as appearing in the wilderness and that people from the whole countryside were going to him. I don’t know about you, but I knew the pastor that baptized me for some time, and I was still skittish about him holding me under water.

Yet there is something about John and his message. I think he must have been a creative spirit. People were drawn to him, including Jesus, to be baptized; but John also knew that one greater than him was coming (John 1:22-23). He thought in ways that were not necessarily those of the religious authorities. John was open to the call of God on his life.

Brian Foreman

Pray

God, while I may struggle in my search for what you want for my life, I pray that I am always open to the creative leading of your spirit, so that I may join you in whatever wilderness into which I am called. Amen.

Go

Creator God we sing, a hymn of joy we’re making;
Our grateful love we bring, as the new day’s light is breaking.
God made the sea and land; the sun and stars came rolling
From God’s own loving hand, their Creator’s love extolling.
Alleluia, alleluia!

Creator God we sing: Alleluia!

From "Cantemos al Creador" by Carlos Rosas