Speak and Fill

Pay attention was the theme of my last conversation here with You. This past Sunday I preached about doing what we can to pursue the personal side of our relationship with You. These two things have been working through my mind the last week then as I got to be a stay at home dad and watch Gideon.

You know that the whole week was taken up with following around our energetic one and a half year old. I was unaware the attention that it takes to watch him throughout a whole day with no one else around. God bless Julie for what she does when she watches all four of the kids at once! I often did not get to this morning time of prayer, reading and conversation. And yet, You and I were able to find in between times and "converse." That was quite important to me in this time of pursuit.

So, today, I come to You with a time-tested request. I know that I'm often coming to this space with an idea of what I want, but equally as much I just ramble through thoughts and complaints. Today, I'm crystal clear on two things. These will be the focus of my prayers for weeks (hopefully, You'll begin to answer them too!) First of all, my simple repetitive prayer: Speak to me, speak through me. Speak to my spirit, speak to my mind, and the speak through my words and actions to others. Reveal Yourself to me, then reveal Yourself to others through me. Secondly though, something that I realized the importance of yesterday. Fill Exodus Community with Your Spirit. Let the wind blow upon our congregation and cause us to reflect and renew! I don't always know where You will lead, but I have found and must remember that You are trustworthy. Do not let our leaders (including me) laziness, disinterest and other plights remove Your Spirit from our church's life. Restore that wonder, that freshness; infuse the Spirit into all we do.

This is my cry this morning. Amen.