Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Exodus 16:27-35

Forty years, with one menu
As the Israelites waited on God
They wandered through wilderness desert
While God slowly removed their facade

The false self they had been presenting
Of shifting allegiance like sands
Giving their loyalty to who has the power
Even after receiving commands

When God seemed aware, they would worship
When He seemed silent, they too
It may seem cruel, but over time
They learned patterns of what they should do.

Work together as a people for six days
On the seventh, they were to rest.
To stay in their homes, and take a moment
To thank God for how they’d been blessed.

Not busy themselves with production
Or finding their worth in their work
Today we have the same struggle
And feel our duties we’d shirk

Surely we should still be useful
We should do things, and serve with our time
But God still invites us to sabbath
To step down from the mountains we climb

Which is why we relive the forty
In whatever ways we may choose
To rediscover the moments of His presence
Where we’re invited to remove our shoes.

Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Genesis 12:1-4a

I bought some eggs from the store
SO THAT we could bake a cake
We filled the piñata with candy
SO THAT at the party, it’d break

I put some soap in the water
SO THAT the garments would clean
We purchased some clothes for our children
SO THAT they wouldn’t be obscene

She wore a swimming suit to the poolside
SO THAT she could jump in the pool
He was given a glass of ice water
SO THAT in the heat, he’d stay cool.

We wash our hands in warm water
SO THAT we get rid of the germs
When we buy a car, we read the fine print
SO THAT we’re aware of the terms

We hold the hands of our loved ones
SO THAT they know we are near
We wrap our arms around children
SO THAT they know Love over fear

Abram received the Lords’ blessing
And through it sometimes so are we
But tragically we receive it
And are often content just to BE.

Next time you notice a blessing
(Slow down, you’ll see where it’s at.)
Be sure to look back to the source of it all
And ask what may be His “SO THAT”.

Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Isaiah 58:1-12

We pray for light in darkness
For quenching dry, parched lands
On behalf of future generations
As if we are unable to play a hand

We are desperate for something
We will gather in arenas
We raise our hands in colored lights
And wonder if God’s seen us

We’ll turn up all the volume
And follow influencers
We will even turn off everything
As if silence gives us answers

Meanwhile God has spoken
And must wonder if we’ve heard
Or if we’d simply prefer
He’d given different Word

He says to end oppression
And every form of yoke
He will unleash streams of blessing
As chains of poverty are broke

If we go out and feed the hungry
Bring the homeless into ours
Clothe those who are uncovered
Trusting He will water our flowers

It’s good to pray for movement
His Lordship He wants to prove
But remember in our praying
He’s empowered us to move