Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Exodus 17:1-7

In the wilderness of Sin, we will always have a thirst
We were created to live in a promised land
No matter where we wander, or convince ourselves is true
A point comes where we begin to understand

The thirst is something we deny, we should just be content
There is a freedom in our wandering place to place
But in time, the Spirit stirs and awakes
Our desire to look full upon His face.

For a people who worshipped “Freedom” it became a need
To realize their idol could not provide
These moments were used by God to highlight His position
And bring his people out from all their pride.

For years they’d assumed everything would be just fine
If they could only break the chains that bound
But when the chains were shattered, they still had many needs
And when they looked within, no answers found.

But when they turned to God (not always pure-hearted)
He responded every time they called His name
In the middle of dry deserts, when they cried to Him
Moses struck the rock, and out the waters came.

What are the idols we’ve set high, as objects to pursue?
Be they “Freedom”, or “Success” or “Security”?
May we be reminded that none offer what we need
As beings created to reflect His purity.

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

Exodus 16:9-21

There is, in our human condition
An aversion to being content
No matter what the current situation
Or resources that have been spent

When given all of the things
We’ve stated to be our desire
We know there’s more that we could’ve had
If only we’d set the bar higher

In our race to collect some assurance
We run over those who slow down
We look far beyond our own shelves and hearts
To “out there” where blessings abound.

Along the road to collection
We also feel we must protect
The things that we have collected
And so walls and borders erect

Looking back to Eve and to Adam
When given the garden to eat
The fixated on the one thing not given
And desired to grasp for that treat

A humble confession of nature
For Lent is a time for such sorrow
When given all that we need today
We too quickly ask, “but tomorrow!?”