Posted in Different Scriptures, Spoken Word

Genesis 24:1-27

Way before there was Tinder
There were camels and rings of pure gold
Abraham wanted Isaac to marry
Because he was finally called “old”

But he didn’t want just anyone for daughter
It was important to honor the Lord
And care to shape a particular people
Shaped by God’s provision, not the sword.

A promise that many young men
Wish that God would be so on their side
To send an angel ahead of them
To help select the obvious bride.

Now we can let go of the gender
Patriarchal systems being of old
We find a quality here for bride or husband
That’s worth more than its weight in gold

Rebekah offered to serve
And give Abraham’s servant a drink
Then she offered to serve even further
Watering camels without having to think

It was in her nature to serve
A beautiful quality for a lover
For both man and woman to offer each other
The covenant to serve the other

Just as Christ served His bride
And for the Church gave His life
Such is revealed in Christ-centered love
A beacon amidst our worlds’ strife.

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.