SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Author: J Brad Mitchell

  • Seeing – Devotion 96

    When I take Leo for a run (or he takes me for a run), I expect him to point out things I ignore.  I am not surprised when he notices the trash on the side of the road.  I am not shocked when he finds the rabbit I would have missed.  It doesn’t even phase me when he sees the dragonfly and I would have not given it a second thought.  These are expected.  This is what he does.

    Today, we finished our run and I came in to make my breakfast.  He decided to be a little more patient than usual – maybe because he went on the run with me and felt sorry for me.  As I was getting everything prepared, I looked over at him (I was thankful he wasn’t whining to try and speed me up).  He was laying by the glass door looking out.  He turned his head to the right and then to the left.  He spotted something.  It wasn’t anything that startled him.  It didn’t cause him to bark or even get up.  It was just enough to pique his interest.  I went over to look and saw nothing.  He gave me the…you mean you can’t see that…look.  I never did find anything unusual.

    The gift for me was his way of seeing.  It didn’t matter that I didn’t see it.  I just enjoyed the look on his face as he was discovering.  He was looking at something that captured his attention that I missed.  I was focused, he was relaxed.  I was busy getting this done, he was just waiting for his turn.

    What do I miss when I am in a rush?  What do I not see that is right in front of my eyes?  What is it that I pass right by that might capture my attention?  God has given us such a beautiful creation – with moments of his greatness all around.  Will we let it pass us by today?  Or will we take just a moment and notice what he has for us?

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 150:1-2

    Praise the Lord!
    Praise God in his sanctuary;
    praise him in his mighty firmament!
    2 Praise him for his mighty deeds;
    praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

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  • Out of Rhythm

    In the middle of all that has happened in our world, I wonder how we are doing with our Sabbath?  When everything is “normal”, we find a rhythm and hopefully our sabbath rest becomes a part of that rhythm.  We learn that we cannot go 24/7 and if we try, we collapse.  We learn that God has given us a day to simply be.  It is a day to worship, to relax, to fellowship, and to enjoy.  It is not a day like any other.  It is set aside.  It has been set aside by God and our bodies crave it.  We are not the same when we do not take the sabbath rest we need.  But it seems like with all of the uncertainties, we can easily get out of rhythm.  We lose sight of what day it is.  We forget how important it is to worship.  Our lives become jumbled and it is difficult to separate it all.  Yet, this is exactly the time when sabbath rest becomes so important.  This is the perfect time to be reminded that God does not need us to be “on” all the time and that we were created for rest.  We were created to simply live in his existence.

    I am sure that the children of Israel lost all sense of time and direction when they were in the wilderness.  They were nomadic.  They never had a sense of home or of rhythm.  They were not in their normal life and were not doing the things they had done before.  They were no longer slaves in Egypt but they were stuck in the “in between” time.  They didn’t know what was next and the uncertainty loomed overhead.  Would they reach the Promised Land?  Could they actually get there and find a home?  Would things ever get back to some sense of normality?  It was during this time that God introduces the Sabbath.

    Yes, it is part of the 10 commandments – which should mean there is no compromise of it.  But we generally try to compromise everything or negotiate or rationalize.  So why not this one too?  I find visuals are helpful sometimes.  Apparently God’s people needed visuals to really get it as well.  So this visual comes to them to help them get a tangible understanding of how Sabbath works.  Maybe it speaks to you as well.

    Exodus 16:13-30

    13 In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Gather as much of it as each of you needs, an omer to a person according to the number of persons, all providing for those in their own tents.’” 17 The Israelites did so, some gathering more, some less. 18 But when they measured it with an omer, those who gathered much had nothing over, and those who gathered little had no shortage; they gathered as much as each of them needed. 19 And Moses said to them, “Let no one leave any of it over until morning.” 20 But they did not listen to Moses; some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul. And Moses was angry with them. 21 Morning by morning they gathered it, as much as each needed; but when the sun grew hot, it melted.

    22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers apiece. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord; bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.’” 24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses commanded them; and it did not become foul, and there were no worms in it. 25 Moses said, “Eat it today, for today is a sabbath to the Lord; today you will not find it in the field. 26 Six days you shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is a sabbath, there will be none.” 27 On the seventh day some of the people went out to gather, and they found none. 28 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and instructions? 29 See! The Lord has given you the sabbath, therefore on the sixth day he gives you food for two days; each of you stay where you are; do not leave your place on the seventh day.” 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.

    6 days they would get up and they would gather the food for the day.  The first 5 days, they would get enough for just that day.  The 6th day was the exception.  They were to get enough for 2 days worth.  Any other day, if they had tried this, it would have rotted and smelled up the place.  But the 6th day was special.  It was the day that they gathered enough for the Sabbath.  They gathered enough so on the 7th day, they did not need to go out and get any food.  They ate leftovers.  They had what they collected the previous day.  And that was enough.

    Some even tried to test the commandment – there is always a few in every crowd.  They went out on the 7thjust to see if it was there.  And they found nothing – just as God said.  Except, their lack of trust seems to have frustrated God.  He had given them instructions for their good.  The rest was for them.  God didn’t need rest – they did…and we do.  God knew what the people needed and he had provided it.  They simply needed to trust in him.  They needed to allow him to provide and to rest.  Sounds simple enough…except it isn’t.

    I remember growing up and my dad’s parents adhered to this commandment strictly.  My grandmother cooked on Saturday so that Sunday’s lunch could be heated up.  My grandfather made sure there was gas in the car so that none had to be bought on Sunday.  He would walk to church before he would spend any money.  Now…the church was just down the road, so it wasn’t that huge.  But you get the point.  He believed in keeping the Sabbath holy.  He believed God had provided and this would be the way of life.  I always thought he was so old school.  If you needed gas, go get it.  If you needed to run by the grocery store, just go.  No big deal.  If that was the only day you could wash the car, wash it.  Just don’t let my Dad see you…or let my grandparents hear about it.  But in their old school way, they were actually living out a rhythm that we may be missing.  They may have been much wiser than I would have given them credit.

    This really became apparent to me most recently.  Life is so unusual.  We are working from home more.  We aren’t traveling as much.  We aren’t going out to eat as much.  In general, we are spending more time in our homes.  So does that count as Sabbath?  I don’t think so.  It isn’t a special day set aside.  It isn’t different.  There isn’t anything unique about the Sabbath if we just collectively say that we have spent time at home more.  We are missing the gift of Sabbath.  We are missing what God has given us.

    So what do we do?  It seems so simple but it takes a lot of focus.  We should make the Sabbath special. Maybe we commit to having a meal ready the day before.  Maybe we make a conscious effort to spend time in worship to God.  Maybe we take the time to see what God is up to right outside our doors.  It might mean a slow stroll around our yard.  It may look like sitting outside before the sun comes up – it’s hot right now.  It may mean that we spend time focusing on what God has given us and to give thanks for it all.  It always means a different rhythm – a different feeling – a different way of functioning.  It always means resting in God and allowing him to care for us.

    What are you missing in this chaotic world?  What could be done away with on your Sabbath to make it special?  What can we do without to remind us that we trust in God and not in the things around us?  What is it that we are depending on instead of God?

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  • Opinions – Devotion 95

    It is one of the things that all of us have – an opinion.  Some of us are much more vocal about our opinion than others.  Some share their opinion without being asked.  Some opinions are welcomed while others are greeted with the ultimate eye roll and exhausted exhale sound.  We believe our opinions are right – otherwise we would change them.  It is not a problem to have an opinion.  This only becomes a problem when we mistake our opinions for the gospel.  When we start believing that we have the answer and that our answer is the only valid one, there is a problem.

    When this happens, we stop listening.  We stop learning.  We stop growing.  When we have all the answers and our opinions become the authority, we lose.  If we are honest, there are a lot of people losing right now.  When we are encountered with differing opinions, we have an option.  We can drown out the other ideas with our view.  Or we can take a moment and truly listen.  It isn’t so that we can change our opinion that we listen.  We listen because other people’s opinions hold value.  We learn when we listen.  We become better people.  We become more like Christ when we allow others to share and we actually value them enough to listen.

    Maybe today, we put our opinions aside and simply listen.  Maybe we can stop deciding we are always right and spend time hearing the views of others.  It is not to change our minds, but to open our hearts.  If we listen carefully, we might hear something from the Lord.  And his opinion is definitely worth hearing.

    Focus Scripture:

    Matthew 11:15

    15 Let anyone with ears listen!

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  • To Do Lists – Devotion 94

    I always appreciate when I can get things accomplished.  The weekends seem to be crammed with things I could not get done during the week.  When else will I cut the grass?  Surely there will be time to wash the sheets, change the filters, catch up on laundry, work on the “to do” list that has grown too long.  I can get so much done with that time.  And then the weekend arrives.  And I work to get it all done – until I tire out, that is.  And as much as I like checking things off my list, when do I rest?  When do I stop and simply breathe?  When is it a good time to…have a sabbath rest?

    That’s the problem.  Busyness can cause us to push things off until we have “more” time.  The lists grow longer, we get stressed, and then we forget to rest.  We push until we collapse.  Then we take a vacation that isn’t nearly long enough because we had already pushed so much prior to arriving.  We finally gear down about the time to return to our lives.  It is the perpetual hamster on a wheel.  But that isn’t living.

    Sure, the grass needs cutting.  Yes, all of those things around the house really need to get done.  But if we do not take the time to rest, we will find we are out of balance.  We will find we are missing the joys of life.  Sabbath forces us to stop so we can remember that God created…and we have the joy of simply breathing it in.  It causes us to take a moment to notice all the goodness that fills our lives.  When it is all rush, we miss it.  When we are so exhausted that we fail to enjoy life, it all passes us by.  What a shame to miss all that God has given us.  We are given this beautiful life to truly live, and live abundantly.

    How can you stop from your busyness this weekend to take in the beauty of God’s creation?  How can you simply breathe in his goodness and allow him to renew you, before you start again?  May you find sabbath this weekend.  It is waiting.

    Focus Scripture

    Exodus 16:22-24

    22 On the sixth day they gathered twice as much food, two omers apiece. When all the leaders of the congregation came and told Moses, 23 he said to them, “This is what the Lord has commanded: ‘Tomorrow is a day of solemn rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord; bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil, and all that is left over put aside to be kept until morning.’” 24 So they put it aside until morning, as Moses commanded them; and it did not become foul, and there were no worms in it.

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  • My Song My Prayer – Devotion 93

    The Psalms are one of the most treasured gifts we have that is often hidden.  It is not that we do not have access to them.  It is not that they are difficult to read or understand.  But most people consider this the book that holds the middle of some Bibles.  They are seen as poems or pretty writings.  And sure, there are poems.  Yes, the writings are beautiful.  Simply looking at this only would miss the point.  The Psalms are so much more.

    The Psalms are songs written as an offering to God.  They hold timeless thoughts and prayers.  There are songs of triumph and praise.  There are prayers of rescue and relief.  There are cries out to God to simply be heard – just to have God speak.  There are questions and sometimes there are answers.  There are brutal words and comforting thoughts.  In other words, they can often be the songs of our own hearts.

    When we don’t know what to pray or to say or to think, the Psalms can be a welcome word.  They can offer a frame for our thoughts that we can present to the God that loves us and cares for us.  They provide permission to struggle with our feelings and our situations.  They remind us that we are not the first to have doubts or worries.  And it is as if we are praying prayers that have been offered for all ages – praying with our brothers and sisters in other lands and other times.  The joy is that God hears every prayer.  He pays attention to our pleas.  He is with us in our most difficult times.  He does not leave us.

    If you are struggling today, try reading a Psalm.  If you are celebrating today, find a Psalm.  If you are having an average, okay day – there is a Psalm to offer.  Spend some time in prayer.  May the Psalms offer words your heart feels but your lips cannot seem to speak.  May you be renewed.

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 119:105

    Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.

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  • Stronger – Devotion 92

    You are much stronger than you think you are.  We often feel as though we know our limitations.  We set boundaries for our accomplishments.  We decide how much we can do and when.  Sometimes that is good.  Sometimes it is not because we are limiting ourselves for what could actually be done.  For the majority of us, we have no idea just how strong we really are.  We look at someone else’s accomplishments and think how we could never do that – except we have never tried.  It is different if we don’t want to accomplish it.  I’m not talking about those things we have no interest.  I am talking about limiting ourselves on how much we really can do.

    In difficulties, we are pushed to what feels like our absolute boundaries.  We hesitate when we hear ourselves ask what else could go wrong.  We have all ideas that if one more thing happens, we are done.  And yet, we continue to move forward.  Granted, we may move slowly.  It is often really painful.  There is nothing easy about one more step when you are already weary beyond measure.  But when you take one more step, you can take another.  Soon, you are accomplishing what you set out to do.

    I wonder how many times we allow fear to set the limits of what we can accomplish.  Or maybe our own self-doubt and criticism rings in our minds as we try to move forward.  If you find yourself drowning in a pool of defeat, start swimming, one stroke at a time.  If you find yourself overwhelmed by grief or worry, take it one small step at a time.  When you think you can’t go any further, remember God is with you.  He is supporting you as you take one more step.  Just keep moving.  You are stronger than you think.

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 17:5-6

    5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.

    6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me, hear my words.

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  • Slow Down – Devotion 91

    I was watching a show recently and one of the people on the show had a reminder on his arm that read “slow down”.  It was his way of always staying focused on the task that was in front of him and not getting ahead of himself.  He found himself always rushing and trying to get so much accomplished.  But when you rush all the time, you make mistakes.  You miss some of the important parts.  You fly by what is obvious in search of the next thing.

    Over the last few months, this seems to be the lesson I am learning.  When we are limited on the things we can safely do, we learn to make better choices with our time.  When our overloaded calendar becomes clearer, we see what is most important to us.  Time seems to have a different feel.  Slowing down can be a valuable lesson if we are willing to learn.

    When we slow down, we notice the small things we would have otherwise missed.  We have the opportunity to see the small but important changes happening around us.  When we slow down, we listen better, we see clearer, and we think with more precision.  When life is more than what we can get accomplished, the things we actually do can be done with more care.

    Slowing down definitely brings gifts.  What are you missing when you rush through your day?  What is happening around you that you could be an active part if you simply slowed down to notice?  What joys are blooming right beside you if you would just take the time to see?

    Today, slow down.  See what God is up to.  And may you find the simple joys happening all around you.

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 146

    1 Praise the Lord!
    Praise the Lord, O my soul!
    2 I will praise the Lord as long as I live;
    I will sing praises to my God all my life long.

    3 Do not put your trust in princes,
    in mortals, in whom there is no help.
    4 When their breath departs, they return to the earth;
    on that very day their plans perish.

    5 Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
    whose hope is in the Lord their God,
    6 who made heaven and earth,
    the sea, and all that is in them;
    who keeps faith forever;
    7     who executes justice for the oppressed;
    who gives food to the hungry.

    The Lord sets the prisoners free;
    8     the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.
    The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down;
    the Lord loves the righteous.
    9 The Lord watches over the strangers;
    he upholds the orphan and the widow,
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.

    10 The Lord will reign forever,
    your God, O Zion, for all generations.
    Praise the Lord!

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  • Renewal – Devotion 90

    There are some days I find myself worrying about nothing.  There isn’t anything especially wrong.  The day is going fine.  There just seems to be an air of worry and concern that hovers and won’t blow away.  It’s annoying and bothersome.  It becomes an extra load to carry on an already overloaded day.  I imagine that I am like the cartoon that has the cloud that follows me everywhere I go.  What do we do when this cloud settles and our vision becomes skewed to what is really around?

    I find the focus scripture for today important for these times.  Romans 12 tells us that we are not to be conformed to the world but transformed by the renewing of our minds.  It goes on to tell us that this renewing helps us to see what is good and acceptable and perfect.  I could use some good and acceptable and perfect.  My mind needs renewing.  The only issue is that this cloud gets in the way.

    Transformation and renewal comes from God.  It comes from focusing on God.  It comes from seeing that he is with us in the cloud.  Worry may still settle around us but we are looking at the wrong thing.  We see the cloud.  But God is giving us an opportunity for transformation.  We think our vision is skewed but God is renewing us so that when the cloud lifts, there is something beautiful to behold.  When we are conformed to the world, the world’s worries consume us.  But when we are transformed, God enables us to see the good and the perfect.  We see differently.  When the cloud lifts, we are changed…even transformed.

    So today, if you find yourself in the cloud of worry, breathe.  Know that God is working in and through you.  He does not leave you in your stress or distress.  He is transforming us.  May he enable us to see something good and acceptable – something beautiful.  May he help to lift the cloud and uncover joys everlasting.  May we see with new vision beginning today.

    Focus Scripture:

    Romans 12:2

    2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

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  • Peace Be With You – Devotion 89

    Even in the calmest environment, our minds and hearts can be in an uproar.  It can be the perfect location, the right weather, the most magnificent view – and yet, the most tumultuous time for our souls.  I often read about how people have a happy place.  It is generally a nice place with either a water or mountain view.  There is usually a picture of feet either in the sand or in a hammock.  It seems so perfect.  The picture makes all feel released and free.  Yet I wonder how many of the hearts and minds that belong to those feet are still feeling struggle.

    While it might seem location can solve all of our problems, in reality, our struggles seem to follow us.  They don’t care if we are at home or the office, they seem to find us.  If we struggle with anxiety, it doesn’t seem to take a vacation.  It might be better for a moment, but how many times does it find us?  It is as if it is packed in our suitcases just waiting to be unpacked – about the time we relax.

    The key is we are trying to escape the unescapable.  We may be able to escape the work on our desk, but we cannot escape the anxiety about its completion.  We may think we can escape our grief, but it is that friend that never knows when to go home.  So instead of escape, what else can we do?  We seek peace.  Peace is not found in a particular location – although some places do encourage peacefulness.  The waves seem to calm us.  The mountains seem to remind us we are among the powerful and it is okay.  But the real key is inner peace.  The real answer is the peace that goes beyond our understanding.  This peace fills us in the middle of a storm or on the shores of our favorite water.  It can calm us when we are distressed, despite our circumstances.

    This peace comes from God.  He created us and offers us this peace.  It is found when we stop and meditate on his word.  It is found when we breathe deep the breath of life.  It is found when we realize that we are not in control and we don’t have to be.  All we need to do is allow his peace to wash over us.  He offers it to us – we just don’t always receive it well.

    Today, I pray that God’s peace is the answer.  I pray God’s peace fills you from top to bottom – in the middle of your storm or in the place of your calm.  May he show you love and wrap you tight with the peace that can only come from him.  Peace Be With You.

    Focus Scripture:

    John 14:27

    27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

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  • Who Are YOU Calling?

    We are living in strange times.  No one would have guessed this is where we would be at this point in this year.  It is a time of extreme uncertainty.  There are difficulties at every turn.  Mixed messages are thrown all over the place like an overload of bad confetti.  Any resemblance of normality seems to have been thrown away and can’t be found.  This can be both scary and confusing.  For people that like consistency…for those that like a plan…for those that seek security in some sense of rhythm – this can be a nightmare. 

    We have choices, though.  We can fight it all the way.  We can embrace the newness.  We can slog through the day trying to figure it out as we go.  We can throw a tantrum, we can follow, or any of the combination of the like.  And we do.

    The interesting thing is – in different ways and different circumstances, we have been here before.  While this particular situation feels so foreign to us, this is really not as strange as we want to make it.  Life is made up of twists and turns, challenges and successes, difficulties and struggles.  That’s what life is about – navigating the difficult and finding God at every turn.

    As I thought about all the changes we are facing, I couldn’t help but think of Abraham – still known in today’s reading as Abram.  They encountered more challenges and difficulties than we can hardly grasp – and that was in an effort to follow God.  They were not running…they were seeking to be obedient.  And still, this is where they find themselves.

    Genesis 12:1-9

    12 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

    4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran. 5 Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the possessions that they had gathered, and the persons whom they had acquired in Haran; and they set forth to go to the land of Canaan. When they had come to the land of Canaan, 6 Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 Then the Lord appeared to Abram, and said, “To your offspring I will give this land.” So he built there an altar to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 From there he moved on to the hill country on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the Lord and invoked the name of the Lord. 9 And Abram journeyed on by stages toward the Negeb.

    Abraham and Sarah (as they will later be named) find themselves in an interesting place in their lives.  God has called them to leave all they know…their familiar – their creature comforts – family, friends, way of life, their own home – and follow, at the age of 75.  Follow simply to a land that God will show them.  No specifications of the land.  No idea of where they will stay.  They didn’t get the luxury of touring the new place online and checking out the hot spots around.  It wasn’t as if they had the choice to see if this was a better option or not.  It was simply a call to go…go to the unfamiliar and uncomfortable.  And they went.

    Their willingness to go comes with joys that they cannot even imagine.  There are lands to be seen and peoples to be discovered.  There are children to be born and strangers to take care of.  But there are also more challenges than one would ever want to encounter.  They face the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.  They encountered famine and devastation.  They hid their identity to hopefully save their own lives.  They took God’s promise into their own hands and ended up doing harm to more lives than their own.  They had tests of faith – some they conquered like champs and some they failed miserably and embarrassingly.  Would they have taken the journey if they knew it all?  We really don’t know.  All we know is that they were willing to step forward into the unknown, following God.

    That says a lot to me in the situation we find ourselves.  We are wandering through the unknown daily.  There are way too many opinions and newsfeeds and voices shouting for our attention.  There are people that insight fear and those that uproot ignorance.  But all of this does not mean this is the end or the worst situation or the absolute biggest nightmare.  This is moving forward in the unknown and it can be okay.  It can be okay because we do not move forward alone.  We do not move forward without God.  He is with us.  He is guiding us…but we must listen to him.

    If we listen to God in times like these, we hear the words he tells Abraham and Sarah.  These words include his presence, his provision (he will take care of them), and his guidance (you are not figuring this out alone). He has promises that are yet unfulfilled.  He is not done yet.  And neither are we.  But we sure act like it sometimes.

    Did you hear what Abraham and Sarah did in this particular scripture?  Sure, they were obedient.  They were willing to leave it all behind to follow God into the unknown.  They heard him and they said yes.  God made promises – that he would keep in his time and in his way.  At the end of this reading, don’t miss what they did.  Yes, they built an altar.  That was common to build something to remember – to signify a moment in time. God’s call was huge and this was to be commemorated.  They pass along what has happened through story – verbally telling their children what God has done.  This was a physical marker of a part of the story.  But that isn’t it.  Don’t miss it.  He built an altar and what?  He called upon the name of the Lord.

    That doesn’t sound like such a big deal.  But remember – this is the beginning of a relationship, the beginning of a call to something big, a part of a promise.  This means that Abraham already sensed that it was important to not only mark the place, but to call on the name of the Lord.  He began to pray.  As he began the journey, he called on God.

    Take a step back for a moment.  God called him to this.  God has called him from his ordinary life to something extremely unfamiliar.  God had made extraordinary promises that would completely blow his mind.  He is setting out on this journey of the unknown and still he found it important to call on God.  He wasn’t told to.  He wasn’t given a command or a list of ways to do it.  He wasn’t given rules on how to call on God and the right times.  He simply did what came to him…he called on the name of the Lord.  It was a part of who he was.

    As we move through these difficult and unfamiliar times, has it been instinctive for us to call on the name of the Lord?  We have fussed and worried and complained and struggled…but have we called on him?  We have done a lot of talking and a lot of whining but have we called on him?  Maybe we start back at the beginning.  God is with us. God has promises for us.  And we should be calling on him – right now.  All those who call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

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