A Concord Pastor Comments: Monday Morning Offering for 12/15

Good morning, good God!

Only 10 shopping days left ‘til your birthday, Lord…

Gotta start thinking about what to get
"for God who has everything!"

What gift might I find
for the One who made everything!

So, what can I give you?
What could you possibly want from me?

Well, actually, I think I know what you want...

You want me to let go the things
I hang on to and cling to,
the things I grip so tightly,
the things that get in the way
of our growing closer together,
you and me...

There's no way to wrap these things up fancy
with ribbons and bows,
but for your birthday I want to give
what I know you ask of me...

So, I offer you the ways I keep myself away
the ways I ignore you, your word
and your love...

I offer you the times I downplay and deny
the gifts and talents you've given me...

I offer you my resistance to seeing what's good
in the person you made me to be:
help me believe you take delight in me, Lord,
that in your eyes I'm of value and of worth,
that I'm your beloved, that indeed,
you love me as I am...

Lord, I offer you my envy
and the ways I focus on what others have,
forgetting all you've given, generously, to me:
keep me from jealous thoughts
and open my eyes to treasures that are mine,
at my fingertips and right in my lap...

I offer you my moody sulks
when I banish myself to some corner
and feel sorry for myself:
rescue me from such traps, Lord,
and draw me out of myself and into your arms
and into the lives of those around me...

And for your birthday, Lord,
I offer you not just the things I need to let go
but also the things I need to discover and treasure...

I offer you my better instincts, Lord
my graced intuitions,
the ones I too easily dismiss
when I mistrust my own judgment:
give me courage to speak and act
on the truth I know within…

I offer you the best of who I am,
the person you created me to be,
the unique individual you knew and loved
before you knit me in my mother’s womb…

I offer you the unknown, untried, unused portions
of my heart, my soul, my mind, my imagination:
make of me the person you intended me to be, Lord,
and use my life to touch others
as others’ lives touch mine…

I offer you anything that tempts me to think
that I have nothing to offer
or that what I have to offer isn't good enough...

Let the light of your advent shine on me
and show me every gift you’ve given me,
large and small and in between -
especially the gifts of your mercy and your love...

I offer you anything and everything
that keeps me from knowing
how much you love me, Lord,
and how precious I am in your eyes…

And, Lord – help me see in others
the goodness you find and see in them...

Accept my prayer this Advent Monday morning, Lord,
and all this day and through the week ahead...

Amen.