A Concord Pastor Comments: MONDAY MORNING OFFERING: 2/5

Image: George Mendoza

Good morning, good God!

This Monday morning, Lord,

I'm wondering:
What if... ?

What if… I accepted
all the love you offer me?
How would I change and grow?

How would my relationships change and grow?

How would I be a different person?

What if… I surrendered
to the truth of your Word and wisdom?
How would my thinking change?

How would my understanding change?
How would my decisions and choices be different?

What if… I stopped to listen

and really tried to hear what you ask of me?

What would I hear?
What would I do differently?
What new turns might my life take?

What if… I saw you in every face I meet?

Especially in the faces where I don't find you now?
How would my day change?
My plans?
With whom would I be spending my time?

What if… I named and counted my sins

and prayed and asked for your mercy?

How would my heart be changed?
How would my life change?

How might I become more forgiving of others?

What if… I put others' needs ahead of my own
for a day? for a week?
How would my priorities change?
Whose unmet needs already have a claim on me?

What would I need to let go of first?

What if… I bared my soul to your healing touch?

What wounds of mine most need your healing?

What pain to I hold that I need to let go?
What peace, what joy
might then fill my heart?

What if… I walked only the path you chart for me?
Where would you lead me? Where would I go?

How would my direction change?

Who and what would I leave behind?

What if… I trusted you, Lord?

What if I trusted your love for me?

What if I trusted your plan for me?

What if I trusted that I am yours

that you'll never abandon me,

that you'll always be with me

and that by your side I have nothing to fear?

What if, Lord…

what if?

Receive my morning offering, Lord:

that I might come

to see you more clearly,

love you more dearly

and follow you more nearly...

I offer myself into your hands:
do with me this day as you will...

For whatever you do, Lord, I thank you:
make me ready for whatever you ask
and open me to receive the help you offer me

this morning, this day and through the week ahead...

Amen.