From the Edges I Could have just moved on !

Morning Devotions – From the Edges
Pastor Calvin
I Could Have Just Moved On –
Today, I got out of sync, away from normal practices and discipline. I had a sleepless night. Not for any reason other than maybe not putting my mind to rest. The first couple of hours were OK but by 1AM I was walking the floor. Finally after a couple of hours I come to the place that I could sleep.

Knowing my alarm would go off at its normal time – I ventured off into sleep land. However, where the alarm was and where I was sleeping was in two different places beyond ear reach, so I slept through it.

Yet the Spirit speaks- you have an appointment with God and in your appointment which you have been late for or not showed up for at all, you made a commitment and a promise that you would keep this promise this time.
So here I sit with God almost four hours late and share these thoughts with you.

Please don’t be too harsh or plead for my forgiveness or tell me to try harder next time. Think about the promises you have broken or not kept or not showed up for and seek forgiveness. Just saying we all stand in need of redemption for something.
Last week I was drawn to Hosea 14 and wrote this Prayer of Confession for our Worship last week and this morning seems to be the prayer to pray. Praying today with the added plea – Speak Lord for I am listening –

Dear Lord we are on a journey to return to you. Our sins have been our downfall. As we return to you may we hear your words spoken to us through the prophets, holy scripture, and through the Holy Spirit speaking to our heart. May we find forgiveness for all our sins and be received graciously into your presence. May we never again turn to other gods or places which is not inhabited by you. Heal our waywardness and love us as your anger is turned away from us. As we experience redemption and are drawn back to you may we see the ways of the Lord are right and the righteous walk in them throughout this life and into eternity. In God’s holy name we pray – Amen (adapted from Hosea 14)

May the healing and forgiveness begin even when we haven’t kept our appointment, listened, followed, or remained devoted.
Peace to you today in the name of Jesus