Read. Write. Pray.

Original title, huh? Well, it was one of the items on my to-do list for the day, so that’s what I’m doing.

Reading? Well, I’m reading Genesis in The Message this week. No agenda for it really. Just reading. A thought that is in my head today from ‘just reading’ is that God always listens, always sees. This popped out in the story of Hagar in Genesis 16, when God gives her a son to be named Ishmael ‘for God heard you, GOD answered you.’ (Gn16:9-16) And Hagar prayed to God, ‘You’re the God who sees me! Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!’ God hears. God sees. And when we listen and look, we can probably catch a glimpse of him too!

Also read this little article that Jessy passed along. [The same Jessy who celebrated her baptism on Sunday in Phoenix. So cool!] It’s about why art should matter to the church. Dig it for a lot of reasons. In large part because I love the arts…so of course I think it should matter. It also reminded me that as I forge this next season of my life, the arts have to be a part of it and I need to figure out what that will look like in the grand scheme of things.

And speaking of creatives, Srob just sent this thoughtful article on the creative change agents in the D along.

Praying? My prayers these days are varied and plentiful. They’re for me. For you. They’re full of gratitude for crisp fall days, Blake’s apple cider, and long walks down country roads. Full of thanks for friends near and far. And for dreams and desires, even in the struggle.. Prayers of sorrow for friends who hurt—as they hobble with hurting hearts…or just a torn tendon. Prayers of joy for friends who rejoice—for miracles and second chances and new paths to forge. Prayers for peace. For faith. For living in hope.

Writing? Well, what you see is what you get on that one!