Beloved of God ... Breathe deeply and take a few moments to center yourself on God who is always present with us. As you breathe, let all of your distractions float away ...
As you breathe, say a breath prayer
Inhale: Lord of Moses ...
Exhale: show me your glory ...
repeat your breath prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into sacred reading, and then ...
As you breathe, say a breath prayer
Inhale: Lord of Moses ...
Exhale: show me your glory ...
repeat your breath prayer until you feel it is time to move from prayer into sacred reading, and then ...
Pray: revealed in this sacred text
Read the passage slowly and open your heart and mind as you read...
Exodus 33:12-23
Read the passage slowly and open your heart and mind as you read...
Exodus 33:12-23
Moses said to the LORD, "See, you have said to me, 'Bring up this people'; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my sight.' Now if I have found favor in your sight, show me your ways, so that I may know you and find favor in your sight. Consider too that this nation is your people." He said, "My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." And he said to him, "If your presence will not go, do not carry us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and your people, unless you go with us? In this way, we shall be distinct, I and your people, from every people on the face of the earth." The LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing that you have asked; for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name." Moses said, "Show me your glory, I pray." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and will proclaim before you the name, 'The LORD'; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and live." And the LORD continued, "See, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock; and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by; then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back; but my face shall not be seen."
Read the passage again slowly and Reflect. What word or phrase seems important to you as you read? Repeat that word or phrase. Ponder this Word and find wonder in it. How does this Word speak to your relationship with God? What you sense about who you are as a follower of God? How do you feel about God? How does God feel about you? How do you feel about yourself? Welcome your feelings ... whatever they may be. Have mercy on yourself and simply let your feelings "be" without judging yourself through them.
Read the passage again slowly and Respond. Tell God how you feel and how you experience the presence of God through this text and your meditation with it? What do you say to God about who God is to you and about who you are in God's presence? What can you offer to God right now? Take a moment to journal your feelings and your thoughts in a stream of consciousness ... and let it be what it will be.
Read the passage again and Rest. Allow your mind to come to a sense of awe in the Presence of God. Let the love and care of God cover you and hold you close …
When you sense the time to move on, Pray ...
Lord of Moses, be gracious, have mercy on me, and show me your glory as you care for me so tenderly. Amen. Cindy's Journal Reflection ... O God your presence is so strong and bright, too strong and too bright for me to contemplate. Your glory is pure light, so pure that we cannot look upon you. And yet, we must. Look around and see the presence of God in every smile ... in every child ... in every circumstance and in all suffering. You are there to give us rest from our quest ... deep deep rest. Amen.
