A spider dropped a single stand down from the rafter of an old barn and began to weave his web. Days, weeks,
and months went by and the web grew.
It’s increasingly elaborate maze caught flies, mosquitoes, and other small insects, providing the spider a daily
buffet of bugs.
The spider built his web larger and larger until it became the envy of all the other spiders.
One day this productive spider was traveling across his web when he noticed a single strand stretching up into
the rafters.
I wonder why this is here, he thought.
It doesn’t serve to catch me any dinner.
It doesn’t add to my pantry of insects. Concluding that a strand was unnecessary the spider climbed as high as
he could...and severed it.
In that moment, the entire web began to fall in upon itself, tumbling to the floor of the barn taking the spider
with it.
Greed, envy, or simply getting too big for our britches can be the cause of our own undoing.
Though Herod had heard about God and was intrigued by John the Baptist, he was tempted by a spoiled rich
girl and her wish even though he knew it was wrong.
And though we are not capable of such horrible deeds as that of Herod, Herodias or their daughter, we cannot
let ourselves off the hook that easily.
Like the spider, we work hard weaving what might be the perfect life for us, severing that which doesn’t fit
OUR plan.
But the more intricate web we weave the more complex and entangled we become.
As we carefully work the fabric of our lives, our focus can become superficial
--when we tear down the trivial, or anything we find annoying or unnecessary...
When cut away, from our lives, everything that feels to us like loose strands...
...before we know ....it our lives will unravel.
Our world comes tumbling down taking us right along with it.
When we get caught up in the web of lies and the promises of society,
when advertisements convince us we need and deserve the best.
When retailers brainwash us and we start seeing things from their perspective
we participate –we buy ...not because we have to but because we can.
We are never quite satisfied with what we have and can easily destroy ...in the quest to attain more...
the temptation to be prettier, skinnier, tanner, more likeable are only a handful of insignificant temptations but
will draw us into a material world.
The more we have, the more powerful we think we are and the less we think we need from anyone, especially
God.
The decisions we make may not be as devastating as the unraveling of our entire livelihood,
but it is frightening to think the decisions we make can and will affect not only our lives drastically, but of those
around us.
Temptation and selfishness are sins we all fight daily. But God who is with us --right here --right now – is
listening to our every word – spoken and unspoken...and ready to make straight our paths.
Not only is God here in this sacred space, but God is also at camp, at home, at work, at play, in the mall, at the
beach, in the dark corners of the world and everywhere in between...God is with us always.
God was with Amos whose call to the people..was met with hostility.
... a simple man – a herdsman, a dresser of sycamore trees, was sent to set the people straight.
God who shapes us - mold us to be His hands, feet and voice.
...already knows the worst about us, He also sees the best.
... through baptismal waters we are made clean by Holy Spirit
Our sins already nailed to the cross...
Jesus now waits with arms wide open...
For us to turn and run toward Him.
Rather than going along our merry way, creating a life that may seem like a masterpiece,
We are called to turn away from wrongdoing and turn to God. Repent and ask for forgiveness.
The Hebrew word for repent means to turn...
The Psalmist wrote, “I will listen to what the Lord God is saying, for you speak peace ...to those who turn their
hearts to you.”
... if we can carve out a few minutes each day and sit with God it will prove to be a productive and bountiful
blessing...
even a small portion of God’s love and undivided attention goes far beyond our imagination.
God is capable of so much more than we can possibly understand or appreciate.
We are invited to relax in the peaceful presence of God. ... a quiet spot in the house or in the yard, ... music,
poetry, waterfalls, a gentle breeze, or refuge in the woods far away from noise, expectations, and social media.
In order to listen with our ears, eyes, and hearts, we need to build a familial relationship with God.
A family like connection that will enable us to be close enough to hear God and ultimately confident in our
actions.
A close relationship with God is like that of a relationship a parent and a child.
Whether or not we have had the experience of a wonderful father, we all can see the relationship between Jesus
and His Father.
Abba, the most endearing name Jesus ever gave to God means dad or daddy...
Max Lucado shared a story about when his daughters were younger,
“They went desk hunting for himself and both of daughters Andrea and Sara. Seven year old Sara was
especially enthused because when she came home from school each day she would play school!
... they store they chose to shop in...was one that sold unpainted furniture ---brand new “in-the-buff” unpainted
kind.
The girls quickly picked out their desks...but when “Sara learned that they were not taking the desks home that
day she was deeply disturbed.
Although Max explained that the piece had to be painted and would be delivered in few weeks, he might as well
have said four millennia.
Her eyes filled with tears, “But Daddy, I wanted to take it home today.”
Daddy don’t you think we can paint it ourselves?
Daddy, I just want to draw some pictures on my new desk.
Daddy, please let’s take it home today.”
After a bit she disappeared, only to return, arms open wide and bubbling with discover, “Guess what Daddy?”
It’ll fit in the back of the car!
Now we all know that a second grader has no clue what will or won’t fit in a vehicle, but the fact that she had
measured the trunk with her arms softened his heart.
The clincher, though, was the name she used, “Daddy can’t we please take it home?
The Lucado family took a desk home that day. Max heard Sara’s request for the same reason God hears ours.
Max was moved by her use of the word Daddy. Because she is his child he heard her request.
Because we are God’s children, God hears ours. it is as simple and beautiful as that.
The King of creation gives special heed to the voice of His family. He is not only willing to hear us, He loves to
hear us and is just waiting to hear us call God by name.
God has “blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing ---and...chose us “to be holy and blameless ...
Today July 12, my devotions reflected on this kind of relationship...
“Whenever we feel distant from God, we ought to whisper His Name in loving trust.
The power of God's name Abba will bless both us and God beyond our understanding...
Beware of the crazy webs this world weaves, resist temptation and
Ask God to come into our lives and make us love the way we oughtn't love. Amen