Yesterday I read in the AP about a movement in this country that is calling for a renewal but that is based in hate. Hate for the other side, hate for foreigners coming to this land, hate for anyone not “of us” and people were being baptized into this hate “in the name of god”. Last night we watched an episode of Outlander from the new season where all one had to do was claim someone was of the “devil” and proclaim their “sin” and people were rushing in their zeal to stone those people, people they had never seen yet they rushed to believe the lie. They were depicting a time at the birth of this country but the rush to hate is as old as Cain and is alive and well today. Judging. I am just as guilty as anyone of judging others. As I was reading our Chapter this morning and the 3 devotionals, I felt like I was sitting there and gathering up understanding that was beautiful and yet, like semi-liquid silly putty, it kept oozing out of my arms to the ground. I couldn’t hold it. I asked Him to forgive my judging of others because it permeates all of me. In prayer He told me Seek Me by being with Me.

In Exodus 34, Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” v. 5-7. I used to read that last sentence and wonder why children and their children would be punished for the guilty. Have you? Then I think about the hate we so carefully cultivate in our own hearts that our children learn just as they learn to walk, to speak, to read…to judge. We as children learn from our parents how to do; and we become parents. And the first part of that paragraph? The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin.

When I sit quietly in prayer with God after reading His words to me, in His Presence there is peace, love, patience so infinite and beautiful it’s truth. Be ready! Seek God by being with God. Do you know what I said to God this morning after His encouragement to me? (In Your Presence there is such peace and love that is unhurried and true. Help me to stay close to You deep within. Lead me Lord always to you. Thank You for being there for all of us for I know by Your love for me how much You love us all. Thank You, Lord. Your love is the most abundant and beautiful truth we will ever know and I thank You with all I am and will be in You. I love You so much!)

Seek God by being with Him. Be with Him. The world may rush to hate and judgment…but we will know a truth that is eternal. God is love. Life is a marathon of learning. What are we contributing? Hate from the world? Love from the Eternal God? God forgives because He loves. Can we? Now without Him. Be ready.