By Judy Villanueva

Exodus 3:3-8
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.”

Moses was about the business of a normal day when he encountered God. I doubt he was expecting to meet an angel on route to the west side of the wilderness, let alone in the middle of a blazing fire! One thing is certain, Moses was available to notice an extraordinary phenomena and move in for a closer look! “I must turn aside now and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” How often am I too busy to notice an invitation from God?  Life is about the everyday stuff, but life is also divinely purposed and always about God in our midst  who waits for us to turn aside so He can meet with us.

When God saw that He had Moses attention He called to him, “Moses, Moses!” Does God watch and wait for us to turn toward the “burning bushes” He puts in our path?  Does He know when we are available to hear Him call our name? You may not think burning bushes are common in our day, but consider…

If burning bushes are things in life meant to draw our attention to God then, very likely they await our notice every day.

What kinds of things in your day are quietly unique, unexpected or “shiny” in their ordinary-ness? Likewise, where is your place of angst, the thing that burns whenever you think of it?  Admittedly, we are more drawn to move toward a pleasant thing, but if God is able to speak from the center of ANY thing, then being curious and willing to move in close, holds the promise of ZOE* life!

My burning bushes this week included catching sight of the full moon sitting atop a craggy ridge, soaking in the company of a good friend, and kneeling in prayer next to the bushes over which I feel angst.

These may seem too trivial to “count,” but counting the life that is ours…the life around us is what we have, and it matters!

Moses moved toward the burning bush and heard God call His name!  He answered, “Here I am.” Three words that conveyed availability and a heart that was all in, ready to hear what God would say next. God had a plan for Moses and, embedded in our days are both GENTLE and GIANT callings to love.  From the center of our ordinary lives, God calls our name and invites us to join Him on holy ground.  Here, we take off our shoes and listen as God reveals Himself to us and commissions us to…forgive, worship, wash feet, speak Truth, and always…  bring His love to a needy world.

“Father, I thank you that You see me and call to me from the middle of my life. Help me to notice the burning bushes that you’ve set along my path and make me curious enough to move in for a closer look. Help me to join You on holy ground and be available to hear whatever you say next. Amen.”

What about you?

What are you burning bushes?

Are you curious and available for a closer look?

Are you ready to say, “Here I am, Lord.  Send me!”

*Zoe life-  “The God-kind of life”, rich, abundant,  full of love, joy, power, and ability.