I was out walking Hunter, our dog, this morning and the breeze was blowing at a perfect speed, the clouds were moving at the pace of the wind, the sun was beginning to rise and the temperature was cool enough to enjoy a morning walk. The birds were singing, the squirrels were playing, the other walkers were talking with their friends and I was talking to God. Many days I start my prayers with praise and thanksgiving, but today I started it with “How are you doing, Lord?” My mind struggled with this question, for He is God there is never a bad day with Him, but still the honor in the question felt right, so I waited in silence in case He wanted to answer. No answer came, but still the question felt right as the way to start the day.

After navigating in and out of neighborhoods; up and down hills; and meandering through parking lots, I came upon a grassy field with what looked like an altar in the distance. I said in my heart, Lord, is that an altar? The closer I got, on this church property, the more it looked like an altar, not a man mad altar, a God designed altar for those who had eyes to see it as such. For some it was just a stack of rocks, but to me it was an altar. As I knelt down in the grass by that altar this morning, I gave my life to the Lord afresh and anew just like I did in 1991 as I knelt down in that Lutheran Church in MN facing that old wooden cross. No fireworks then, no signs in the heaven then, and none today, just a sense of saying, after all these years, I am still yours and You are still mine.

While kneeling there, looking up at the sky, in wide open spaces, I gave my life to Him again. Not to be sen by men, not to be heard by neighbors, not to be loved by people, but just because I wanted Him to know I see the altar you set before me; I know the words that say, we are to be a living sacrifice; and I want you to know I love You, I see You, I hear You. No worship team led me to this place, no prophet gave me a word, nope it was just a spontaneous moment with me and my God. I pray you find moments of intimacy with God, in places you would not expect, for He is not in a building made by the hands of man, He is Christ in you, the hope of glory. This is the mystery that is rooted in history and is going to change our trajectory forever.