Day 159 | Tuesday, 25 August 2020

Day 159 - Audio Version

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Day 159  |  Tuesday, 25 August 2020 

COVID-19 update – 301 in county 119 in Battalion 3

 The rest of this week: Exercise Group #5 (if you want a copy of the exercise groups, send me an email and I will send the document to you)

 GOOD NEWS.  The Monarch Butterflies are in the area.  Although we have only seen a couple, eggs were laid on milkweed and we now have 13 caterpillars in the shelter on our back porch.  They will grow until they are ready to transform into a chrysalis and then into a butterfly.  We will keep you posted on the progress and the numbers.  Stop over and take a look!

 A Beginning:
“In the presence of God, we are filled with hope, we are overwhelmed by love, we sense a holy mystery.  In the presence of the holy God, we know our sin, we fall on our knees, we are made new. In the presence of the living Christ, we stand in awe.”

 A Prayer of Invocation:
“Gracious God, you delight in giving us the kingdom; priceless treasures hidden in the ordinary. Open our eyes to discover the treasures hidden within each other, and within your Word, and within our lives. Open our hearts to know their value, which comes only from your touch. We pray this in the name of the greatest treasure you have given us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

 A Prayer of Confession:
“Loving God, you know me. You know the inner thoughts of which I am ashamed and the visible deeds I regret. You know my struggle to live faithfully: being generous to those in need; being forgiving to those who have hurt me; being patient when there is so much to do; taking time for prayer in the midst of busyness; being loving, when judging and criticizing are my first thoughts. Loving God, you know me, love me, forgive me, trust me, and I stand in awe at your amazing grace. Keep me on the path of Christ and lead me to deep joy and abundant gratitude. In his name. Amen.”

 AN Affirmation of Faith: But Now We See (Psalm 146:5-8; Luke 4:18-19; John 9:25)

“We believe that they are happy whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD their God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry.

We affirm that the LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous.

We believe Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

We believe there is one thing we know, that though we were blind, now we see.”
 
​A Blessing: Colossians 2:6-7
“As you ... have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
 
Quotation:
“Our world is full of injustice and unrighteousness, so something has to give where God enters the world, and it is not going to be God.” -Rosalind Brown
 
Today: Prayers for parents who are struggling with what to do with and for their children as the school year approaches.