Day 161 | Thursday, 27 August 2020

Day 161 - Audio Version

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Day 161  |  Thursday, 27 August 2020 Today – those impacted by Hurricane Laura
A Beginning:
“Grace - God's grace, before we are aware of it, loving and inviting us.  Grace - God's amazing grace, confronting, and lifting, convincing and persuading, surprising us, turning us around.

Grace - God's ongoing grace, taking us along the path, teaching, guiding, perfecting. Grace -all the faces of God's grace.”

 An Invocation:
“Loving God, look at us with love, and open our hands and hearts so we may let go of distractions and obstacles and follow you to the springs of life, eternal joy. Make this time a holy moment when we sense your spirit and get caught up in your grace. Amen.”

 A Prayer of Confession:
“God of wonders and surprises, we live life with blinders on and miss the glory you share with us. We keep our shoulders to the wheel, our eyes on the ball, our stomachs tucked in, our heads held high and wonder why life feels like a chore, why work feels like a drag and why the days go so quickly by without bringing a sense of fulfillment.

God of blessing and surprise, give us a childlike sense of fascination and delight, open our eyes to the hidden sources of water and hope everywhere, surprise us with acts of kindness, deeds of justice and signs of mercy. Amen.”
 
An Affirmation of Faith: The Lordship of Christ
(Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; Revelation 19:11-16)
“We believe that if we confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised him from the dead, we will be saved.

We believe that, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth - as in fact there are many gods and many lords - yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

For we believe the fearful and wonderful vision of John: that he saw heaven opened, and there was a white horse! Its rider is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, wearing fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh, he has a name inscribed, "King of kings and Lord of lords."’

 A Prayer:
“Wise, loving God, you have woven your creation together, using your relationship with us and ours with each other to give rich, intricate and diverse patterns to all of life. Grant us even a touch of the hem of your garment, so that we may be found in the fabric of your life. Amen.”

 A Blessing: Philippians 3:14, 16; 1:1
“Press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus, let us hold fast to what we have attained. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
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 Quotation: “Anything which breaks through the routine of life may be the bearer of a message to the soul.” -Bede Griffiths