Day 170 | Saturday, 5 September 2020

Day 170 - Audio Version

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Day 170, September 5, 2020 Today: For a safe holiday weekend.
 A Beginning: Creation
“Praise, abundant praise, flowing like a mighty stream, chanted by a chorus of thousands, echoing from mountain to shoreline.  Praise God forever and ever.  Glory, God's glory, shining like the noonday sun, sparkling like dew on delicate flowers, sometimes spoken, forever sung. Sing praise, sing glory to God.” A Prayer of Invocation:
“Eternal and loving God, we come remembering that all of our days and years are gifts from you. As we center our thoughts upon your goodness, we are prompted to glorify you with our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Receive then, all expressions of our love and reverence. May we truly realize this day that we have been with you. In the name of our Master, Jesus the Christ. Amen.”
 A Prayer of Confession:
“Gracious God, overwhelming and surprising in mercy, we are overly concerned with fairness, especially when our interests are in the equation. We watch to see if others are better liked, playing by the rules, getting the proper consequences. We often approach faith as a series of achievements and results. O God of grace lessen our anxious striving, our critical gaze. Surprise us again with your free gifts of love and forgiveness. So, fill us with your mercy that we can rejoice when you work in those whom we consider undeserving. Your love shows no bounds, and your grace is amazing - and includes even us. We thank you. Amen.”
 An Affirmation of Faith: Abundance
“(John 10:10; Romans 5:20; Colossians 2:6, 7; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20-21)
We believe that Jesus came that we might have life, and have it abundantly. 
We believe that in God's love, where our sin increased, grace abounded all the more.
We believe that as we received Christ Jesus the Lord, so we should live in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as we were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.
We believe that God is able to provide us with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, we may share abundantly in every good work.
We believe that Jesus Christ is the power at work within us able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
 A Prayer for renewal:
“God of new life refurbish in us the adventuresome spirit of faith. As we renew our vows and commitment to you, rejuvenate in us the desire to become more deeply faithful. Grant us conviction of your ongoing presence, in darkness and in light, so that we might know the quiet joy of believing.
In our time of renewal, may we grow. May we invite others to your way, truth and life. And may we always know that you are the reason for our being and our becoming. We give you thanks, O God, in the name of Christ. Amen.”
 A Blessing:
“Keep us, O God, from a puny faith, a trivial faith, a comfortable faith. Grant us comfort, but only after you have opened our hearts. Help us see ourselves the way you see us, O God. Amen.”
 Quotation: “The toughest task is to live with unexpected, unwanted answers.”
 -William Willimon