Day 180 | Tuesday, 15 September 2020

Day 180 - Audio Version

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Day 180  |  Tuesday, 15 September 2020

COVID-19 update: the county map is now by zip code instead of battalions.  Total in the county – 582 with 150 in the 14701 zip code.

My daily jottings are available on audio.  If you would like to have an audio version emailed to you just let me know.

A Beginning: Creation
“Morning glories - birds chirp their praise; trees lift their limbs in adoration, stretching as a prayer to heaven; birds of paradise stick out their necks in radiant splendor; all creation sings praise.  The hills echo your love, the ocean is a wave of constant praise, the sky extends in blue wonder.  Everywhere you look with eyes open to see, there are morning glories stirring us to praise.”

 An Invocation:  
“We come into your presence with glad hearts, O Lord. We think of your innumerable benefits constantly showered upon us. We cannot help but let joy bubble up within us when we consider your grace bestowed upon us "good measure, pressed down, running over." Accept then, our praise and gratitude, and touch us all with your loving, healing hand. Amen.”

 A Prayer of Confession:
“Loving Creator, you made us to praise you, to sing your glory in the marvels of the world. Yet, so often, we find our mouths filled with complaints and our word accompanying a whine. We complain about the weather, and we complain about not having enough - enough money or time or patience. We complain about other drivers, teachers, students, neighbors, roads - and the list goes on and on. Holy God, restore our perspective, lessen our fear and fill our hearts, our love and our voices with praise. In the saving name of Jesus. Amen.”

 An Affirmation of Faith: Be Still and Know
(Psalm 46:10; 1 Kings 19:11-12; Mark 1:35; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12)
“We believe we should be still and know that God is God! He is exalted among the nations he is exalted in the earth. 

We believe Elijah heard the Word of the LORD, saying "Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by."

We believe that there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

We believe that Jesus got up in the morning, while it was still very dark, and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed; that often he would withdraw to deserted places and pray; and that at least once he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God.”

 A Prayer:
“O God of dry, lonely times and God of powerful company, O God who knows the hard times and the soft times, the good and the bad, draw near. Stay close as we confront our own devils and our own deviltry. Do not abandon us, just as you did not abandon your own Son. Give us the courage to face what we must and to come out richer in spirit, deeper in purpose and more capable of the life you hold out to us. In the name of Jesus. Amen”
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 A Blessing: “May almighty God, the giver of every good and perfect gift, bless and keep you forever. May God's unwavering grace be for each of us a very present help now and always. Amen.”