While we walk through life one moment at a time, sometimes the moments feel like ages and sometimes they feel like fleeting breaths, flying through us unable to be caught. Such is life. I have a prayer to share with you today, but first, I’d like to repeat a few lines from a song by Claire Cloninger that I shared with you in my last post. After speeding through the first month of 2025, we need to remember:
From the first bright light of morning,
To the last warm glow of dusk;
Every breath we take is sacred,
For it is God’s gift to us.*
Therefore, together, let us pray:
Father God of the Universe,
We acknowledge that this is Your universe, and we are Yours,
You are responsible for us and we are responsible to You.
Holy is Your Name:
Your Kingdom come,
Your will be done in our lives as it is in Heaven.
All we have is from You: You give and You take.
Blessed be the good name of our Blesser.
.
Daily, You grace us with more than we need.
Thoroughly thankful may we be.
In our journey, deliver us from evil.
In our affliction, fortify us with endurance.
In each day, fill us with joy-touched faith.
Ever keep our eyes on You.
.
In this Broken Cosmos,
Touch others through Your transforming work in us,
That increasingly, we may be Christ-shaped gracers.
Amazingly, may we even be joy to Your Heart.**
Glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Now and forever,
Your Cosmos to Come.
Amen.***
* “In Thanksgiving Let Us Praise Him” by Claire Cloninger. https://deanbible.org/file-downloads/preview?path=Hymns%252Fpg_InThanksgivingLetUsPraiseHim.pdf .
** 2 Corinthians 5: 9-10.
*** The closing prayer in my book, A Traveler’s Guide through Suffering and Joy, 194.
Pass on this post to some friends and bless them.
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I thought your blog was sweet. I especially liked the picture of the tree near your house. I love the fall colors. I used to live in S. E. Kentucky and worked at a small hospital near an old coal mine. When I needed to just think through something, or just relax I would climb up the small hill and sit on the flat area where I could look over the trees in their fall colors covering the more distant mountain tops. It struck me as majestic. I hope you have a sweet and soothing day.
Thank you, Lori. Yes, the photo of me at the top of my blog was taken in my front yard by our River Birch tree. Its bark is so interesting. I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Thank you for sharing your peaceful memory.
The song is so good. It draws you in and upward. Reminds me of some years ago when I wrote things I was thankful for …yes, even the hard things. Our choice of gratitude helps us through many challenges. I wrote over 15,000 things that I was thankful for.
I participated in a Lectio Divina this morning where we focused on Genesis 18. Sarah laughs when the angel says she would have a child this time next year. Then the angel asks, “Is there anything too difficult for God?” My challenge was ‘What it is hard for me to believe God for today? What makes me laugh at God?’
Great for sharing your thoughts today.
Jayne
Thanks for your encouragement, Jayne!
very meaningful.
the older hymns tell it so real…
Sounds like you’re hanging in there Karen ….🙏