The Song That Never Ends

 

But this I call to mind,

   and therefore I have hope:

The steadfast love of the LORD

             never ceases,

His mercies

        never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is Your faithfulness.

            Lamentations 3. 21-23

(In the Biblical sense,

hope is not wishful thinking,

but that on which

       we can stake our lives.

We each carry with us

   a chronicle of His faithfulness,

the imprint of His steadfast love.

Remember that,

    bring that reality to mind,

      even now,

      even in this.

We do not go it alone.

Do not fear. I am with you.

    Follow Me into this.)

O LORD,

You are great.

You are mighty.

You have walked with us

      a long long way.

And You are still with us

    in what we face today.

Please help us to remember

    that we can trust You.

You are with us,

              even now.

You don't just show up.

   You are already here.

May the words of this song

   get stuck in our heads

on a continual loop.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Serving Refreshments

 

...the hearts of the saints

have been refreshed

           through you.

           Philemon 1. 7

(Wherever we are,

wherever familiar

     or unfamiliar

  God has placed us strategically

      to encourage and strengthen

  the faithful ones.

The person we may least expect

      needs us to cheer them on

      or walk a few blocks with them.

May we refresh someone

       with rare kindness

that they may feel seen, heard, 

                     and loved.)

O LORD,

Please make us sensitive

to all those around us

who need a good word,

a big hug,

and the encouragement

         to stay faithful

         in hard places.

Help us to cross paths today

   with someone we can refresh

with Your love, grace,

            and strength

     in both word and deed.

  

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Pardon Me, But Your Attitude Is Showing

 

Serve the LORD

      with gladness.

          Psalm 100. 2

(In whatever God has placed

      before us today,

even in this hard thing,

even in that interruption,

serving the LORD,

   not just with a good attitude,

          but a happy heart.

Serving the LORD

    comes in all sizes and shapes,

and our heart in it

           is always revealed

   in every good work.

We can never fully know

  how God uses faithfulness

               for His glory,

   but He always bears fruit.)

O LORD,

In every good endeavor,

even those we consider

    as small or insignificant,

    or not what we want to do,

may we serve You

               with gladness,

knowing You are at work

     in us and through us

     for Your love's sake.

May all we do have

      Your name written all over it.

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Clouds By Day

 

They called to the LORD,

and He answered them.

In the pillar of cloud

   He spoke to them....

          Psalm 99. 6-7

(When we call upon our God,

when we lay before Him

    our concerns and joys,

    dilemmas and

    impossible situations,

            God responds.

Be watchful.

Sometimes He unfolds

    His answer in

    unexpected ways.

Sometimes we are

         not yet ready.

But He is always faithful.)

O LORD,

We are so grateful that

   we can come before You.

You see us.

You hear us.

You love us more than we know.

Help us to trust You

       in our hard places

   as You guide us through

   and as You walk with us.

Draw our attention to You

      even with clouds.

Be glorified,

               even in this.

Anoint this day.

    Appoint our steps.

   

Not On Our Own

 

Their Redeemer is strong;

the LORD of hosts

             is His name.

             Jeremiah 50. 34

(Do we remember

    Who walks with us?

            The Almighty God.

Even in this difficult situation.

When we attempt to go it alone,

       anxiety rushes in,

       promises to solve it,

       and then abandons us

           on the side of the road.

But our Redeemer is strong.

   God is the Almighty One.

His strength grants us

     the courage to face

     what is staring us down.

And God redeems

   what we only see as impossible.

Trust Me in this.)

O LORD,

May Your strength in us

   not just give us courage,

but be a strong witness to others

      of Who You are.

Transform our work, our words,

    and even our attitudes

            to point  them to You.

You are our strength

and the author of marvelous things,

most of which we are unaware of.

Help us to turn to You.

          even now,

          even in this.

Even In What Doesn't Look Like It

 

Fulfill your ministry...

           2 Timothy 4.5

(Our daily agenda,

no matter what form it takes,

to be faithful not just

   to what is before us,

          but to God.

It is all ministry,

     our work,

     our relationships,

     our attitudes,

     the way we treat others,

     even casual conversation.

Every opportunity to infuse God's Word,

                 live out the gospel,

      bring the name of Jesus here.

Others are continually watching

    not to see if we are perfect,

but how we respond when life is not,

         to see if God is real.)

O LORD,

May we be fully aware

       and watching out

for times and moments

     to love others

     right into the Kingdom,

     right before You.

Help us to fulfill the ministry

  that You have given us today.

May we not just be mindful,

   but have the mind of Christ.

Be glorified in this day,

                  O Holy One.

Not In This Alone

 

If the LORD had not been my help,

   my soul would soon

   have lived in the land of silence.

When I thought,

              "My foot slips,"

   Your steadfast love, O LORD,

                     held me up.

When the cares of my heart

             are many,

Your consolations

                      cheer my soul.

               Psalm 94. 17-19

(The impossible,

               overwhelming

      and impenetrable

          are God's specialties.

It is also in these situations

  that we realize

         God means what He says:

        "Do not fear.  I am with you."

He is a personal God

      who cares and loves us

      far more than we can know.

Our journey is defined

   by who we turn to

   and with whom we walk.)

O LORD,

We are not in this situation

                  alone,

but You are with us,

    our help,

    our guidance,

    our strength,

    our consolation.

May our first response be

          to turn to You.

Equip our hearts through Your Word.

Prepare us for this path.

Enlarge our vision

    to grab hold of Your purposes.

Align our hearts

                      with Yours.

Redeem for Your glory.

The Banishing of Fearful Things

 

Do not fear the king of Babylon,

     of whom you are afraid.

Do not fear him,

            declares the LORD,

for I am with you,

   to save you and to deliver you

            from his hand.

               Jeremiah 42. 11

(Everyone has a king of Babylon,

   something of which we fear.

But we also have the Most High

     who walks with us.

God never said

           there is nothing to be afraid of,

   but throughout Scripture He reminds us,

             "Do not fear.  I am with you."

Let not the scary things overwhelm us,

    but let fear send us to our knees

and to trust God even more.)

O LORD,

Help us to seek You

      when darkness surrounds us.

Be our light through

                  what we fear.

Strengthen us by Your might

    and by Your Presence

that we would be faithful

      even in the hard places

and know

          You are with us.

You are not about

    to abandon us now,

but take our right hand

   and carry us through.

Your Presence

             changes everything.

No Exclusions

...for God

   gave us a spirit not of fear

but of power and love

            and self-control.

            2 Timothy 1. 7

(We all struggle with something

               and face difficulties

because we live in a broken world,

        but we need not be defeated.

God shows us how to approach

    and navigate and respond

                   differently

because we are believers

    who follow and trust God.

No exclusions.

"Trust Me in this.

          Follow Me closely.")

O LORD,

Help us to realize that

   it is not in us,

     but You are our strength.

You do not promise us

                  an easy life,

but "Do not fear.

       I am with You."

May our lives be marked

           by Your Presence,

    even in the really hard stuff.

We have but to be faithful to You.

You provide the strength.

You produce the fruit.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

 

Strength to Endure

 

A man without self control

is like a city broken into

and left without walls.

           Proverbs 25. 28

(The impact of even

        the smallest discipline

  bears tremendous fruit over all of life.

What to say yes to,

     or on what to shut the door.

One physical discipline

        gives growth to yet another,

   one spiritual discipline

            a bumper crop.

Discipline is not giving up anything,

    but building and gaining strength

    for the rigors of what is ahead.

It brings with it the courage to endure

    and the wisdom when to walk away

               or walk toward,

   working out in daily decisions.

A YMCA instructor once said in class,

"You are stronger now

            than before you came."

God calls us to exercise

         walking with Him

for our good

               and for His Kingdom.)

O LORD,

Help us to stretch and bend,

   walk and run,

  and intentionally pursue You

in word and deed and attitude.

Show us how we can

           follow You even more,

making little daily choices

   (that are never so insignificant),

    that impact us

    and generations after us

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

What Comes to the Surface

 

So also good works are conspicuous,

and even those that are not

     cannot remain hidden.

                 1 Timothy 5. 25

(Even when no one notices,

even when it does not seem to matter,

    doing the good and right thing,

    the kind and gracious,

    the selfless response

          for the welfare of others,

is always the right thing to do.

We are called to live differently.

Grace and kindness are never expected

               in this broken world.

And even when not recognized,

  always, someway,

  those things come to the surface

         to bring glory to God.)

O LORD,

May we be marked by Your grace

    and kindness and love.

And be known as Yours.

Spread Your glory

    over all that we do.

Help us to be encouraged

  that You are using us

  for Your glory

and that our response to You

         matters exponentially.

Help us to seek out opportunities

     to be Your hands and feet

even when no one notices.

And know that You are honored

   even in what doesn't appear

                       to matter.

Because it always does.

Peloton is not the Only Training Plan

 

Rather train yourself for godliness,

for while bodily training

              is of some value,

godliness is of value in every way,

as it holds promise

          for the present life

and also for the life to come.

                   1 Timothy 4. 7-8

(Apostle Paul is not saying here

               "Don't work out,"

   but "Don't neglect your soul."

We somehow find time for

         what we desire.

We are all practicing

          and training for something.

How does godliness fit in?

Even in just a few minutes a day,

our physical and spiritual muscles

       are strengthened degree by degree,

exercising, training, equipping, practicing.

The building of endurance

      prepares us for now

--even in what we will face today--

      and for the next.

Strength doesn't just happen.

Godliness doesn't just appear.)

O LORD,

You are our strength.

Show us the way to

      train in godliness,

pursuing the disciplines

  that You use

        for Your Kingdom work

                          in us

  and impacting everyone around us.

Help us to discern

   how we can practice godliness

                      with intention

in whatever we do or pursue today.

Extraordinary Things in Unlikely Places

 

If your enemy is hungry,

   give him bread to eat,

and if he is thirsty,

   give him water to drink,

for you will heap

     burning coals on his head,

and the LORD will reward you.

               Proverbs 25. 21-22

(What if we viewed

       this difficult situation

       or difficult person

                         differently,

   not as hardship or struggle,

   but as an opportunity

        to practice grace?

Take others by surprise.

Grace is always unexpected,

         and never wasted.

May others be amazed

      by what happens

    and how God uses it.

Who lives like that?

           The faithful.)

O LORD,

Helps us to not be resistant,

         nor impervious,

   but responsive to circumstances.

Align our hearts with Yours

  that we would be aware

  of hurts and wounds

     that cause people

         to be irritable

         or adversarial.

Fill our hearts and pockets

   with incredible grace

that we would be generous,

even when we have every reason

                         not to,

in order to honor You

           in unlikely places

and point others to You.

Latest Headlines and What We Can Do

 

First of all, then,

I urge that supplications, prayers,

intercessions, and thanksgivings

   be made for all people,

for kings and

   all who are in high positions,

that we may lead

   peaceful and quiet life,

godly and dignified

                   in every way.

            1 Timothy 2. 1-2

(Have we even considered

    praying for the leaders

                    over us?

Whether governmental figures,

            prevailing powers,

    or even our bosses at work.

To push back the darkness

   not with criticism or violence,

but praying for those in authority.

How different our attitudes

     and actions,

how different the outcomes

     in this broken world,

               if we prayed?)

O LORD,

We confess not just what we have done,

        but what we have left undone.

We barely pray for those around us,

let alone world leaders,

   those we support

   and those who are against us.

Remind us, Almighty One,

   when we see the headlines,

to come before You.

The world is in a huge mess,

    injustice, crime,

    war casualties,

    violence on all sides.

May we seek You,

                even in this,

and pray Your peace

   we now recognize

        that we so desperately need.

Please guide us

     not just to pray,

     but how to pray.

And actually pray.

Divine Appointments

 

...appointing me

          to His service.

          1 Timothy 1. 12

(When we follow God

      into His day for us,

it is laden with divine appointments

              and sacred encounters,

    no random interruptions at all.

Why are we in this place

         and this hard situation?

Because God has placed us

     to bring His name here,

     to serve and honor Him,

  every which way we can,

in thought, word, deed

        and even attitude.

Love and grace to others

         are rarely expected

but soften hearts to God.)

O LORD,

You are great,

and You do wondrous things.

Help us to acknowledge You

   in all that we do and say today.

Help us to love others

     in small profound ways.

Even if they never recognize

        our efforts,

     You do and You multiply

         in countless lives.

May we recognize

     Your agenda today

     and make it our own.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

One Stepping Stone and Then Another

 

Yes, the LORD will give

     what is good,

and our land will yield

              its increase.

Righteousness will

       go before Him,

and make His footsteps a way.

             Psalm 85. 12-13

(What seeds are we planting?

What will rise up out of the ground?

Doing what is good and right

                        and faithful

    always yields fruit,

sometimes what is unexpected,

  but nothing God cannot redeem.

Through steadfast love, grace, peace

    and faithfulness

even in hard, barren circumstances,

God brings about goodness

                  for all people,

to provide and nourish in ways

     far deeper than materially.

How do we approach and navigate

     these impossible situations

     and among so much need?

God will reveal His way,

        when we seek Him,

one step and then another.)

O LORD,

Your clearest path through

    the briers, the chaos,

    the desert

          and even our own Red Sea,

is taking one step of trusting You

    and then the next appears.

Grant to us the courage

    to be faithful even in the hard stuff.

Give to us Your strength

           that is far beyond our own.

And let Your goodness prevail

   that You are glorified.

Even in this,

           Your way through.

Show us Your way for us

       into this day.   

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

What We Talk About

 

...but let him who has My word

      speak My word faithfully.

               Jeremiah 23. 28

(Seize every opportunity

to sow, weave, and marinate

    His Word into conversation,

whether quoting a passage

        and living it out.

What we do and say

   strengthens our hearts in God,

   reveals His Word to others,

and changes everything.)

O LORD,

Grant to us opportunities

             even today

to bring the blessing of Your Word

wherever we go,

with whomever we interact,

and into whatever situation

     You take us.

Help us to tell of You faithfully

     with love and grace.

Give us the courage

        to speak Your Word

             in words

and spell it out in deeds,

     even here,

     even in this.

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Vocabulary Lessons

 

A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold

in a setting of silver.

             Proverbs 25. 11

(Not just what is appropriate,

             or well-said,

but what is kind and encouraging,

fully sensitive

          to the well-being of others.

Not fancy words

     that draw attention or accolades

                      to us,

but what brings about

       goodness and beauty

                       and grace.

And points others to Him.)

O LORD,

Please form Your words within us,

fully fitting to this occasion,

   that we and others

   will come to know You more.

May Your love bubble out

   into our conversations

and enlarge our vocabulary.

Help our words to be like

    sequoia seeds

that nurture a thousand year old

                 forest,

and bring Your goodness and beauty

      in unexpected places.

Even here.  Even in this.

Today's Agenda

 

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

give thanks

       in all circumstances.

    1 Thessalonians 5. 16-18

(How differently we would

   approach and navigate

                         our days,

not defining them as favorable

            or difficult,

but relying on His strength

   and being faithful,

              no matter what.

How differently our lives

     would look,

not as impervious to circumstances,

        but profoundly responsive,

not just to our needs

  but with big wide margins

        to be aware of others whom

  God places on our paths.

In His name. For His glory.)

O LORD,

In this day,

    no matter what we face,

please help us to

   rejoice, pray, and be thankful,

to see what is before us

with fresh eyes

    and a new heart.

Your Presence

      changes everything,

      including our hearts.

Navigating Storms

 

Blessed is the one

who trusts in the LORD,

whose trust is the LORD.

He is like a tree

         planted by water,

that sends down its roots

         by the stream,

and does not fear 

            when heat comes,

for its leaves remain green,

and is not anxious

        in the year of drought,

for it does not cease

                 to bear fruit.

          Jeremiah 17. 7-8

(Trust is

             trust in,

in what or whom

   do we send down our roots?

If we trust in God

     and our trust is God,

does not exclude us

   from the hard stuff of life,

but allows us to move freely

   bearing new kinds of fruit

to nurture and sustain others,

unencumbered by

          fear or anxiety.

How can we approach

     and navigate differently

  because we trust God

             even in this?)

O LORD,

Because we trust in You,

we can bring hope and grace

          and Your love

in unexpected ways

   and in unlikely places.

Help us to root ourselves in You,

 trusting in You

            and not in circumstances,

    ready and equipped to respond

                in storms or drought.

Life is radically different

     because we trust in You.

Nothing can separate us

         from Your steadfast love.

Help us to exercise Your strength

            even in the every days,

that we are able to help others

            in times of need.

                   

Between the Covers

 

...you accepted it

not as the word of men

but as what it really is,

      the Word of God,

which is at work

          in you believers.

         1 Thessalonians 2. 13

(The Word of God is not stagnant,

nor just printed letters on a page,

but cannot help but to

         change lives

   and shift the tectonic plates of the world.

The Bible is not just

   a collection of amazing ancient stories,

or just another book on our shelves,

  but the very words of God.

God profoundly uses these words

     to point us to Him.

Do we treat Scripture that way?

God provides His Word

        not just to impact our day,

but to radically change our hearts

  and the course of our lives.)

O LORD,

Please marinate our hearts

            in Your Word

that we would fulfill

   and be faithful in all

   that You have set before us today.

Thank You for the Bible

   that we can not just know about You,

   but we can know You more.

May we go forth into our day

   changed because

   we spent time with You.

Radiate from within us.

Help us to live out Your Word

    in all we do, say,

    and even in our attitudes.

We delight in You.

No Matter the Mess

 

...we had boldness in our God

to declare to you

       the gospel of God

in the midst of much conflict.

          1 Thessalonians 2. 2

(Why are we in the middle

      of such a mess,

     a miry bog,

struggles all around us,

    and rebellion?

It's exactly why God has

  strategically positioned us here:

to bring the name of Jesus

  where there is no peace,

the good news of the gospel,

   and a witness to others

  of how His love has changed 

         the very course of our lives.

Life is very different now.

God has not put us here

   to make our lives uncomfortable,

   but to bring many to Him.)

O LORD,

Reveal to us how we can bring

    Your name to this situation.

Help us to not just

          take the high road,

   but to follow You into it.

Bring Your order

              to this chaos.

Saturate this conflict

  with Your incomprehensible peace.

Be glorified

          even in the darkness,

even in what we don't understand.

And help us to be faithful to You.

Even in This

 

See that you fulfill the ministry

   that you have received

                      in the Lord.

                Colossians 4. 17

(It could say:

See all that you do

                as ministry,

   even in the most unexpected

          places and ways.

What we do matters

          far more than we know,

whether scrubbing floors

   or leading a Bible study,

or just having a good attitude

          in the hard stuff.

Faithfulness builds

            on faithfulness.

And this mundane task

             or irritable co-worker,

   may be our ultimate ministry

             --or a training ground--

          for what is now

          and what is to come.

May we practice with all diligence.)

O LORD,

It is the voice of the adversary

that tries to convince us

  that what we do

               doesn't matter.

But in all things,

        great and small,

what is heralded

     and what is not even recognized,

  You bring Your glory.

Remind us

   when we are discouraged,

that we are serving You.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Getting Ready

 

Prepare your work outside,

get everything ready

     for yourself in the field,

and after that

           build your house.

             Proverbs 24. 27

(One layer of preparation

     is built upon the next.

It is not that God is not ready,

   but we have lagged behind.

We are the ones not yet ready

        for what is to come.

May we not get ahead of God,

but be faithful

   in what is before us today.

Are we practicing the hard parts?

Are we training our affections?

Are we fulfilling

              the little stuff

    on which our trust in Him

               is built?)

O LORD,

Please help us to prepare

      for Your provision.

Build Your strength in us

   as we are faithful to You,

even in what does not appear

           to matter.

Because faithfulness always does.

Set our minds on You

   that in whatever we do,

  and wherever we are,

we are growing deeper in You

and writing Your holy name

        all over everything.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

What We Talk About

 

We will not hide them

        from their children,

but tell to the coming generation

    the glorious deeds of the LORD,

               and His might,

and the wonders that

                       He has done.

                     Psalm 78. 4

(What fills our conversations?

What we are doing, what we have seen,

    what we have heard,

    what we have learned

                     and known?

Do we even speak of the Almighty?

Do we point others to Him?

Do we even recognize what He has done

              in our own lives?)

O LORD,

Please help us to be faithful

         in our words and actions

and a strong witness to others,

   not just by how we live,

   but what we talk about:

Your glorious deeds,

          Your might,

and Your wonders all around us.

Empower us to embrace

   opportunities today to

   bring Your name here

        to those we meet

        and those we love.

Swimming Lessons

Your way was through the sea,

Your path through

                the great waters,

yet

Your footprints were unseen.

                Psalm 77. 19

(God guides us in marvelous ways

     that we cannot understand,

even in ways when we don't see

           His designs and direction.

We have but to trust Him,

    not the circumstances,

    nor even the outcome.

God will take care of that too.

Some things cannot be grasped,

               but for God.

God works in such a way

   that He cannot be explained away.

How did we get here?

    We followed Him.

Why are we here?

    God guided us.)

O LORD,

Please help us to follow You

    even through the impossible,

    the hard, where we

                cannot touch bottom.

Help us to stop and ask

             Your way in this.

May Your purposes prevail

    and empower us to swim,

                 when necessary.

You guide us in incredible ways

                 for Your glory,

      right through Your wonders,

even when there is 

                no discernible path.

 

At the Top of the Page

 

...so as to walk in a manner

     worthy of the Lord,

fully pleasing to Him,

bearing fruit in every good work,

and increasing

      in the knowledge of God.

                 Colossians 1. 10

(That ought to keep us busy

      and aligned.

How differently would we live

and respond

and bear witness to God,

and love others into the Kingdom,

if we engraved these words

               on our hearts

        and into all our efforts?

Write His name first

            at the top of our day.)

O LORD,

We come to You,

desiring to walk with You

         into what is right before us,

   seeking You in it,

       whether chaos or joy,

looking not to earn Your love

            but to make You smile,

sowing, nurturing,

   and letting You bear fruit

through our work and words

                and attitudes.

For in You,

these things are inextricably

                 glued together

   for Your honor and glory.

The Fine Art of Pivoting

 

...for I have learned

   in whatever situation

             to be content.

              Philippians 4. 11

(The key word here

is not content

          but whatever.

God strategically

   placed us here,

in hardship or favor,

bright skies or storms,

beyond our skill sets

   or in what we excel,

for His Kingdom,

     for His glory,

     in His name,

for the spiritual well-being

   of others and ourselves.

It is not in us,

               but God.

It is not that

    we are strong enough,

but that we are willing to accept

         and be faithful even here.

Not just roll with it,

        but pivot

    and respond with all we have.)

Unexpected ministry,

            unexpected fruit.)

O LORD,

Please help us to not translate

   content into complacent.

Grant to us Your strength

        in time of need

   and when we can't touch

       the bottom of the pool.

Help us to joyously embrace

    the challenges,

because that is a vital part

  not of a journey

  but the adventure

              of knowing You more.

Help us to be faithful

   and fruitful

   even in this situation today.

We can trust You with it.

No Bootstraps Needed

 

...for the righteous falls

   seven times

             and rises again,

but the wicked stumble

   in times of calamity.

              Proverbs 24. 16

(God does not promise

      we will not trip,

   but He is still with us,

             even then.

We do not pick up ourselves

     by our own bootstraps,

  but God lifts us

       back on our feet

       and redeems our fall.

Others are constantly watching,

not to see if we are perfect,

but how we respond

           when life is not.

They yearn to know

    that God is real

and to see His mercy.)

O LORD,

Wherever You place us today,

in every opportunity,

   may our lives bring You glory,

even in unlikely situations

    and among unexpected people.

May we be found in You

  and live in such a way

that our choices and responses

    take others by surprise,

if not for You.

Bring Your joy

         even to the hard stuff.

www.nightlytea.blogspot.com

Until

 

But when I thought

      how to understand this,

it seemed to me

           a wearisome task,

until I went into

   the sanctuary of God....

             Psalm 73. 16-17

(The key word here is

             until.

Way too heavy to carry,

      beyond our grasp,

an absolutely draining situation,

    until we bring it before God.

We still may not understand it,

   but we realize

                    God does.

God has purpose in it.

God is already redeeming.

He grants us the strength

                  to endure.

He gives us wisdom to navigate.

He restores our souls,

     even on the way through.

Above all,

   we can trust Him even in this.)

O LORD,

There is so much beyond our grasp,

way past our understanding

          and our strength.

But we can bring it to You, Almighty One.

You show us the way through

   that we would know You more.

Your awesome work is

    more than we can see,

    or look for,

    or pray for,

            even to imagine.

Every detail is profound,

    even in the hard stuff.

Help us to trust You

             in the midst of it.

 

And the Stars by Night

 

The sun shall be no more

       your light by day,

nor for brightness shall the moon

      give you light by night,

but the LORD

   will be your everlasting light,

and your God will be your glory.

                       Isaiah 60. 19

(No comparison.

We are no longer dependent

    on favorable circumstances,

                   but on the LORD.

God helps us not just

          see in the dark,

but see even the darkness differently.

Even when the lights go out,

   God has strategically placed us

   right here to bear fruit,

   do good,

   and bring Him glory.)

O LORD,

You do not just provide us light,

    but You draw us

    even closer

            by means of it.

Enlarge our vision

    that we would not just

                     see need

             and respond to it,

but that we would

     recognize 

     and acknowledge You.

There is so much more

    beyond our little circle,

        deeper than we can see.;.

You bring daybreak

       to the shadows.