DEVOTION:Acts 17:28 "For in him we live and move and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring"
PRAYER:Almighty and Holy God, a new day is before us, and this morning we simply want to celebrate the gift of life. Thank You for waking us to another day. Thank You for breath in our lungs, for hearts that beat, for eyes that can see the beauty around us, and ears that can hear the voices of people we love. Thank You for the brilliant colors surrounding us here in Maine, for cool October mornings, for laughter, friendship, family, and all those ordinary things that become extraordinary when we remember they are gifts.
Sometimes we move so quickly through life that we forget to live it. We worry about tomorrow, carry regrets from yesterday, and miss what You have placed directly in front of us today. Help us slow down enough to notice. Let’s enjoy a conversation. Let us laugh without feeling guilty. Let us tell someone we love them. Let us watch the leaves fall, appreciate a meal, make that phone call, offer a helping hand, and thank You for the simple privilege of being here.
We celebrate the life of our church family as well. Thank You for young voices and older wisdom, for new faces and familiar ones, for those who serve quietly and those who encourage us simply by being present. We give thanks for the saucerful Yard sale, bake sale this past week. Be especially close today to those for whom life feels fragile, those facing illness, recovering from surgery, grieving someone they dearly miss, or carrying private struggles. When celebration feels difficult, hold them especially close.
Lord, teach us to value every life as You do. That includes people who are different from us, those with whom we disagree, and even those we consider our enemies. Keep resentment from stealing the joy You intend for us. Change hearts that are hardened by hatred, beginning with our own, and teach us again the way of Christ. And Lord, when this day eventually comes to an end, may we be able to look back and say, I noticed it. I was grateful for it. I lived it.
So, thank You, Lord, for another morning. Thank You for another opportunity to love, to serve, to laugh, to learn, and to walk with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Acts 17:28 "For in him we live and move and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring"
Almighty and Holy God, a new day is before us, and this morning we simply want to celebrate the gift of life. Thank You for waking us to another day. Thank You for breath in our lungs, for hearts that beat, for eyes that can see the beauty around us, and ears that can hear the voices of people we love. Thank You for the brilliant colors surrounding us here in Maine, for cool October mornings, for laughter, friendship, family, and all those ordinary things that become extraordinary when we remember they are gifts.
Sometimes we move so quickly through life that we forget to live it. We worry about tomorrow, carry regrets from yesterday, and miss what You have placed directly in front of us today. Help us slow down enough to notice. Let’s enjoy a conversation. Let us laugh without feeling guilty. Let us tell someone we love them. Let us watch the leaves fall, appreciate a meal, make that phone call, offer a helping hand, and thank You for the simple privilege of being here.
We celebrate the life of our church family as well. Thank You for young voices and older wisdom, for new faces and familiar ones, for those who serve quietly and those who encourage us simply by being present. We give thanks for the saucerful Yard sale, bake sale this past week. Be especially close today to those for whom life feels fragile, those facing illness, recovering from surgery, grieving someone they dearly miss, or carrying private struggles. When celebration feels difficult, hold them especially close.
Lord, teach us to value every life as You do. That includes people who are different from us, those with whom we disagree, and even those we consider our enemies. Keep resentment from stealing the joy You intend for us. Change hearts that are hardened by hatred, beginning with our own, and teach us again the way of Christ. And Lord, when this day eventually comes to an end, may we be able to look back and say, I noticed it. I was grateful for it. I lived it.
So, thank You, Lord, for another morning. Thank You for another opportunity to love, to serve, to laugh, to learn, and to walk with You. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.