Category: Virtual Chapel

Sometimes it’s hard to hear your own voice. Noise is everywhere. Inundated with information and opinions, it’s pretty easy to give up and tune it all out or go numb in the process. And sometimes it’s easy to just follow the voices of others and hope they are going in the right direction. But there is another way; there are other choices.

Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is’, because the kingdom of God is within you. – Luke 17:20-21

There is an interesting story about a group of people who had leprosy. The Scriptures say that these ten lepers met Jesus when he was walking along the border of Galilee and Samaria. They stood at a distance (leprosy being highly contagious) and hollered out for mercy. Jesus noticed them, and from this distance he instructed them to go show themselves to the priests. This was a requirement in order to be restored to the community. The priests had to check the leprosy and deem someone “clean” so the community would know it is safe to receive the person again.

The lepers had faith that Jesus could heal them; they called him by name – they knew who he was. And the response Jesus gave them had to be really good news in one sense, and really hard news in another. Leprosy was and is a disease that isolates people from community. The priests would be the ones to remove the person from the community and the ones to restore them. Going to show themselves to the priests was a huge risk and placed them in a very vulnerable position. If they were healed then it would be amazing. If not, they would be rejected yet again. It was when they followed this instruction to walk forward in faith that their healing came. They had to fully trust Jesus and just do what he said.

As they went along this way, they were healed. They had to live their faith by seeking out the Healer; asking for mercy; and then doing what Christ told them to do with complete trust and faith.

Then something surprising happens. Read more →

Part 4 of 4 posts with a ritual to let the year and decade behind us rest; and prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to embrace all that is to come.

Promise: Living into the promises
God is still speaking. Somewhere beneath the noise and chaos of an ordinary day, or in the sliver of a passing moment – a whisper makes its way across our consciousness. It’s easy to dismiss it as passing. Sometimes it doesn’t even make sense. But a persistent word or thought will often keep finding its way into our thoughts until we are able to perceive: this may be something God is bringing to my mind. And all we have to do with that is receive it and let the rest unfold.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.
– Jeremiah 29:11-12

For the past few years, that practice of listening at year’s end has helped me to hear a word. My sister and I do it together. The word for 2020 is NAVIGATION. What does that mean? How will it unfold? What do we do with it?  We pay attention, trust the promises of God and let God show us what it will mean all year long. The discernment of the word fit other things God is showing us. We listen. We pray. We share. We embrace.

Have you heard a word or a persistent thought? Is God offering you something to embrace? Live into it!

God’s promises are all being fulfilled; and God is always on time…

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
– Isaiah 55:10-11

God’s promises and visions for our lives are not on our timeline. Sometimes when we hear or perceive a promise of  God for our lives we think that means it will happen immediately. Since the timing of God is perfect, all of these things happen on “kairos” time. Kairos is a Greek word for the timing that unfolds at just the right moment or season.  We live in a chronos time world so the whole idea of letting God bring things into being any differently can feel foreign to our way of thinking. This is the balance of trust; and holding onto the promises of a faithful God.  As we rely on the perfect timing of God, life becomes a true adventure.  We don’t have to control or create it…

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. – Philippians 1:3-6

Prayer
God, you are so faithful. We forget how much you have promised to love us.  We get tired of waiting and sometimes we lose hope that anything different will happen.  Help us to live into the promises you are fulfilling in our lives and in the world right now.  Let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven! We are ready and we need you.  We trust you completely; let it be.  Thank you for your faithfulness and mercy. Amen.

Do It Again – Elevation Worship

http://bit.ly/2SJOHz2

 

 

This is #3 of a 4-part post on a ritual to let the year and decade behind us rest; and prepare our hearts, our minds and our spirits to embrace all that is to come.

Peace
Have you ever had the math dream? You forget to go to class for an entire semester and then suddenly it’s time for the final exam and maybe you can’t find your locker or you are just standing outside the classroom…or the Board Room and you are unprepared and in despair. There is no way you can make up for it.

Receiving God’s pardon and peace is a lifelong practice. We let go of something and just when we think it’s gone, here it is…back again and sometimes stronger than ever. Don’t give up! Forgiveness is real. God’s mercy is God’s…to give and to keep giving. Sin, disappointment and heartache lodge in our brains. Peace, restoration and freedom can lodge there too. It is spiritual and physical. Receiving what God has for us is for the whole of us. It is the adventure of life grounded in the Spirit.

“The Glory of God is a human being fully alive.”
St. Irenaeus (c. 130 – c. 202 AD)

Part of receiving peace is trusting that what God gives is steadfast and lasting. Peace comes as we rest in what we know is true about God. Trust what God is doing in your spirit. Receive. Remind yourself of this truth of God. You cannot undo what Christ has done for you. It is God’s great delight for us to keep growing in this peace.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. – I John 1:9

When Nehemiah (c. 440’s BC) was praying and praising God he named many things about God. One of his descriptions reads like this: “…you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love.” (Nehemiah 9:17)  God’s character is revealed over and over again in the Scriptures and it is revealed in our lives too. Think about where you are right now.  Sometimes our peace comes when we recall how gracious God has been to us in moments we didn’t deserve. Second chances. Third chances…or if you are like me, 1,000,000+ chances.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
– Philippians 4:6-7

The peace of God is a gift of grace. Ask for it. Stay real with your Creator.  And begin this year doing something that you know helps you to be peaceful.  It may be silence or fishing or running or reading.  Whatever it is – do it. Do it today! Embrace the peace that God creatively gives you and do that more and more this year. As you experience the peace God gives, that peace will be present in you wherever you go. And you know what? The world needs more of us to be walking in that Peace.

The Peace of Wild Things
When the despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
– Wendell Berry

Clean by Natalie Grant
http://bit.ly/2tmydC8

You are loved beyond measure by your Creator and there is nothing you can do to stop that love. Receive it.  May the peace of Christ be with you.

Part 4 of 4 is about Promise…what new word or direction or promise is God offering you in 2020?

Part 2 of 4 posts with a ritual to let the year and decade behind us rest; and prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to embrace all that is to come.

CONFESSION: Letting Go and Turning Around

Do you ever have a hard time looking in the mirror? The mirror reflects a story of life. Sometimes it says we are tired, other times a spark may be present that says some joy has entered our life; and often the mirror reflects our ordinary, “keep showing up” focus that greets each day with hope and possibility.

Occasionally, when we look in the mirror or take time to reflect on our lives, we get stalled in the land of past mistakes. Past mistakes, heartaches and wounds. It may be a conversation we wish we had handled differently or perhaps a missed opportunity to say anything at all. We hold regret for ways we have ignored or harmed others and it weighs so HEAVY; like a bag of bricks hanging around our neck. It is a yoke that causes pain, stress, shame and self-condemnation.

We also get stalled over wrongs we have not been able to let go of and they become CONSTRAINING and a bit like a prison cell that keeps us in constant pain. Over time, the weight of all of this becomes unbearable. God never intended for us to carry this weight through life. Jesus actually gave his very life so we don’t have to carry these burdens.

Confession is a way of letting go of what we have done and left undone. It clears our minds and spirits. I like to call it “saying my things”. The Scriptures indicate that when we are not able to “say our things” it hurts us so much we cannot fully live. It actually hurts our bodies as much as it hurts our minds and hearts!

Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Happy are those to whom the Lord imputes no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

While I kept silence, my body wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not hide my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

– Psalm 32:1-5

We can confess our “stuff” straight to God. The Lord is able and more than willing to hear whatever is on our hearts and minds. When we hold it all in, it becomes much bigger than it started. Letting our “stuff” remain in the darkness is destructive; it hurts us. When we bring that out and let the light of Christ shine on it; it looses all power! That light overcomes the weight and shame the darkness was holding in so close. We get free!

So…yes! You can speak your mind. Especially if something is gnawing at you; that is the Spirit nudging you to bring it out and let it be redeemed. Forgiveness is realized in our speaking and bringing this to God. God actually invites us to do this; God is even waiting patiently for us to name these things so we can let them go and be free from the weight of sin we carry.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. – Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 11:28-29

Occasionally we are blessed with a truly trusted friend with whom we can be completely honest. They hear us without judgment and they listen with the ears of grace. If such a person is in your life, simply ask them to hear you say your things. It is a powerful and profound act of friendship to hear what someone needs to say out loud. It may be the greatest gift a friend gives you, or that you give to them. It is holy space.

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
– Galatians 6:2

As we come to the end of the year and the end of a decade, here are some ways you can begin to let go of things you need to confess and turn your focus toward the one who created you and will guide you in the time ahead. Both are needed: confession and turning toward God. We call the turning, “repentance”.

1. Pray Psalm 51. This is a beautiful and powerful prayer. David prayed this after he had committed adultery. David was a good man; a strong warrior and a humble king. AND he had lapses in judgment that were terrible. Adultery. Murder. Lies. We might say David had a pretty awful year. When he came to understand what he had done (someone brought it to his attention) it broke his heart and spirit. Once David let go of his sin and turned his heart back to God, his life took on an entirely new strength and his impact continues even to this day. This Psalm is David’s prayer to God; it is his confession. It can be yours too. Read it out loud as a prayer to God. Here is a link:

http://bit.ly/37qjt48

2. Invite your “trusted friend” to coffee, dinner, a long walk… or whatever is good for you getting together. Ask them specifically, “Will you just listen so I can say my things? These are things I need to let go of…that I don’t want to carry into the year ahead.” Remember, a true friend is able to hear you and love you just as you are. This is a profound practice of friendship in Christ.
3. Write / Paint / Send a picture.  Do you need to write a note asking someone to forgive you? Do it! You can write it and send it to them if that fits the situation. But if it doesn’t fit– if sending is not something that would be good for the other person, you can always write the letter anyway and offer it as a prayer to God as a way of asking for forgiveness without further harm. God can move in situations when it is impossible for us to do it ourselves.
4. Take some time to get away and talk with God. Set aside the phone and the computer. Get alone with God and say your things to the one who created you. God can take your worst thoughts and actions. God can take your anger and confusion. God can take your gut-level honesty. In sharing and confessing, we engage the redemptive actions of Jesus. The Lord waits patiently and eagerly for us to come humbly and honestly to speak with God. You can trust this. Do it. Get free of these burdens.
5. As you pack away the Christmas decorations, let go of any disappointments from the holiday season. Be grateful for any ways you experienced love and joy. Release any hurts or regrets; don’t pack them into your boxes or ornaments…let them go! If you need to write them down and throw them away – do it! Let this year and decade rest with peace.

Prayer Prompts
Here are a few prayer prompts to get you started in confession and repentance:

Lord, my heart and mind are heavy over this situation where I __________________.

I know it does not please you and that you teach us to live a different way. I struggle but I want so much to live differently. I am turning my attention away from _____________ and I am focusing on the direction that looks like ___________________________, because I know that pleases you, and it leads me to a life of freedom and peace. Please help me to be faithful and honor you with my life. I need you and I trust you.

Holy God, I need to forgive ____________________ for the wrong I feel has been done to me. I know we all fall short and we all sin. We all cause pain for others when we act in ways that are harmful and destructive. I am hurt but I need to forgive. Please help me now to let go of the grudge I hold. I pray for ________________ and ask you to work in their lives as you also work in mine. May we all find more peace and redemption; we are all in such need of your grace! Thank you for freeing me from this burden that weighs down my spirit.

God, I am so disappointed in ____________________________. My dreams were for something so different. I never expected this to happen and it is hard for me to move forward. Help me right now – to let this go – and to trust that you, my Creator and Redeemer, have a plan for me and my life that is beyond the disappointment I feel right now. Help me to let go and embrace a different life; a life where you go with me and will never leave me. Thank you for your great provision and love!

A Prayer for Us
Lord, we stand at the end of a decade with much on our hearts and minds. There are ways we have honored you but there are also so many ways we ignored you. We set our focus on our own desires and when you nudged us to see life through your eyes, we declined the invitation. We see our world in such pain and need, but we are helpless to change it – because, if we’re honest, we are so broken ourselves. Please forgive us and have mercy on the situations we are facing. We are your people and we need you. Free us for joyful obedience; restore us to the JOY of our salvation. For when we are set free in your love – life changes forever. Thank you for your faithfulness. Amen.

Come to the Altar – Elevation Worship

http://bit.ly/37mBsID

Part 3 will focus on Peace: embracing God’s forgiveness and receiving what God has for you…

The coming of a new year and a new decade lends itself to some practice of gratitude, letting go, receiving God’s mercy, and listening for the promises ahead.
This is a 4-part post on a ritual to let the year and decade behind us rest; and prepare our hearts, minds and spirits to embrace all that is to come.

Blessing
Confession
Pardon & Peace
Promise

BLESSING: Giving Thanks
Part 1 of 4.  Today is all about blessings.

My sister and I have lived together several times in our adult life. The first time we were in our early 20’s. Life was hard – becoming an adult is never easy. We were awkward and funny and brave. We did ridiculous things like leaving our Christmas tree in the back yard until June because we weren’t sure where to take it…or maybe we just procrastinated until summer!

We also carried some big heartaches along with us which sometimes made moving forward slow and difficult. The best part of this season in our lives was discovering new ways to do life. Sharing the journey helped us heal from the past and it propelled us forward to a life waiting for us to embrace.

One of the things we learned to do was count our blessings. Our grandparents instilled a value of gratitude in us. It became a practice we needed in our own lives. As we counted our blessings the disappointments and heartaches began to fade into the background. Joy came more often and stayed longer when it arrived. Now counting our blessings is a life long practice.

Here are some ways to begin counting your blessings and giving thanks for the joys of this year and the decade passing:

1. Find a place in your home and office to place pictures that remind you of the blessings from this year and decade. Make your blessings visible!
2. Write a note or send a message to tell 3 people how they blessed your life this year.
3. Make that phone call or walk across the room and say “thank you” to that person who has walked with you through the hardest parts of this year and decade. Tell them what you most appreciate about their presence with you.
4. Take a walk (or bike ride, etc.) and recount all the things you are so grateful for from this year. Let your miles be steps of gratitude to God. Do it with a friend and maximize the joy!

Recalling our blessings helps us to remember that God is always present with us in some way. Even in the darkest places, there is a glimmer of light that remains so we can see our way.  What blessings are you grateful for as this decade and year come to an end?

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown into flame by another human being. Each of us owes deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this light. – Albert Schweitzer

Psalm 145
This Psalm is a great way to give thanks and be reminded of God’s blessings

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+145&version=NIV

Prayer
Lord, your blessings have come in so many ways; we cannot even count them all. You have walked with us through pain and fear. You have offered us mercy in moments when we were falling. You are always finding a way to show us love. Thank you for your grace in our lives. Thank you for your patience to keep waiting on us and with us. Open our eyes to see the blessings you have given us this year that have remained hidden from our eyes. We always need to see more of you.

There Was Jesus by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DFxbGbIDrY

Part 2 of this ritual is about letting go… Confession.

You don’t always get what you want.  Who owns the original of that phrase? I have no idea but we all know what it means! Most of the time, the result is much better than what you wanted; thank God!

In January 2017 my sister and I drove to KY to get this dog from a shelter in Christian County. He was called White Paw. It was the coldest day of the year. We got up at 5am and were in line by 8am. There was one car already in the parking lot; the shelter opened at 10am.  After a lot of coffee and waiting, the car drove off and a young man waited outside in the shivering cold. We invited him into our vehicle.  He was here for White Paw too. And he was first in line.

We shared our dog stories. He was here to get White Paw for his mother, who needed another dog. I was here to get White Paw because my dog died and I’d waited 16 months to get past my grief and dive back in to the adventure of dog ownership.  His mom already had some dogs; I had none.  But one of her dogs had died.. so she had grief as well. And this son was really wanting to fix his mother’s pain.  Although My sister pleaded my case quite eloquently, this man wanted White Paw and unless something changed when the shelter opened, we would be going home empty handed.

I got nervous. I texted my cousin, who lived nearby, and put him on alert that I may need a reference. I’m a Tennessee resident, showing up a Kentucky dog shelter, and the odds are against me – I may need someone to vouch for my character. My cousin agreed to be on standby.

By the time 10am rolled around there were 25 cars in the parking lot. Most were there for ….you guessed it: White Paw!  We waited it out. We all went in organized by number so there would be no mistake.  First come, first serve. The young man we’d been sharing space and conversation with over the past hour or so took one look at White Paw and confirmed: “I’m taking this dog.”

I’d waited 16 months. We got up at 5am. I looked at every other dog in the shelter, thinking…surely there is one here for me. But no; there just wasn’t.  I’d already been through several searches in Tennessee. It just didn’t seem like getting another dog was going to be the right thing for me.  We thanked the people and got back in our vehicle.

And then my cousin texted me to inquire, “did you get the dog?”  I explained the “no” and that we would be heading back to Nashville.  “Well, my friend just posted on Facebook that they need a home for their dog. Do you want to meet the dog?”  Literally ten minutes later, we are standing in the kitchen of a family home. There are three young boys running around; a mom and dad standing there looking very hopeful and a little black and white dog watching the whole scene unfold.  They share the story.  The dog has quite a long story!

His first owner had been elderly and died. Her daughter inherited the dog and kept him for a year. Life was busy and she determined to find him a new home..which is the home where we were standing.  Oreo (his name) had  been with this family for three years. The boys were growing up and playing soccer. Oreo need time and attention but this family was becoming more and more engaged in things outside the home; the dog was not as happy as he used to be.  They wanted him to have a new home.

While we listened to the story and the young boys were telling me all the wonderful things about “Oreo”, including a 3 week adventure when he was lost out in the KY winter weather, something very different happened.  Oreo came and sat at my feet. He looked up at me with a clear message: “I am going home with you.” It didn’t feel like I had any choice in the matter. I would be his 4th owner. This was happening right now!

 

He was not the breed I was looking for, and not the situation I was hoping for – but it sure seemed like something beautiful was happening.  I decided to just go with it. Within a few minutes my SUV was loaded down with dog food, toys, a bed, pee pads, and this little dog…named Oreo. He was 9 years old. It was January 7, 2017, the day after Epiphany.

 

I didn’t know if Oreo would become a work partner for me. My previous dog had been an incredible partner for ministry. I didn’t expect Oreo to be the same and haven’t really invited him into any intentional situations.  Until now. We’re almost 3 years into this and though I really wasn’t sure if he was ready; now we know.  Oreo has developed a deep sense of how to be present when presence is all that is needed. Presence is a ministry; if you’ve ever been in need of it, you know what I’m talking about. No words are required; no entertainment or rescue. Just being there is enough. And healing occurs, almost with no one knowing.

Oreo has been sitting with my mom who is recovering from a recent fracture. He does it every day. He somehow knows this is not an ordinary visit.  He shows up differently. He has been a companion and encouragement day in and day out; without fail.  It looks like I have a ministry partner again! Who knew? This little black and white Shih Tzu from KY, who went through 3 owners on his way to me… is here to help all of us.  No program or training; just learning a way to “be” by paying attention to the people in front of him.

Sometimes we go in search of one thing and God offers us something totally different. We might call it a holy embrace, should we choose to receive the blessing.  It comes in whatever way we need it, not necessarily how we expected it. And always in just the right season. I am grateful.  What creatures are blessing your life?  “All creatures of our God and King; lift up your voice and with us sing: ‘hallelujah!”

Sometimes I find myself listening to others who are finding their way through paths of life I’ve already walked. Maybe it happens with you too. The more experiences we have, the more we find ourselves in the repeating scenario. Patterns, history and learning come around…again and again. Occasionally we grow a bit in wisdom, though humility begs to remain a constant companion.

Within all the repeating patterns, new is constantly being revealed. Each generation adds their unique perspective. Each era carves out its expressive mark to say: “We were here. We counted. We shaped the course of history – or culture – or humanity, in some particular way. We did it better.” On a larger scale we name the eras and ages accordingly: The Iron Age; The Bronze Age; The 60’s; The Greatest Generation; The Millennials…and on and on and on.

Job built a life of solid, consistent faithfulness and success. He loved God. He loved his family. He was a leader. Respected by all, Job personified one who had it all together. And then, for no reason he could comprehend, Job lost it all. Health, family, wealth and security; he couldn’t restore it. Distraught in his situation, Job didn’t understand how this could happen when he had been so careful to live a life of integrity and faithfulness. Even though he was angry with God, Job knew this: it is only God who holds the wisdom of the ages and only God can truly restore all things. In his struggle, Job kept naming this truth.

Read a glimpse of Job’s perspective on wisdom here:
http://bit.ly/JobScripture

Everything we perceive is partial. Every great thought and discovery is a tiny glimpse into the whole. What if the unique perspective each generation offers is much more about what God is offering to us, than what we are offering to the world? Perhaps God gives to each generation the particular wisdom, grace and contribution that is part of the whole being woven throughout history.

To “fear the Lord” is to accept and receive the vastness of our Creator and the vulnerability of our place in the world. If I trust God then I know my life counts simply because I am an expression of the One who created me – and my Creator is complete, whole and full of wisdom. If I understand my vulnerability I can rest in the assurance that my worst day or my greatest weakness is nothing compared to the grace of Christ in my life.

We don’t have to “make” our mark in the world. We ARE a mark in God’s plan that is unfolding on earth and heaven. We live it in the hands of our Creator with acceptance and struggle. Either way, the Lord holds the wisdom we need for our lives. And God gives freely to those who ask.

 

Prayer beginnings…
God thank you for providing glimpses of your wisdom. I see it in…
Please give me wisdom for this situation in my life….
We trust you, Lord, and we need you. Thank you for being the source of wisdom that is   restoring all things according to your great mercy, love and grace. Amen.

Just Be Held
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIZitK6_IMQ

 

But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. – I Corinthians 12:18-19

Yesterday was Veteran’s Day. Different expressions of gratitude, respect, appreciation and love showed up in so many places. I didn’t see a parade or hear any bands. Something else really beautiful happened. From Sunday through Monday morning people poured in with the stockings filled with love for our deployed military friends. Sacks of donated items arrived. Envelopes with funds for shipping were placed in the baskets. Stockings filled with love began to overflow!

Stockings prepared. Boxes packed. Prayers offered. And in the middle of the “task”, something holy began to emerge: A ritual of offering; a rhythm of tending; an act of deep gratitude and Love.

Today they leave our hands and prayers and move into the hands of deliverers, trucks, airplanes and ultimately…into the hands of men and women who are serving on behalf of our country. When the body of Christ reaches across the world with one voice to say “thank you; we see you; we love you”, the earth begins to look a little more like heaven. Every part matters…yours too!

Prayer
Lord, thank you for nudging each of us to do our small part today. And thank you for the ways you connect us so we can experience the joy of being one. Please bring more of heaven to earth in us. Amen.

Here as in Heaven – Elevation Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxTc98K9OeU