Focus

Are you tired? Take this time to rest. Relax every part of yourself. Breathe slower. Don’t be prideful or stubborn. Be ready for what God has before you today.

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Read

Psalm 148 (NRSV)

Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all his angels;
praise him, all his host!

Praise him, sun and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for he commanded and they were created.
He established them forever and ever;
he fixed their bounds, which cannot be passed.

Praise the LORD from the earth,
you sea monsters and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and frost,
stormy wind fulfilling his command!

Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Wild animals and all cattle,
creeping things and flying birds!

Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and women alike,
old and young together!

Let them praise the name of the LORD,
for his name alone is exalted;
his glory is above earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his faithful,
for the people of Israel who are close to him.
Praise the LORD!

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Reflect

Don’t be too quick to end the Christmas celebrations. Today is the second day of an entire Christmas season that will last until January 6th, Epiphany. Today’s scripture is a reminder to praise God every day. This psalm of praise is also a reminder of why God deserves to be celebrated daily. There is nothing and no one who has been created without the touch and breath of God. And, there is nothing in all of creation that does not praise that Creator. So, along with the cedars and the snow and the hills, let us continue to praise God who created each and every one of us in God’s image.

God didn’t stop with creation. When God saw that we needed help, God sent Jesus. We continue today to praise God for all that God has done for us—creating us, allowing us to live in God’s wonderful creation, sending the Christ when we needed a savior, and for all that we can see and everything that we can’t see. Praise God!

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Pray

Creator of the Universe, you continue to amaze us by your love and your generosity. Thank you for the world, for the mountains, for the rain, for snow and flowers and trees. Praise your name for dogs and cats, elephants and lions, and all the animals on earth, in the sky and in the sea. We continue to praise you for sending the Christ-child and we worship our Messiah as the gift he is. May I be a gift to you too, a child who makes you proud and serves you in this world as you so will me to do. Praise the Lord! Amen.

Go with God.