So many reasons to rejoice today. For all you math people out there, it is Pi Day 3.14. For the Jacksons, we rejoice that we got our first COVID vaccine shot yesterday and soon will be out of self-induced quarantine after a long year of precautions. Third, we dined at the awesome Cheesecake Factory after a year and a half absence. Yum. Fourth, it is Jakob Klemm’s wedding day to his lovely Jill and we’ll watch live-stream. Fifth, I met an awesome lady yesterday who just moved here. and sixth, and most important, it is Sabbath day. Time to worship. If you’d like to join us, visit covenantpalmbay.org live or livestream at 10:30. Did you change your clock setting?
MY PSALM 329 PRAISE AND WORSHIP
Almighty God, Everlasting Lord, King of the Universe,
I praise You this Lord’s Day for Your very presence
Every moment of every day and night,
And the joy of my salvation as Your child.
Thank You for Your hedge of protection,
For being the Rock of my Salvation
And my Eternal Hope.
Thank You for Your guidance for my family
And most recently for two friends
I have entrusted to Your care.
I thank You for establishing new homes,
I thank You for creating new horizons
Where there was no hope.
I thank You for provision
Of the very basics: food, shelter, health
And for adding the blessings of joy
Through suffering and pain,
That showing me this life is but temporary,
And these life-tragedies are but delays
Until we are united in Your heavenly halls
Where Light shines eternally and tears are wiped away.
I rejoice that Your people are gathering,
Even this Sabbath moment,
All around Your world to worship You in spirit and in truth.
From steamy jungles to storefronts,
From forest campsites to vast cathedrals
Voices rise in adoration and praise to You, Eternal God.
I pray for our pastors, priests, laymen, and all worshippers
That Your Spirit will enliven, enrich,
Encourage, and magnify our worship.
I pray that the Word of truth
Will be spoken, sung, and prayed,
That every soul will find reverence,
Refreshment, revival
And that where men are silent,
All of creation will cry out to praise Your Name.
As dew, raindrops, and torrents
Bring Your blessing to a world
Which so needs cleansing and new growth,
Encourage us this day,
That we may see signs of Your blessings
In the little things, and in the giant miraculous blessings You provide.
Where there is conflict, where there is discord,
Where there is absence of peace,
I pray Your Holy Spirit will initiate
Recovery, restoration, cooperation, and concord.
Where there is selfishness, hatred, prejudice, mistrust
I pray Your Holy Spirit will renew a right spirit
And baptize with the cleansing of Your grace
That resurrection can come in relationships,
Bringing peace and concord and satisfaction
Beyond man’s ability to understand,
Bringing joy where there was none.
Remind us yet again that Your Son, Jesus,
Came to us as Prince of Peace,
And that the world denied Him,
And is now filled with discord, distrust, and conflict.
We pray we can be used by You
To promote the love of others
Which You command
As we love You first, and love our neighbors as ourselves.
ill us with Your Presence, this day, ‘til our very souls
Utter what our tongues cannot perfectly speak:
“Hallelujah, Lord of All,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit! Amen!”
A career teacher, with forty years of teaching language arts/English, Betty Jackson enjoys wordsmithing, writing, and reading as a vocation and avocation.Retirement is her "age of frosting," a chance to pursue postponed hobbies with gusto. She especially sends kudos to the Space Coast Writers Guild members for their encouragement and advice. Her five books, It's a God Thing!, Job Loss: What's Next? A Step by Step Action Plan, and Bless You Bouquets: A Memoir, And God Chose Joseph: A Christmas Story, and Rocking Chair Porch: Summers at Grandma's are available at Amazon.com. Ms. Jackson is available to speak to local groups and to offer her books at discount for fundraising purposes at her discretion. She and her husband soon celebrate their 47th anniversary, and have lived in New York, New Jersey, Iowa, and now the paradise of Palm Bay, Florida. Their two grown children and daughter-in-love, all orchestra musicians, and our beautiful granddaughters Kaley and Emily live nearby. Hobbies, and probably future topics on her blog: gardening, symphonic music (especially supporting the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra as a volunteer and proud parent of a violinist, a cellist, and an oboist), singing, book clubs, and co-teaching a weekly small-group Bible study for seniors. She volunteers and substitute teaches at Covenant Christian School, and serves as a board member of the Best Yet Set senior group at church. Foundationally, she daily enjoys God's divine appointments called Godincidences, which show God's providence and loving kindness.