This morning I was not quite ready to get out of bed, but I heard Your voice, God, and decided that dawn was not a bad thing. The sun rising and setting each day gives me plenty of time to care for myself, my loved ones, my work, my home. You speak to me through all of these activities, small gestures that add up to my life and my intention in serving You. Thank you for the ordinary things that weave my life, held together by the strength of Your spirit. Amen.

Thank You, God, for this day that reminds us what journeys are all about. We have finished packing up Christmas and entered a new calendar year, but the Wise Men, traveling across a wide and lonely desert have just arrived at the manger. They didn't take their time. They were moving as fast as they could, but they missed what we consider the main event. Or have we? Getting to know You takes time, patience, energy and imagination, qualities these three on camels probably exercised in their many days together before reaching Your son. Remind us of the lessons they can teach us about You. Amen.

When the sun shines we praise You, God from whom all blessings flow. When the stars twinkle and sparkle beyond our reach, we remember that You created everything and we are grateful. When we can meet our obligations, have a little left over to share with those we love and with those we don't yet know, we find that You are always present and active in our lives. Amen.

Today, Lord, let us see what others may not in another's heart and let us open ourselves to being for them what they cannot be fore themselves. Help us to be sincere in our loving, seeking to understand, care for and support each other in gentle, peaceful measures that will uphold Your word and uplift our fellow travelers' spirits. Amen.

What do we do, God, when we are alone?  Do we turn away from our lives, looking for whatever it takes to fill up empty space and time?  Do we pretend that what we really want doesn't matter?  Or do we stop in our tracks, think for a moment and really consider what a difference believing in You can make for us?  Amen.   

God of Warmth and Comfort, grant us a vision for the future, past the cold winds, snow and ice that blanket so much of the earth this day.  Give us a sense that those who suffer can find hope in Your love, the love in which we live and move and have our being.  Your love can change the world if we pick it up and use it to create miracles.  Please guide us to ways that we can break apart the ice of frozen relationships, damaged souls and crushed dreams.  Help us to hear the beating heart of Your strength in ourselves, trusting that we have everything we need in You to see past what is to what can be.  Amen.  

Loving Creator, thank You for the grace embodied in this new year. What it holds is yet to be determined, but we do know that You will be with us in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. for this we are truly grateful. Thank You for the blessings in our hands, in our hearts and in the days to come. Amen.