In the morning when I rise....morning prayers

Today I start the day with coffee outside on the patio, listening to the waterfall feature, and hoping to glimpse at least one hummingbird.

Since I couldn't find my Upper Room Worhsipbook I bought at the 5 day Academy, I am using this one today.  It is one of ten I found at Flintstone UMC in the library when I was looking through books last year.  Being at the 5 day Academy and then a 2 year Academy, I became well acquainted with the songs, the Psalm prayers, and the liturgies for daily prayer (morning, noon, and night).  Each day had its rhythm.  

Yesterday, in talking with a friend and colleague (Ginger Isom), we were talking some about the worship and rhythm of the Academy and how we were drawn to it.  She is considering working on a "rhythm day" for her 2nd year project (hopefully along with others on her journey) to offer for those who are interested who have been to a 5 day or 2 year or have yet to been and can experience such worship.  Maybe that's why I picked up the worship book this morning when I headed outside for my quiet time today.

The liturgy for morning prayer in this book is #112.

We can sing Psalm 51:15 "O God, open our lips, and we shall declare Your praise." together OR read:

God said: Let there be light; and there was light.

And God saw that the light was good.  This very day the Lord has acted!

LET US REJOICE!

Praise the Lord!

GOD'S NAME BE PRAISED!

A morning hymn or Psalm 95 follows.

Then this prayer: 

New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world.  Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ the Lord.  AMEN. 

(This prayer is from The Worshipbook-- Services and Hymns, p. 57, Westminster Press.)

Each day IS new.  New blessings.  New challenges.  New opportunities.  

I am grateful for the blessings, challenges, and opportunities of yesterday and open to those of today.

The rest of the morning prayer liturgy continues with another Psalm, some silence, a psalm prayer, reading from Scripture, canticle of Zachary or a hymn of praise, prayers of thanksgiving (intercession, and petition), the Lord's prayer, a hymn or doxology, and benediction.

Joining in community for this time of morning prayer is a great way to start the day.  A rhythm day will be just the right thing.  I look forward to that dream/vision coming to fruition.  I also hope to make my way back to a 5 day again, to enjoy the week long rhythm.

Meanwhile, I rise each day to experience the love and light of God, to seek to be that love and light to others, to live peacefully with my neighbors, to devote the day to Christ, to live, love, and lead as Christ did.

The benediction from #112?

Go in peace.  Serve the Lord.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.  AMEN. 

(From same book above, p. 58.)

Blessings on your journey, 

Debra

P.S.  Here's a song for the day: (first one with Jeremy Camp singing; second one with Fernando Ortega)

Lyrics: 

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

And when I am alone
Oh, and when I am alone
And when I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

And when I come to die
Oh, and when I come to die
And when I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
But give me Jesus

In the morning when I rise

This is the view off the deck this morning sometime after 6am as I go outside for coffee and contemplation.  The sky shows hints of red in the morning sunrise.  It is nowhere near as bright and deep dark as it was last night.  Last night's sunset was stunning.

I left the house without my camera and went to the nearby Burk's UMC labyrinth to walk and pray.  Without my camera I couldn't capture any of the incredible sky moments, from the bright light coming through the clouds to the deep dark red all over the sky.  But it's okay.  I enjoyed it with my eyes and I attempted to soak it in into my heart, mind, and soul.

I rise this morning to another full day.  I look forward to being with the kids at the Rossville Summer Academy for morning devotions.  Because of Annual Conference last week, this will be my 2nd Wednesday with them.

Then I have a graveside service for one of our Simpson UMC shut-ins.  I am grateful for the visits I had with her.  I was able to meet more of her family last night.  I know her aunt from our church.

After that I will visit with someone with whom I have been getting to know over the phone for a few weeks.  It's a connectional visit in that another pastor called me and asked me to make this connection.  It has taken a while to make it happen, but the first in-person visit happens today.

On a side note, that connectional aspect of the United Methodist Church is vital and a major blessing. I have had pastors from out of state call me and ask me to do hospital visits.  I have done the same once before when a member was in NY and now when a member is heading to CA for a procedure.  What a blessing when we truly connect as the body of Christ and extend the caring love of Christ for one another in the flesh on behalf of God and the church.  It has blessed me to go on behalf of others and it blesses me that others go on behalf of me.  Truly, we all do it on behalf of God ultimately, but we are also extensions of one another's ministries.

I have other thoughts this morning, but I think I will put them in other posts.  I wouldn't want this one to be too long.

As I look toward the day, the song, "In the morning When I Rise" / "Give Me Jesus" came to mind. This version is with Jeremy Camp.

Lyrics:

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Just give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
Oh, when I am alone
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Just give me Jesus

Jesus
Give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
Oh, when I come to die
Give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
Just give me Jesus

Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
You can have all this world
Just give me Jesus

Jesus

Written by C.S. Brown • Copyright © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

Blessings on your journey,

Debra

Folding clothes with Pandora...

I took a paper-writing break to fold some laundry.  Not only did I need a mental break, I needed to physically change my position from being at the computer and writing/typing.  So, what better thing to do than fold laundry?!?  [I imagine we all could come up with answers, but it needed to be done!]

I didn't simply want to "fold laundry."  I wanted and needed a refreshing filling for my heart, mind, and soul during this "break" from thinking and writing.  [Who knew that folding laundry could be a "refreshing filling" in this way?!?!]

So, I took my smart phone with me into the laundry room, pulled up the Pandora application (app) and did a search for Keith Green.  Pandora is new for me.  I just started using it this month when I went for my first intensive weekend at Asbury.  I really hadn't gotten into before then.  But, I had heard mention of the "liquid minds" channel as something helpful for sleeping and thought that might be good for my travels.  And, so it has been!  So, today, I was fearful to use "liquid minds" for folding laundry with the rain still coming down outside.  I could see a nap rather than accomplishing folding.  But, then again, sometimes the most refreshing and spiritual thing one can do IS take a nap.

Not today.  I searched for Keith Green and found him.  Pandora gave me only one Keith Green song though.  Then, I heard, "Give me Jesus."  What was so odd about that was that this was the song that the students had chosen to sing this morning at Prayer at the Pole at Hixson Middle (in the rain this morning).  They used the Jeremy Camp version and sang along to the chorus.  The version that came up on Pandora was Fernando Ortega.  He sang the entire song.  His singing touches me.  Always has.  Whether it has anything to do with him being Hispanic/Latino or not, I don't know.  It might. He has been here in Chattanooga a couple of times in concert and I've been able to attend.  It is always worshipful.  Just like this afternoon.  Hearing him sing the song penetrated to my soul.

Folding laundry is one of those ordinary tasks in life.

However, there are ways in which the ordinary can become extraordinary and even sacred when there is an intentional focus in the midst of it.

Today, folding laundry was sacred for me.  It was a time of refreshing filling and rest. 

Unfortunately, I only got 1/2 of the pile folded (1 load full) and decided I should write about my experience.

Now, whether I get back to writing the paper or laundry folding or who knows what.... is yet to be seen.

But, for you, I have this video link of Fernando Ortega singing "Give me Jesus".

 

Jeremy Camp:

 

 

Lyrics:

In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise
In the morning, when I rise, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I am alone
When I am alone
When I am alone, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus, 

You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

When I come to die
When I come to die
When I come to die, give me Jesus

Give me Jesus,
Give me Jesus,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
You can have all this world,
But give me Jesus

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

May something along your journey go from "ordinary" to "extraordinary" and "sacred" today!

Blessings,

Debra