Community

Lord,

Help me to shrug away from shyness and to be with people in community even though I always struggle to do so.  Help me to remember to just relax and let a conversation flow with someone whom I don't know.

Help me to give to my community but also to allow my community to give back to me.  It isn't all about me doing things by myself.

Help me to learn how to approach people rather than just standing back and hoping someone will invite me into a conversation.  Then, help me to always remember to listen.

Lord Jesus,

Please help me to remember that You gave your people a community of believers for a reason.  You were always gathering with people and teaching people in groups.  Help me to rejoice not only in personal communion with you, but to celebrate and rejoice in the community You have given to me.  Then, help me to have humility within the group.

Amen

Colors

Lord,

Let me see your colors.  You named me with a name that would forever cause me to look for your colors.  I came into this world named Jennifer Reding.  Lord, thank you for showing me your colors today.

Thank you for warming me up to see your colors.

Again, thank you for warming me up to see your colors.

Thank you for making me nearly giddy for your colors, for I knew You would bring them to me if I was patient enough to wait today.

Yes, Lord!  How magnificent you paint the sky!  How much more beauty is there for the eye to see?  How much more beautiful must You be!

Thank you, Lord, for your colors.  Thank you, Lord, for your life-breath.  Thank you, Lord, for your insistence that we all be made differently from one another.  No two living creatures are quite the same.  Even the trees have their own shape, personality, and touch.

Amen.