God, thanks for the miracles of medicine that make our lives so much better. Thanks especially for the work done to make Lois' vision better. Help her heal quickly and see as clearly as you need her to see.
Be with both of us as the center of our marriage, so that we can continue to love and support one another.
God, give me patience as my computer continues to undergo repairs. I know it might seem petty and small to pray for this, but it's part of my work for you, and I'm trying to do the best that I can.
God, thanks for the gifts of patience and respect. Thanks as well for empowering me and allowing me to be a shoulder to lean on and an ear to bend. It's a blessing to have people trust me enough to share their heart with me. It's also a blessing to be in a place that allows me to care for people, one person at a time. Help me to keep listening and keep silent, to speak only when invited to do so and only to offer positive reinforcement, and the continued care of myself to be able to hear, to care and to love, without feeling inadequate or useless when I can't solve other people's problems. I know they are in your hands, and that I am part of the process, not the solution. Help me keep that straight in my mind.
Lord, it's been a good day off, despite some bumps. Thanks for letting take it easy, for getting some small chores done, and for being able to focus on my music for a bit.
Thanks God for physical work. I enjoyed a short run earlier today and then a vigourous workout shovelling snow. There's a little pain, but it's far outweighed by the sense of using my body the way it's meant to be used.
Help me keep active above and beyond normal so that I can get into better shape and lose weight.
Help me to keep disciplined with my food intake and to make wise choices with what I eat.
Finally, Lord, make me patient so that I can stick with this for the long run, and so that I can keep my body in the best shape possible.
Thanks, God, for an evening with friends. I especially thank you for this relationship that began in church, but has developed beyond just a church thing. Thank-you for keeping me grounded this way, for finding life beyond work and for letting my faith be my life, not just my career.
Lord, I give you thanks for the power of friendship. You put us on earth not to be alone, but to share life with other humans as we glorify and enjoy you. Help me to be a good friend, listening, caring and serving as Christ himself did. I give you thanks that my family knows the value of friendship, within out own small group and beyond. Help us see the value of one another without regard to age or gender, race or creed. Help all of us in my family to be Christ-like friends so that others might be drawn to Christ through us, and so that we ourselves might be more Christ-like.
Lord, thanks for the gift of music, for the joy it offers me, for the skill that lets me play and write it, for the folks that like to play along with me and those who like to listen, and for the simple fact that it is a way that we humans can bring you joy. In the Psalms David reveals what you expect about music, and so I try to do my best. Help me continue to create new, joyful songs for you and to enjoy the vast number of songs that already exist for your glory.
