Daylight Scripture – The Lord is my solid rock, my fortress, my rescuer. My God is my rock—I take refuge in God!—God’s my shield, my salvation’s strength, my place of safety.

Psalm 18: 2

Daylight Prayer – Holy God, today is a day when many people will be struggling for life and livelihood, for a contented family life and a loving relationship. Today I am praying for people who are stuck in places that they want to move out of, loneliness, depression, fear and poverty. I ask you to rescue them and give them what is needed in life. Earth as it is in heaven. Yourself. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – When you return to the Lord, your relatives and your children will receive mercy from what may hold them captive…the Lord your God is merciful and compassionate. God won’t withdraw God’s presence from you if you return to God.

2 Chronicles 30:9

Daylight Prayer – Lord, today I pray for every person who is held captive by physical restraints, prison, mental illness, emotional pain, long distance and dark spiritual ties. Lord give them release through what ever means available to you. Let them see the beauty and light of your Holy Spirit given to them by those around them, most especially their loving families and friends. Help them in their need to return to you.  Amen.

Daylight Scripture – Look at how good and pleasing it is when families live together as one!

Genesis 133: 1

Daylight Prayer – Today I pray for families of the world, those who are happy, and those who are broken; those who are making ends meet and those who aren’t; those whose lives are full of meaning and fun and those whose day to day is a struggle; Lord bless the families large, small, diverse and complicated. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – Abram said to Lot, “Let’s not have disputes between me and you and between our herders since we are relatives.  Isn’t the whole land in front of you? Let’s separate. If you go north, I will go south; and if you go south, I will go north.”

Genesis 13: 8-9

Daylight Prayer – Lord, I get it. Fighting gets us nowhere. Sometimes being apart is better that being together. Loving from a distance is okay. At least that is what I get from you in this story. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – Those who are gracious to the poor lend to the Lord, and the Lord will fully repay them.

Proverbs 19:17

Daylight Prayer – Father, how odd to think that what I might do for someone who is poor is a loan to you. You, who does not need my help, yet will use my help if it is given…how odd that you might count on me… Amen.

Daylight Scripture – The priest will put whatever is left of the oil in his hand on the head of the person needing purification, to make reconciliation for them before the Lord. 

Leviticus 14:29

Daylight Prayer – Lord, the ancient rituals you gave to the Hebrews seem antiquated and old fashion to my post-modern life. Yet I do understand the soft touch of your Spirit in my soul, and of my need for constant purification. I am thankful for your mercy and forgiveness. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

John 1: 29

Daylight Prayer – Lord, this good news goes unheard and disbelieved, just as it did when John proclaimed it. But, I am so grateful that your grace and your love brought me to understanding and faith. I know that you are seeking all of us…everyday of our lives you are seeking us, wooing us, and breaking through everything to get us. I am grateful. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – I call out to God, and the Lord will rescue me. At evening, morning, and midday I complain and moan so that God will hear my voice. God saves me, unharmed, from my struggle.

Psalm 55: 16-18a

Daylight Prayer – Oh God, how many times have you heard my complaining and moaning and rescued me unharmed from the struggle. And for those times I was harmed, when my heart broke, when my soul cried, and my faith wavered…you held me and your Spirit healed and restored me. I will  praise you in the storm! Amen.

M. Sumney Drawing

Daylight Scripture – Simeon blessed Jesus and Mary and said to Mary Jesus’ mother, “This boy is assigned to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that generates opposition.

Luke 2:34

Daylight Prayer – Lord, It must have been a difficult thing for Mary to hear that you would generate opposition, especially as she held you close to her heart and listened to your sweet infant breaths. But the word that Simeon gave her was and is still true. Thanks be to God, were it not for your work of opposition to death and evil, we certainly would be hopeless in this world. Blessed be the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.

Daylight Scripture – It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to God’s name, the Most High; to proclaim God’s loyal love in the morning, God’s faithfulness at night.

Psalm 92: 1-2

Daylight Prayer – Holy God, I can say that you have always been faithful to me, to wake me in the mornings and to carry me safely through each night of my life. Even when nights have been restless, even fearful, your loyal love has comforted me and given me peace. I praise and thank your for your great love. Amen.