And once again, my thoughts turn to data analysis, both quantitative and qualitative.

Jesus taught us, saying: “So always treat others as you like them to treat you; that is the Law and the Prophets.” Mathew 7:12

Almighty and merciful God, in Your goodness keep me, I pray, from all things that may hurt me, that I, being ready both in mind and body, may accomplish with a free heart those things which belong to Your purpose; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

I was pretty tired after I got home from family dinner last night. Um, like sort of dizzy tired. I had done lots of leaping about at school in my feeble attempt to drag attention away from who had called whom what, and towards the finer points of public speaking and the rubric and the reflection paragraph on What did I learn? and eegees for any class that was able to finish all of their presentations. Why do you jump around so much, Miss? So I got up at four this morning to make lots of fancy certificates:

Excellence in Science Award

Presented to

Sasha Bilbeisis

For demonstrating excellence and inspiring others

to perform at their best

WE ARE A BETTER TEAM BECAUSE OF YOU.

And as I ran my mind down the list of 147 names, I considered each child. Each child who now holds a little piece of my heart. And each one is not his or her worst moment. Each one is a child of the King, so loved.

And I pray to the King of the Harvest that He will prove His faithfulness, even where I proved of little faith. And timid. And weary.  But the seed has been sown. And some has surely fallen by the waysides and among the thorns.

But Dear Almighty and Merciful God, may some fall in fertile soil, and produce a harvest thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times.

Because it is all about Your goodness. For Yours are the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Just as the pink and purple dawn tumbles over the Catalinas

Then, in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a deserted place, and there He prayed. Mark 1:35

And what did He pray? Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

And it is still dark here in Tucson, Arizona. And my feet are propped up on the fireplace, hoping to catch the last remnants of last night’s coals.

Give us today our daily bread.  It’s not about me. This is a corporate prayer. I wander through my community list, requesting provision. A cup held out for today’s What Is It. Matteo’s photo captures His abundance offered, just for the coming. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

And forgive us our debts, even as we forgive our debtors. May we walk in His mercy and grace on today’s path. Give and it shall be given to us. Heaping and overflowing into our laps.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Protect our thoughts from wicked lies. Be a shield. Jesus was tempted in the relative solitude of the desert for forty days, with just the wild beasts and the Tempter. Flesh and blood is not our enemy. Rather it is the principalities and powers doing battle with flaming poisonous darts. Stand firm then, girded with truth.

For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the glory for ever.

 Amen.