O God, this morning I have come into the quietness and stillness of your
Presence to begin the day, so that out of this moment I may take with me
A quiet serenity which will last me through the rough and tumble of this day's Life.

I have come to find WISDOM, so that today I may not make any foolish mistakes.

I have come to find PEACE, so that nothing may worry or upset me all through today.

I have come to find LOVE, that all through today nothing may make me bitter or
unforgiving or unkind.

I have come to begin the day with you, to continue it with you, and to end it with you,
That it will be a day, which will have in it nothing to regret.

Hear this Morning Prayer for Jesus' sake
AMEN.

In the morning while it was still very dark,
Jesus got up and went out to a deserted place,and there He prayed.
(Mark 1:35)





THE SCULPTOR...

I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do
before the clock strikes midnight.
I have responsibilities to fulfill today.
I am important.

My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.
Today I can complain because the weather is rainy,
or
I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.
Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money,
or
I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan
my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.
Today I can grumble about my health
or
I can rejoice that I am alive.
Today I can lament over all that my parents
didn't give me when I was growing up,
or
I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.
Today, I can cry because roses have thorns,
or
I can celebrate that thorns have roses.
Today I can mourn my lack of friends,
or
I can excitedly embark upon a quest
to discover new relationships.
Today, I can whine because I have to go to work,
or
I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.
Today, I can complain because I have to go to school,
or
Eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.
Today, I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework,
or
I can feel honored because the Lord
has provided shelter for my mind, body, and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped.
And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me.
I get to choose what kind of day I will have!