Oh God, The Giver of Our Days...

Create in me a clean heart, O God; 

and renew a right spirit within me.

Ps.51:10

Yesterday on Facebook, my youngest sister

 shared a treasured memory, from three years ago...

all the more treasured now,

 because never again will we three be together 

on this side of Heaven!

(I'm so thankful someone offered to take a picture of the three of us)

Click HERE for the last pic of the three of us,

on Lucy's last birthday...

(We three were together on my birthday in June as well

but no one thought to take a picture)

From left to right, Marlene, Lucy, Janet

Loss fine-tunes our hearts to the holiness of Today, doesn't it?!

because we are reminded that we never know

 what tomorrow will bring! (or today!)

Oh, how this perspective humbles our thankfulness for...

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

and cometh down from the Father of lights, 

with whom is no variableness, 

neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17

Oh God, The Keeper of our days

Anoint our lips with hymns of praise

For thy safe-keeping through the night

For mercy, kindling morning light...

Oh God, the Giver of our days

Instill in us a heart of praise

And fill our thought, not with want's trove

But with Thy hope, joy, peace and love

Waken anew, Thy sacred call

To serve Thee from morn to nightfall

Oh God, The Keeper of our days

Anoint our lips with hymns of praise

For thy safe-keeping through the night

For mercy, kindling morning light

For Thy faultless and faithful will

Thy perfect purpose to fulfill

Oh God, the Taker of our days

Instruct us in Your righteous ways

Equip us with Thy armour, Lord

The shield of faith, the Spirit's sword

In labor be our strength and might

In pleasure, be our pure delight

Oh God, the Lender of our days 

Evoke in us believing praise

To trust, rather than understand

The law of love's perfect command

And recognize, with humbler bent 

This Gift of Day that thou hast lent 

Oh God, beholder of our thought

Teach us to treasure what we ought

Where mercies past, in vast amount

Are far too copious to count

Then God, kind Giver of our days

Overflow humbler hearts with praise

In the Name of our almighty and everlasting God,

Amen

© Janet Martin

O God, Our Help in Ages Past