The Earth is Lord Jehovah’s in its fullness, the world and all its inhabitants.
~ Ps 24:1 Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein.
~Deuteronomy 10:14 World English Bible
God of earth and heaven protect both.
Protect heaven from the invasion of silliness as our all-too-human religions promise to storm Your kingdom with hordes of believers who think like us rather than act like Christ. Forgive us for our arrogance, our turf battles, and our dogmatism without grace. Replace our Christ-less-ness with Christ-like-ness.
Forgive us Lord, and fill us with the Spirit of Your grace, love and openness to all, that we may learn from each other to become one as you and the Father are One.
Protect earth from similar silliness and arrogance. Forgive us for choosing dominion over the earth rather than stewardship of your creation; for expecting a harvest without planting, pleasure without toil, and consumption without conservation. Help us to reclaim even Your Holy wonder, as you looked at all You built and proclaimed it “good”. Help us to stand back with equal wonder.
Forgive us Lord, and fill us with the Spirit of Your grace, love and sacred nurturing of all your creation, that we may be one as you and the Father are One.
God of earth and heaven, help us to walk and chew gum at the same time. We can love ourselves and love others; love others we know, and the stranger; the stranger and the foreigner. We can care about heaven and care for the earth. We can trust in tomorrow and work hard today. We can love You there and then, but also here and now.
Forgive us Lord, and fill us with the Spirit of Your grace, love and committed but energy to love and work with humility and justice for all to enable Your kingdom here on earth as in heaven.
For earth’s heavens: we thank you. For heaven’s promise: we thank you. For earth’s challenges: we need you. For heaven’s blessing: we need you. For earth’s salvation: we offer ourselves. For heaven’s salvation: you offered us Yourself. Thank you.
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