recent blogs I read

Thank God for his holy, righteous goodness
Stacey's reflections on whether God is good

Thank God for godly parents
Molly Piper's reflections on her 3-year old's very short trip to Kenya

Thank God, especially, for godly adoptive parents
Jason Kovacs on The ABBA Fund

Thank God for biblical archaeology
The ESV Study Bible and Jesus' tomb

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Father, thank you. Thank you for your wonderful creation, which you have given to people and which you have used to shine your glory. The stars of the sky and the waves of the sea, and every living creature on earth, are a constant testimony to your power and majesty.

Thank you for the wonderful care you provide your people. Thank you for being a God of goodness, mercy and compassion. You are not arbitrary; everything you do is for a particular purpose--your glory. And may your name be glorified. You are truly a God of wonders. And you have given your instruction to your people so that we can know you and have a relationship with you. Bring us closer to you and help us know you better, more deeply.

Father, I thank you for the great blessing of parents. And may your people who are parents see their parenting as an act of worship. May we see our children as precious gifts from you and may we see ourselves as stewards of your children. May Christian parents desire for their kids to mature into devoted disciples who bring you glory, whether that is near home or in a far off land. And Father, I praise you for all the Christian families who have seen your model of adoption and have chosen to adopt children into their families. Bless those families and help them unite together for your glory.

And Father, I thank you for the wonderful witness your people have today through biblical archaeology. In recent decades, so much evidence has come concerning the historical trustworthiness of the biblical accounts. And through discoveries, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, we can see how your word has been faithfully preserved through the centuries. Bless your people with confidence in you.

I ask these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.