I am the Alpha and the Omega—
the beginning and the end,
says the Lord God.
“I am the one who is,
who always was,
and who is still to come—
the Almighty One.”
I am the Alpha and the Omega—
the beginning and the end,
says the Lord God.
“I am the one who is,
who always was,
and who is still to come—
the Almighty One.”
“O our God,
we thank you and praise your glorious name!
But who am I,
and who are my people,
that we could give anything to you?
Everything we have has come from you,
and we give you only what you first gave us!
We are here for only a moment,
visitors and strangers in the land
as our ancestors were before us.
Our days on earth are like a passing shadow,
gone so soon without a trace.
Yours, O LORD, is the greatness,
the power, the glory, the victory,
and the majesty.
Everything in the heavens
and on earth is yours, O LORD,
and this is your kingdom.
We adore you as the one who is over all things.
“Be strong and courageous, and do the work.
Don’t be afraid or discouraged,
for the LORD God, my God, is with you.
He will not fail you or forsake you…
…learn to know the God of your ancestors intimately.
Worship and serve him with your whole heart
and a willing mind.
For the LORD sees every heart
and knows every plan and thought.
If you seek him, you will find him.
But if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.
…If God is for us,
who can ever be against us?
Who then will condemn us?
No one—for Christ Jesus died for us
and was raised to life for us,
and he is sitting in the place of honor
at God’s right hand,
pleading for us.
And we know that God
causes everything to work together
for the good of those who love God
and are called
according to his purpose for them.
David looked up and saw the angel of the LORD
standing between heaven and earth
with his sword drawn,
reaching out over Jerusalem…
(Indigo Bunting in garden)
But the Holy Spirit prays for us
with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.
And the Father who knows all hearts
knows what the Spirit is saying,
for the Spirit pleads for us believers
in harmony with God’s own will.
(Kingbird)
…all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day
when God will reveal who his children really are.
Against its will,
all creation was subjected to God’s curse.
But with eager hope,
the creation looks forward to the day
when it will join God’s children
in glorious freedom from death and decay.
For we know that all creation has been groaning
as in the pains of childbirth
right up to the present time.