In our vulnerable moments, know that God is Emmanuel. He is with us, declaring “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I am grateful to Patrick Johnson for allowing me to share his wonderful reflection, “A Sunrise Liturgy for the Hard Mornings.”
He is the Founder of GenerousChurch Global, an organization that catalyzes and strengthens generosity through global church and ministry networks to accelerate disciple-making.
Patrick is one of the leaders I deeply admire. Recently, he wrote about people-centered leadership, saying in part: “I want something different for our team — the kind of organization where Troy shows up as Troy, Jessica shows up as Jessica, and Gabby shows up as Gabby — not merely as functions, but as people.” He went on to describe a vision of building “the most loving ministry in the world.”
He invites people to think differently. I pray that we will all have a meaningful and enriching time reflecting on the following message:
A Sunrise Liturgy For The Hard Mornings By Patrick Johnson
Begin
You do not have to arrive before you can begin
You only have to start walking.
So you step outside.
You feel the air on your face.
You hear the birds before you see them.
You are already being met.
Name What Is True
Some mornings the orphan is louder than the son.
Some mornings the older brother in you stands in the field,
counting the years, listing the service,
wondering why the music is for someone else.
You do not have to hide this from God.
You do not have to fix it before you pray.
The Father comes out into the field.
He has always come out into the field.
Pray The Prayer He Taught You
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
Your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
Say it slowly. Say it again.
Let the word Father stay in your mouth a little longer than the rest.
Walk With The Shepherd
The Lord is your shepherd.
You are not shepherding yourself this morning.
You are being led.
He makes you lie down in green pastures.
He leads you beside still waters.
He restores your soul.
Even when you walk through the valley —
and some weeks you are walking through the valley —
you will fear no evil,
for He is with you.
Goodness and mercy will follow you
all the days of your life.
Not just the good days.
The bad days, too.
This day.
Remember Who You Are
You are a beloved son or daughter.
Not because you have earned it.
Not because the work is going well.
Not because you have finally arrived.
Because the Father says so.
You are a disciple of Jesus.
Still learning. Still following.
You do not have to know the whole road to take the next step.
You carry a calling.
But the calling is not the center.
The belovedness is the center.
The calling flows from it.
The Creed
I am enough.
I have done enough.
I will have enough.
Not self-sufficiency.
Christ-sufficiency.
Autarkeia.
I have learned, Paul said.
Past tense. Ongoing force.
He did not arrive. He is still arriving.
So are you.
Release The Day
You do not have to build your brand today.
You do not have to prove anything.
You do not have to be the biggest.
You have to love, and be loved.
The work will keep.
The people you serve are held by the same Father who holds you.
You are not their shepherd.
You are a sheep who gets to walk alongside them.
Close
Breathe in.
Breathe out.
Hear the birds.
Feel the ground under your feet.
Notice the light.
You are not there yet.
You are on the way.
The One who began a good work in you
will be faithful to complete it.
