Quarterly results are in.  Fantastic.   Share price moving in the right direction.   Board happy; Analysts impressed.   It feels like everything is a well oiled machine.   It has not always been this way.   But I am really delighted by what is happening.   We have a good team.  We have had few defections.  There are few client complaints.  It has been dependable, like the sun rising in the morning and the moon in the evening.

What am I to make of all this?   St. Paul said, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.”  (Romans 12) Well we can rejoice today; we can share our happiness with You, God of Light and Darkness.

Is this how you felt when you created the world and rested on the “seventh day?” And You said that it was good.   You let us share in Your creation.  You let us turn our ideas into concrete results.  You made us to use our hands and our intellect to make things, to help our neighbor, to feed our families to build our communities.

Rejoice with us, Lord.   We realize that there is both Light and Darkness and now we are in the Light.   Help us to remember You and our good times when results are not so good, when the economy struggles when clients are struggling.

Section 2, Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5,27,31; Philippians 4:4-8

Hebrew Scripture

New Testament

In the beginning, when God created the heavens and the earth— 2 and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters— 3 Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good. God then separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” Evening came, and morning followed—the first day. 27 God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 31 God looked at everything he had made and found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed—the sixth day. Genesis 1:1-5,27,31

Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again: rejoice! 5Your kindness* should be known to all. The Lord is near. 6 Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:4-9