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Dear God, as the sun rises around the world today, we gather with others to worship You in Spirit and Truth. Thank You for another sunrise and another chance to live another day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. https://www.instagram.com/p/CaezDx1LiTr/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear Heavenly Father, we rise today to gather with people around the world to worship You in Spirit and Truth. Even on cloudy winter days, Your Son and the sun still shine. In Jesus’ Name. Amen https://www.instagram.com/p/CZ6uX6hL5QC/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear Heavenly Father, as the sun that You created rises today around the world, we worship You. As churches that worship You in Spirit and in Truth gather, I ask that You speak to us and renew us as we listen and worship. In Jesus’ Name. Amen https://www.instagram.com/p/CZop_FMuVtD/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear Heavenly Father, as the sun rises on this part of the world which You created, those who love You are rising to gather to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Help us to worship You in this way in churches all around the world. https://www.instagram.com/raymckayhardee/p/CZEqIHhLdLd/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear God, as the sun rises on our part of the world, we rise to worship You and the Son You sent to save us in Spirit and In Truth. As people who believe in You and follow You gather, help us to increase in power, wisdom, and number. Amen https://www.instagram.com/p/CYgnRrgr4-T/?utm_medium=tumblr

Here’s To The Educators We’re two years into the pandemic of the century. So, let’s give some credit where credit is due. Let’s start with teachers, counselors, principals, and their senior leaders. Here’s to the teachers and those that lead them! Whether public, private, or home-school, educators have had to do the Herculean in an environment that threatened to weaken the treasured educations we have grown accustomed to having in our great country. I don’t know all the heroes personally, but I do several at nearly every level. Heads of schools and systems like Jeff Booker (public), Marc Stout (private Christian), and Richard Rankin (private) have had to exercise their best judgement. With the help of boards of education and the omnipresent advisory groups otherwise known as parents (the ultimate authorities in their child’s life), let’s be honest with one another about one signature fact: Everyone has had to make this up as we have gone along. I’ve seen murkily from a distance, but most personally up close with one teacher. She lives across the street from me. My last name is her middle name. She’s my daughter, Anna Hardee Branch. She’s taught for twelve years inn Gaston County Schools at least one year at every elementary grade level. Last year and this year, it has been second grade at Belmont Central Elementary. All this occurred while she had to make sure her daughter Ella, a second grader herself, and Easton a pre-Kindergartener were properly educated. Virtual, in-person, and hybrid learning environments could change with the blow of a scientific wind or a political whim. In all circumstances, she popped open her laptop to teach the youngest of inexperienced child students in a brand new way that had never been collectively done before. Zoom became a regular part of language and practice. Parent conferences were virtual. So was the instruction. She endured as her students endured and their parents endured. They made it. Through mask discussions, vaccine battles, family sickness, isolation, loneliness, and loss, they showed up. Woody Allen was right about one thing when he said, “99 percent of life is showing up.” Thanks for showing up! https://www.instagram.com/p/CYSyRJUsdJI/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear Heavenly Father, as the sun rises on the second new day of a new year, those who love You and follow You will be gathering together. Help us to worship You in Spirit and in Truth to understand how we take our next steps in our journey with You. https://www.instagram.com/p/CYOnAs3rus_/?utm_medium=tumblr

Here’s to The Grands And Caregivers Pandemic heroes often overlooked are those who kept the children and home-schooled them so that their teacher, medical professional, first responders, and otherwise gainfully employed businesspeople could go to work to save the world. One such person lives with me and has for the past thirty-seven years now. She is none other than my wife, Andrea Carrigan Hardee, the Yellow Rose of Dallas, NC. She imported me by wedding ring to Gaston County nearly four decades ago. She introduced me to Sundrop, RO’s, and fish camps. I’ve never left except to visit and then boomeranged back by car or plane or train. On numerous occasions, I’ve been offered career opportunities elsewhere. When I brought them up, she would say with a grin, “Will you be coming home on the weekends?” She is about home, family, farm houses with shiplap, the Atlanta Braves, Thanksgiving, and family all rolled into one. Those are the things most important to her. And during the pandemic more than ever, she was the glue that held the family together. Andrea is a tenured Gaston County Teacher who gave that up to love her babies. Then, she was a Medical Office professional for Gaston General and Vascular Surgery. Still raising babies but now in school, she continued her career at The Shelter for Women, helping the vulnerable women and children recover from abusive homes. Then, she served as the Director of Marketing and Membership at The Schiele Museum, a dream come true. Then, she surrendered her dream, income, and prestigious job to take care of babies again. This time, it was for Ella, her baby’s baby. Then came Easton. Then came Blake. Then came the pandemic. Who would take care of the kids? The answer for us, like so many anonymous grandparents out there, was a grandparent. Eschewing money, career, and prestige, they became parents again to their children and grandchildren. The glue of care for families in flux in a world in turmoil were grands who took care of grands without pay and without celebrity for one reason-love. Thanks to the grands, aunts, uncles, and all those who made surviving the consequences of the pandemic. I’m thankful for mine. https://www.instagram.com/p/CYNW38MlZxS/?utm_medium=tumblr

When Christmas “clicks” for me-Easton and Ella Branch sharing popcorn together. https://www.instagram.com/p/CXrTu41FJAi/?utm_medium=tumblr

Heavenly Father, as the sun rises in the East and the bright Morning Star disappears again until darkness lets us see it, we rise to worship You with churches gathered around the world to worship You in Spirit and Truth. https://www.instagram.com/p/CXqh_ierT6q/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear Heavenly Father, as the sun rises, we rise to worship You and Your Son that You sent to save us. We gather with people in other gatherings around the world to worship You in Spirit and in Truth. Light the way as we follow the path. Thank you for sending Jesus, The Light of The World, to save us. In. Jesus’ Name. Amen🙏🏼 #Worship #God #Spirit #Truth #Jesus https://www.instagram.com/p/CXYkNWIFGeM/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear Heavenly Father, as the sun rises around the world throughout the day, we rise to worship You with gatherings of believers who will worship You in Spirit and Truth among every nation, tribe, and tongue. We love you and Your Son that You sent to save us. https://www.instagram.com/p/CXGj4MAFw38/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear God, as we see the sun rise today, we celebrate your love and devotion to us by gathering with others to worship you. Shine Your Light on our path so we can see the way to go. Bless Your followers gathered around the world to worship You. Amen https://www.instagram.com/p/CW0dZGulKXx/?utm_medium=tumblr

Well-lit with some of our family. https://www.instagram.com/p/CWic8_SlEai/?utm_medium=tumblr

Dear Heavenly Father, You show us The Way as You light our path. As the sun rises, show us Your Way, teach us Your Path, and lead us to The Truth You embodied in Jesus Christ. As churches gather, prepare us to scatter afterward to do Your Will. https://www.instagram.com/p/CWicG34FUDC/?utm_medium=tumblr

Beauty in my backyard https://www.instagram.com/p/CWQflVXlkgZ/?utm_medium=tumblr