This stained glass ascending dove is from St. Peter’s Cathedral in Rome. I took the picture from a long way off and then zoomed in on it so it may not be as clear as I would like it. The dove reminds me that our prayers go to God and are as beautiful to Him as this dove is to us.
Psalm 51:1-10
51:1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.
51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
51:3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.
51:4 Against you, you alone, have I sinned, and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are justified in your sentence and blameless when you pass judgment.
Right out of Psalm 51 we have a wonderful prayer. We confess our sins to God and acknowledge that all of our sin is against Him. We may hurt or offend people while we are here on this earth but we sin against God because He calls us to always love Him first and our neighbor as well. Anytime we hurt or offend someone we are moving away from who God calls us to be and that movement away is the worse sin we can committ. We may never be able to live absolutely sin free lives but striving to be closer to God is what He wants from us. When we look to move closer to and live more Holy lives, we are able to appreciate the presence of God in our lives even more. Always strive to pray like Psalm 51 examples for us. It will keep us connected to God and to His Holy Spirit. His presence is what keeps us hopeful, striving to be helpful and generous with all that God has provided to us.
Have a blessed and very peaceful holiday,
Randy
Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX 
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