God, our gracious, heavenly Father, you are our dependably steady and warmly personal God. Those qualities so frequently elude us. Show us the path of self-denying, sacrificial love. Grant us endurance and encouragement to love those who are different than us. Those who disappoint us and even those who hurt us. Show us how to live in harmony with one another as we focus on your Son. Make us into a great choir—not just of voices only, but may our very lives sing in harmony in a stunning anthem of praise to You. For you are the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! AMEN.