Today we celebrate President’s day; a day to remember the birthday of our first President, George Washington. But for those who work with me at The Farmers Bank, today was Vision Day, 2020. A day where we all meet in unison to go over the next year’s initiatives and strategic plan. I am blessed to work for a company that values family and faith. We are encouraged not just to grow and flourish with the goals of our company but to grow as human beings and members of our community. We are encouraged to form goals for our personal lives, and we are encouraged to share our faith. Not all companies are like that; and I have had the displeasure of working where family and faith were not looked upon as relevant or valuable.

Our bi-annual meetings always begin with an invocation. An invocation is a prayer, invoking the presence of God. This year I was honored to be asked by our bank President, if I would give the invocation. I was asked later to share this on my blog, which is also another great honor. My hopes when writing the invocation was to inspire those attending a full day of speakers and training (on a federal holiday), that we would all put aside any preconceived ideas and that we would open our hearts and minds to what we would be learning.

Dear Heavenly and most gracious Father,

In the morning Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.

Thank you, Father, for this blessed time together; we are not only coworkers; we are also family. Thank you for today and for the fellowship we will share with one another. Thank you for those who have worked so hard to bring us all here today. Thank you for our leadership and for those who will be presenting today. Please bless them. We ask for your presence today; may you guide and direct us as we strive to serve those in our communities.

As we go throughout this day of training, I ask that you open our hearts and minds to what we will be learning. Give us focus and attentiveness. May today bring us closer in unison to our goals and to each other.

In the words of the apostle Paul we ask, that the God we know who is able to bless us abundantly, in all things and at all times, giving us all that we need, that we may abound in every good work. To the glory and praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

We invite the presence of the Lord God into our meetings to bless our time together, to give us guidance as we seek to meet our company goals. Let us make sure that we also are inviting his presence into our personal lives. It is so easy to get caught up in the demanding tasks of life. Let us not forget that no matter our schedule or how many demands are put upon us, our Lord and God wants more than anything a relationship with us. He wants us to invoke his presence into every fiber of our lives so that through that connection and through that fellowship with him, we will be blessed, strengthened, granted wisdom and understanding. As we invoke more and more of Him into our lives, we will strive to work more for his kingdom and for his glory and for his praise. -Amen

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do goo to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” -Galatians 6:9-10