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New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

"A Liturgy for Morning Prayer," Upper Room Worshipbook

Used by permission from the Book of Common Worship, © 2018 Westminster John Knox Press. All rights reserved. This prayer appears in “A Liturgy for Morning Prayer” in Upper Room Worshipbook.

 

Today’s Reflection

Just as pain and suffering require mystery, so does love. Love, in its simplicity and complexity, somehow covers a multitude of sins—ours and everyone else’s. Love allows us the courage to see that we ourselves are a both/and, a beautiful, chaotic mix of goodness and capacity to wound another. Love allows us the courage to know that others are a both/and as well. We will be hurt, wounded—and forgiveness is possible. Healing can happen, and sometimes, thankfully, relationships are restored. Love allows us to move toward another and hold boundaries when necessary.

—Beth Taulman Miller, What Loss Can Teach Us: A Sacred Pathway to Growth and Healing (Upper Room Books, 2021)

Today’s Question

How does love enable you to embrace a “both/and” perspective in life’s complexities? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

I’m convinced that nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus our Lord: not death or life, not angels or rulers, not present things or future things, not powers or height or depth, or any other thing that is created.
—Romans 8:38-39 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

New every morning is your love, great God of light, and all day long you are working for good in the world. Stir up in us desire to serve you, to live peacefully with our neighbors and all your creation, and to devote each day to your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

This Lent, embrace body positivity and give up diet culture with the new release, My Body Is Good, by Anne Cumings. Join her on this journey and never again forget that your God-given body, made from dust, is good. Learn more here.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

2 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted January 22, 2023 5:39 am

    Love helps me endure and support someone having a tough time. I see the good, am thankful for the love shown. For the first time in more than 25 years, we enjoyed home made, very tasty kim bab, seaweed rice rolls with beef, vegetables, and egg, last night for supper. The football didn’t go as hoped, more like expected, still this has been a much improved season. Worship this morning followed by our church conference, prayers for God’s guidance and wisdom as this community of faith moves forward. A happy and healthy Lunar New Year to all. Thank You, Lord.

  • Jill Posted January 22, 2023 3:09 pm

    Love…God’s love helps me embrace “both/and”. This concept continues weave throughout my life and some of my deepest conversations. I hold to it at my core.
    The ride home from church was a tricky one as snow was falling rapidly. I slid right through an intersection I had intended to turn right at – luckily there wasn’t a car beside me. Encountered several cars after that sitting sideways, unable to make it up just a slow minor grade. I was to go over to my friend’s house this afternoon – but called and told her the roads were terrible.
    Instead, got a nap, did some laundry and about to do some grading.
    The kittens are feeling the effects of their shots yesterday, kinda groggy and very sleepy. Low energy is a pleasant change, at least for this slow paced afternoon at home.

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