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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

Growing up, it was the stories of the Bible that comforted that restless heart, that sustained me with the thread of eternity, the secure assurance that I am exactly who God created me to be, whoever’s home I might inhabit, whatever name I may go by. I devoured the stories of Creation, with their poetic declaration: You are from God. “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness,” said God in the beginning (or at least, only a few days later) (Gen. 1:26).

—Rosalind C. Hughes, A Family Like Mine: Biblical Stories of Love, Loss, and Longing (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

Where do you find assurance that you are exactly who God created you to be? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
that I know very well.

—Psalm 139:14 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

How infinite is your embrace, O God. How broad and high and deep and enduring is your love.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Show your loved ones how much you care by giving them Spirit Boosters, daily reminders that they still have purpose, no matter their age.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

7 Comments

  • Jill Posted November 18, 2020 4:58 am

    I trust in His sovereignty. I trust in my requests of Him – asking Him to show me what I am not surrendering to Him – knowing He will reveal to me what is needed for ongoing transformation. I believe I will never be a “finished product” until I see Him face to face…that life, here and now, is an unfinished process. I try to lean into this process, this transformation…asking for the mere desire to trust when I feel my trust wavering or fully lacking. Praise God for His faithfulness and promise – He Who began a good work, will see it through to completion. Amen and amen.
    Father – You know intimately well the cares of this group here. Thank You for the safety, providence and companionship You have provided through the valleys and acmes of life. As memories come back around and bring up emotions, may those memories also recall Your presence, Your goodness. Father – thank You for loving us.

  • robert moeller Posted November 18, 2020 6:44 am

    Certainly Scripture tells me I am God made, but I am not yet exactly who God created me to be. That is a work in progress, and even then without Jesus I am not fully able to achieve it by myself. Thankful for yesterday. The words in Korean and English as well as a video and music to a song called Barley Field were found, She sang this song and we heard it performed by the Vienna Choir Boys at a Ewha University concert. Very appropriate yesterday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nmhc-v1BGw
    An overview of the beginnings of Methodism yesterday in Bible study,
    Prayers of thanks that two promising vaccines may soon be available. Prayers for safety, good health, and well bing for everyone. Thank You, Lord

    • Gail Posted November 18, 2020 7:46 am

      Very beautiful, Barley Field. Somewhat sad with rays of hope. Thanks for the post.

  • Gail Posted November 18, 2020 8:00 am

    Made in His image. I discovered my biological parents and pictures of each. Seeing a photo of people who look like me is amazing, after 60+ years of life. I am very grateful for this. I have 2 sets of earthly parents although all are now deceased. Very Special.

  • Ally Posted November 18, 2020 8:21 am

    Reading today’s meditation, Psalm 139 came to mind: God made us and even if God’s love for us is a mystery, it is there. Rich Mullins’ stated it beautifully in his song based on Psalm 139: “even if I made my bed in hell, still there You would find me” . Thank You Lord, for making us and looking for us when we wonder and gifting us with what we need to be all we can be.
    Today is my and David’s 3rd anniversary. I can hardly remember what my life was like before he was in it. I was lonely, that I know. I don’t know what we would do without each other. Yesterday was a little rough. I did not feel well all day. Monday, I felt more like myself than I had in a long while, Then yesterday, not so good. Apparently, this is normal post-heart cath. David is feeling a little better. Pain and soreness from his fall were a little less yesterday. Since we had our anniversary dinner Friday night, our celebration tonight will be low-key: pizza and watching The Crown on Netflix. Jill, your thoughts reminded me of the Methodist ordination service, in which the celebrant asks the candidates, “Are you going on toward Christian Perfection?” Some believe that perfection can be attained in this life. I think most of us will become the finished product on the other side. Thanks so much for your prayers for us, Jill. Robert, I too am thankful for the vaccines. Thank you for the link to the song. I will give it a listen after work today. I’ve had the privilege of seeing the Vienna Choir Boys in concert on numerous occasions. Gail, nice to see you. I pray we call stay safe and find ways to connect with God and others, Blessings to all.

  • Julie Posted November 18, 2020 8:43 am

    I read the words but it is hard to believe them. I feel as the person who wrote “Amazing Grace” that I am a wretch. I realize God has given me gifts to share and that it is a continued process to learn about Him and to continue to attempt to emulate the example of Christ, to fall short, ask forgiveness and try anew.
    Prayers for Jill and I echo her prayers for everyone, including those who read only.
    Prayers for Robert and his day spent immersed in all things Korean, what a nice way to remember a happy time past.
    Prayers for Ally and David and happy anniversary. These years have been so fraught and turbulent and pain filled, may the next three be fileed with smiles and sunshine and healing.
    Prayers for Gail and her return as I believe she has commented before.
    Megan still will not get tested, not a chance. She and her friends think I am a fool. They are young and think they are safe. I feel we can still visit my mom because I will be there to insist she and I wear masks at all tmes and stay socially distanced and eat in a different room. She will have no choice with me there to enforce my rules. Things with h are bad, he is never home and I am trying to reach my lwayer regarding divorce questions. Thanks.

  • robert moeller Posted November 18, 2020 3:44 pm

    Gail, are you perhaps an adopted child? I have brought Holt children to the US and the reception they received from their new parents was amazing. My children are Amer-Asian. I certainly support the idea that children from a different country and race be taught about the land of their birth, helped if all parties agree, to meet with birth parents, and become comfortable with their bicultural heritage.
    Barley Field has a beautiful melody. Until yesterday I could only sing parts of it in Korean and did not know what all the words meant. It has become even more precious.

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