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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.

 

Words of Hope During COVID-19

Dan Moseley, author of this week’s featured book, Lose, Love, Live, says that during this pandemic, we have more questions than answers. He believes God is present in the questions, in the empty space not cluttered with all our normal answers.


 

Today’s Reflection

Being in touch with our anger and fear and anxiety is a vital part of growing spiritually. To grow spiritually requires centering our lives in that which can sustain us in the midst of the changing world around us. Spiritual strength is the ability to stay on course even when the winds of threat and fear would knock us off. If we are in touch with our fears and our anger, then we are more aware of what we are putting our trust in. … To trust in the energy of life that creates and re-creates us, ever calling us into a new world, is to be defined by that which has eternal qualities.

—Dan Moseley, Lose, Love, Live: The Spiritual Gifts of Loss and Change (Upper Room Books, 2011)

Today’s Question

What fear and anger do you need to acknowledge today? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.

—Psalm 56:3 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Loving God, gather us together and bring us comfort like a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

On this Mother’s Day, celebrate Mom by making a donation to The Upper Room in her honor or memory. Give today.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • Jill Posted May 10, 2020 6:16 am

    I am choosing to not answer this question today. Prior to today’s reading – I had confessed to the Lord my fear – and I will leave it there at His feet. I choose to think of the joy of today – His gift to us children as we honor our mothers.
    My thoughts go to Connie – Father, comfort her today.
    For Lou and her three children – may they share special sentiments today.
    For Andrea – for continued wisdom and compassion, for herself as well as her daughter.
    For Julie and Megan – for their love for each other and their perseverance together through a most difficult situation. May special memories be made today.
    For more sweet memories for April – and simplcities – like her mom’s sweater.
    For Ally and the tenderness of today.
    Joan – your words are a comfort to me. Thank you for posting.
    A friend lost her 94 year old mom Friday. I had the pleasure of knowing her mom and her whole family – travelling with them as we watched her youngest daughter play basketball in college. Many weekends in hotels throughout the Ohio Valley – simple meals together and time sharing in hotel rooms. Dear Bobbie now reunited with her husband in Glory. Father – be close to that family as they huddle together. Thank You that those who traveled from all ends of the country were able to do so – may they all be safe today as they treasure memory after memory.

  • Ally Posted May 10, 2020 9:51 am

    God is big enough to handle our questions and our anger. God is big enough to extend grace to our fears and our worries. I find the videos posted each day to be a tremendous comfort and help to me. In today’s video, Dan Mosley helped me look at the uncertain times we live in and the crisis David and I have been through in a new way. Mr. Mosley references Isaiah 43. I like the way it read in The Message translation:
    “Forget about what’s happened;
    don’t keep going over old history.
    Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new.
    It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it?
    There it is! I’m making a road through the desert,
    rivers in the badlands.
    In the craziness, God is doing a new thing. Making streams in the desert. I want to understand and make sense of all this now, but for now, I wait. God is near. Alleluia.
    Today I give thanks for my Mama. I shed some tears upon waking, but take comfort that she is well and together with dear Daddy. I am thankful for David’s progress and am astounded daily by the miracle God gave us in his healing. I’m thankful for this forum and my new friends here. Julie, I lift up your friend whose mom was reunited with her sweetheart on Friday. My her memories of her mom be a comfort. I lift up Andrea and the challenges she faces. I lift up Julie and Megan as navigate their difficult situation. For BJ, for April, Robert, I pray for joy today. I especially remember those like me, who experiencing the new normal of life without their mom. May you remember the good times. I don’t want to forget those who never had a mother’s love. I pray God will place in your path people who cherish you. Thank you God, for those who gave us life. Hope everyone has a beautiful Sunday.

  • Andrea Posted May 10, 2020 11:19 am

    Good morning, friends. Happy Mother’s Day to those who are mothers, godmothers, aunts, and grandmothers – and to teachers, who for many students, are mother figures.

    If I am to name my greatest fear, it is for my grandson. He is just five and a sensitive child. A close friend told me it’s a grandmother’s job to worry, which sets it into perspective for me. When the worrying thoughts come on, I picture the famous iconic painting of Jesus with the little children surrounding him at his feet, and His words, “Let the little children come to me.” I place my grandson right in that scene and I hear Jesus’ voice telling me to let go of my anxiety.

    I worry my daughter and SIL might move to another city, one that is not within driving distance. My SIL is still interviewing for jobs and some would involve relocating. My daughter has 40% of her income taken from her paycheck by the mental health clinic she works for. She is starting to draw clients for the private practice she would like to have, so she can transition away from working for someone else  – which means she is adding to her load. I am proud of her tenacity and resourcefulness. I appreciate your prayers for her and my SIL, as well as for my precious grandson.

    I pray for Jill and her father, as they feel more acutely today the hole left by Gloria, may they be aware of God’s comforting presence. For Julie and Megan, may they both be safe and guided in the very stressful situation with h.. For Lou and her children, may their relationships and their family unit remain strong and deepen. For Ally and David, for David’s continued progress toward recovery, for his therapies and transition home, and for Ally’s support and strength. For Robert and Erich, for their relationship, for Erich’s career, for their finances. For April and her family; for Rick, for his studies, and for his husband; for Bj, Connie, Betsy, Mary, Marcy, and those we haven’t heard from in a long time. For all of you  – your health or your recovery, for faith, courage, and strength. Wishing all a blessed Mothers Day.

  • robert moeller Posted May 10, 2020 12:22 pm

    Happy Mother’s Day! May this not be the only day mothers are cherished. A different car is now in the driveway. Very thankful. Finances, relationships improving, Working on prospects for the future.

    I don’t write as much, computer needs attention, I echo your prayers, stay safe, be well, and “DO NOT BE
    AFRAID.” Thank You, Lord.

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