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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

LAZARUS, who enjoyed dinner with Jesus in Bethany, was a new creation in Christ. And the story told every spring via re-creation points to the truth about the character of the Author of Creation. This journey together through Lent serves as an invitation to align the heart of our spiritual nature with the regenerative heart of God, the Sustainer and Deliverer, to set our intention toward life and to align ourselves with the light.

—Derek Maul
Reaching Toward Easter: Devotions for Lent

From page 16 of Reaching Toward Easter: Devotions for Lent by Derek Maul. Copyright © 2011 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

In what ways are you allowing the Spirit to work newness in you?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!
—2 Corinthians 5:17, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Spirit of the Living God, fall fresh on me.

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something more

This is Holy Week, the most important week of the church year. Read more about this “Big Event” by visiting upperroom.org.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

9 Comments

  • Jill Posted April 17, 2019 3:15 am

    I am accepting the peace that surpasses all understanding – surely only of The Holy Spirit – in the days following my mom’s passing. Gratefulness knowing she is no longer suffering the mental anguish that was so often present since her diagnosis. I am allowing space for my dad to grieve in my presence – his heart so broken. He was over for dinner last night – and I asked him if he wanted to talk about mom. For 13 months, none of us were allowed to speak of her cancer, at least not in her presence. It is bittersweet for him and will remain so for some time. We sat at the table following dinner and he poured out his heart, crying, reminiscing. The beach will be so therapeutic.
    I am also embracing being back at school with my kids. At first awkward – they didn’t know how to act – each class gave me a card, but now sliding back into our comfortable routine, focusing on the testing ahead with my senior classes.
    A few friends brought me some flowers – tulips and hyacinths – in the days following mom’s passing. I planted them yesterday – just savoring the memories mom and I had each May – shopping for flowers and planting them, admiring each others’ flower beds.
    Andrea – grateful to know you are healing well, continue to be patient with the process. Robert – may things continue to progress with the condo and necessary finances. Julie – thank you for sharing about the man with PTSD – may God grant you the words to share with this man, to comfort him. Continued prayers for Mary and her family.
    Grateful for warmer temperatures and windows open in my house. Roger loves to go from window to window. Grateful to be settling back into a routine at home with Roger as well. He is going to be none too happy when I leave for the beach Friday. But I am enjoying his nearness right now. Grateful that my mower started right up last evening. I didn’t get the yard mowed, but wanted to see if it would start. Will get to the mowing today after school…with even warmer temps today.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 17, 2019 6:21 pm

      Thank you Jill!

      May God bless you and your family!

  • Betsy Posted April 17, 2019 7:04 am

    The Holy Spirit is working through me as I face family challenges and new events. Thank you, Lord, for guiding my steps to greater understanding.
    Spring brings the promise of newness in what is all around us.
    Jill, routine and a sense of sameness is often a good thing, and It sounds as if you are feeling that back at school. Your students can be such a comfort to you; so glad you have them.
    Mary, I’m so sorry for your loss. May God’s peace comfort and support you and your family at this time.
    Andrea, praying for continued healing for you. Robert, hoping for good progress on the condo purchase. Prayers for all our UR family during this Holy Week.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 17, 2019 8:18 am

      Thank you Betsy!

      May God bless you and your family abundantly!

  • Julie Posted April 17, 2019 8:19 am

    I am trying to trustGod with all my worries. Still difficult but I strive on. I am so scared all the timeof what the future holds given the evil in h’s heart. He means to do such harm to me.
    Prayers for Jill, Larry, and Becky. May Larry continue to remember and may Becky be finding people and resources to fix the damage to her home.
    Prayers for Mary and her family as they bury her mother and have the funeral. May God comfort and sustain you.
    Prayers for Betsy as she faces challenges and new events and seeks understanding.
    Prayers for Andrea and Lowell and continued healing for both.
    Prayers for Connie for continued healing and improved mobility.
    Prayers for April and her family, Edy and Bill as they wait, Lou and her children, and Rusty and K for healing.
    Prayers for Marcy, may her pain be treated and her insurance continue.
    Prayers for Robert, may he find appropiate financing.
    Prayers and blessings and warm hugs and thank you dear UR family.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 17, 2019 8:27 am

    Thank you Julie!

    May God bless you abundantly!

  • Lou Posted April 17, 2019 9:33 am

    Julie I just read Matthew 6:27 this morning- trust in the Lord and do not be afraid – this is my focus as well.
    Prayers for you Jill and for your father as he grieves – prayers for safe travels and Easter blessings. Prayers for you Mary- may God grant you peace in your grief. Prayers for Betsy and her family, for Andrea and continued healing, for Robert and resolution to financing issues, for Connie and her husband and for all who come to the ur today.
    Blessings and peace to all in this Holy Week. I pray for my daughter resting on her break from teaching duties, for my son who is looking for a new job, and for my youngest as she continues to struggle with anxiety. I pray for patience and perseverance to help me support them.
    Come Lord Jesus.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 17, 2019 6:18 pm

      Thank you Lou!

      May God bless you and your family abundantly!

  • robert moeller Posted April 18, 2019 5:42 am

    Have been reading the Letters to the Corinthians over Lent, they have been helpful for me during this effort to move to a better location. Progress is being made, will surely be glad when it is done. It is a doable task, but not an easy one. Thankful for prayers for Erich and I during this time. Was at the loan office yesterday with paperwork, came home to more that is being addressed.

    Gym time, seeing a fellow maintenance gym friend, and hopefully today visiting another one, keeping the car running, and paying bills will have me busy.

    Blessings to all. The next four days have ultimate importance. Thank You, Lord Jesus for what you did.

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