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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

OUR CAPACITIES FOR COMPASSION are deepened when we stay grounded in the sacred truth of our belovedness. So often we forget. We start believing the lies that we are not worthy of love. We seek the source of value in our work, wealth, physical appearance, and in others while deep within, the longing lingers. We long for the face of the universe to turn toward us with care.

The path of compassion invites us to remember that our belovedness is as secure as the air we breathe. It is the ground on which we have our being. The face is smiling as we speak. Remembering, reconnecting with, and rooting ourselves deeply in the loving essence of the universe reminds us of the truth of our sacred belovedness. We deepen our connection with this compassionate presence in various ways — prayer, meditation, solitude, retreat, worship, ritual, fellowship, and community. Many reconnect with this sacred presence by remembering and savoring the sacred moments that have graced them throughout the course of their lives.

Regardless of religious practice, the invitation is the same. Return to the ground of infinite compassion. Behold your face held as beloved. Breathe this love into every fiber of your being. And leave replenished, loved and alive, as a bearer of love for our world.

– Frank Rogers Jr.
Practicing Compassion

From page 49 or Practicing Compassion by Frank Rogers Jr. Copyright © 2015 by Frank Rogers Jr. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Fresh Air Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

How do you experience God’s love? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them.

But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.”

Mark 10:13-14, NRSV

This Week: pray for persons struggling with addiction. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Did You Know?

In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.

This week we remember: Thérèse of Lisieux (October 1).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2018 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

19 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted October 6, 2018 7:18 am

    Glad for Mary’s new florist job, yes, perhaps one day you will teach floral arranging. Teaching is hard work, much more so than most people think. You are a good teacher. Somehow the Singapore education system needs help allowing teachers to teach without a myriad of extra duties.

    Prayers for Marcy, hope she is getting the medical help she needs as well as the resources on which to live. Miss her prayers and very attentive posts. God is with you, dear Marcy.

    Prayers for Connie and her relatives as they attend with angels the passing of
    a relative. Our human side mourns, and God tells us that we are blessed to do so. At the same time we are reassured of the the life everlasting and the joy that this couple will have being reunited.

    Prayers for Betsy and company ministering to those in prison. Saw a program on 60 Minutes. It showed the very modern and innovative rehabilitation system in Germany. This was a big surprise for me. Punishment is replaced with help to enable a return to society.

    Prayers for Jill, her Mom and Dad, and Becky, all dealing in some way with a serious disease. Thankful for counseling help and the many prayers that are coming your way. God is very aware and God’s care is present.

    I’m not exactly sure how I experience God’s love. I know I have been very much helped through a tough two years and am very grateful. I pray for God’s wisdom and guidance in the new phase of life that leads from this location to the new one. It’s hard to explain the feelings I have after coming “home” to the state where I grew up, only to move less than 2 years later to a state I hardly know at all. Am very sure God will get me through this. The new home
    is only 2 and a half hours away and the weather and climate are very much alike. Many advantages to moving. Most hopefully it will be the town where Erich can find the job that fits him and supports him. Thank You, Lord.

    Have a wonderful weekend, and a blessed Sunday.

    • Andrea Posted October 6, 2018 7:46 am

      Robert, my prayers are with you and Erich as you make this transition. May God guide you and keep you strong and healthy. Erich is very blessed to have you; you are the conduit of God’s love for him. May God provide Erich with satisfying, enduring work that fits his talents.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 6, 2018 10:59 pm

      Thanks Robert!

      May you and Erich adapt well to your new environment and may Erich be able to get his dream job there!

      Blessings!

  • Andrea Posted October 6, 2018 7:42 am

    I tend to be very sensitive to others’ pain. During my mother’s long illness (in which I was still working in a stressful setting), her death, and my grieving process, I found I had compassion fatigue. I had a supportive husband and a couple of close, trusted friends in whom I could confide, but I was in a deep morass. A period of bewildering darkness. A year after my mother’s death, I started working with a grief therapist and got into an art therapy group. Somewhere along the line in those years, I also began to visit Upper Room. These things helped enormously, and I believe God has been at work in them.

    I continue to experience God’s love through my husband, loved ones, and friends, both in person as well as here in the UR community; and through nature and music. I believe I have experienced God’s love through the timing of serendipitous occurrences. Now, I look forward to being in a church bell choir again, finding God’s love in the fellowship of ringing bells.

    Yes, let the little children come to Jesus. I entrust my grandson to Jesus’ tender embrace and care.

    With prayers for all of you. I go to bed praying, and awaken at night and in the morning praying your names and concerns. Blessings this autumn weekend.

    • Julie Posted October 6, 2018 8:17 am

      Wow, Andrea. Just wow. I feel your love. Thank you for your words and God bless you and your grandson. I pray for you and your family every day as well, especially your grandson.

      • Connie Posted October 6, 2018 8:52 am

        I love to hear bell choirs, but looks very complicated to me. The bell ringers must have a special gift and I’m sure you do have that gift….and many others.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 6, 2018 11:03 pm

      In your bell ringing, may God be gloried, dear Andrea!

      Blessings and praise God for all the love you are experiencing!

  • Julie Posted October 6, 2018 8:08 am

    I have trouble understanding the feeling of “belovedness.” I understand the concept as defined but have never felt loved let alone beloved.
    I hope my comments are being able to be seen by others. I wonder due to Robert commenting on everyone elses post but mine.
    I am so tired of being under so much stress constantly. Very early this morning h entered my room while I was still sleeping. He then left the house around 5:30 this morning. So very tird of not knowing anything. I would feel so much better if I could find a job. I set up my profile for post office jobs and applied to several.
    Prayers for Connie and her family, especially her relative that is soon to join the Lord. May everyone be comforted by God’s love.
    Prayers for Robert as he moves away from his hometown to support Erich. May Erich find his dream job in the new town and may Robert return home for visits often.
    Prayers foro Betsy and her fellow ministry volunteers.
    Prayers for Mary and her new dream job, may she be successful and happy.
    Prayers for Jill and her family. May they support one another and may God support them all.
    Prayers for Marcy. We miss her and pray for her. God hold her close as we cannot.
    Prayers and blessings UR family

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 7, 2018 1:39 am

      Thanks dear Julie!

      May your security and confidence be in God!

      In your life, Julie, may God be glorifies!

      Blessings!

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 6, 2018 8:43 am

    Thank you all for your prayers and love!

    I experience God’s love through your prayers and my parents’ love for me. Also, through my students’ love for me and my friends’ love. Most of all, we are all well loved by God who gave His only son to die on the cross for our sins!

    Thank you God for your amazing love for all of us!

    Blessings!

  • Connie Posted October 6, 2018 8:57 am

    Thank you all. She is with the angels and the Lord.
    Thankful for:
    Her peaceful passing.
    My faith that I will see her again.
    My loved ones who remain.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 7, 2018 7:43 am

      My deepest condolences to you and your relatives, dear Connie!

      May God’s presence be specially close to you and your relatives!

      Blessings!

  • Julie Posted October 6, 2018 9:16 am

    Please, if anyone can see this, let me know otherwise I will have to contact the administrator

    • Andrea Posted October 6, 2018 5:11 pm

      I saw it this morning, Julie, as well as your reply to my comment.

      Prayers for your well- being in a stressful home situation.

  • April Posted October 6, 2018 10:45 am

    Yes, Julie, I see your comments. I hold you and all the UR family in my prayers. What a stressful home you live in. Please know that you are God’s beloved and may you feel our hugs across the internet….you are loved by all.

    • Julie Posted October 6, 2018 5:30 pm

      Thank you April

    • Connie Posted October 7, 2018 8:37 am

      April, hello and God bless.

  • Ana Posted October 6, 2018 6:54 pm

    I would like devotional n all in spanish. I want to follow Christ. Baptized on 7-14-2018, Amen.

  • Ana Posted October 6, 2018 6:56 pm

    Thank you. Need devotional in spanish. Thank you. God bless all. Amen.

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