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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

MERCIFUL GOD, I am trying to deepen my inner life, to spend more time reading scripture and spiritual books, but I am so easily interrupted and distracted. The phone rings and someone wants me to listen. People stop by to share their stories, and my family demands so much time. I take courage in remembering that Jesus was often interrupted by human need. So much so, he had to withdraw to the mountains to be alone and pray. But there was no escape, even there. A father’s cry for his epileptic son, the disciples’ incessant questions, a woman at the well. Give me grace to see your presence in the spaces created by these interruptions. Amen.

– Richard Lyon Morgan
Fire in the Soul

From page 50 of Fire in the Soul: A Prayer Book for the Later Years by Richard Lyon Morgan. Copyright © 2000 by Richard Lyon Morgan. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Pray today’s prayer. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

If it had not been the LORD who was on our side — let Israel now say —
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when our enemies attacked us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us.

Psalm 124:1-3, NRSV

This Week: pray for caregivers. 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: Leoba (September 28).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

8 Comments

  • Jill Posted September 26, 2018 3:20 am

    Father – opportunities arise in unexpected places, in unanticipated ways – may we use each opportunity to glorify You, to honor You. May we be merciful with our thoughts and reactions, drawing from You. Grant us a measure of endurance, sufficient for the moment. Might we appreciate Your Sovereignty, rejoicing in it.

  • robert moeller Posted September 26, 2018 4:11 am

    Thankful for rain, a trip to the gym, groceries and meds, meals, and chores done.

    Yes, I can identify with this reflection. It seems there are so many distractions, some of my own making. I put off some things that need attention. Will take time now to work on one of them. Have to finish the book I started.

    Thankful Rebecca’s surgery went well, now to regain strength and be able to use the new knee.

    Will follow up reading posts from yesterday. Blessings to all of you.

  • robert moeller Posted September 26, 2018 4:48 am

    Have been a member in a 1000 member church and now as small as 11-15 on average. Can’t imagine 3-4000. The most important aspect of church is that there is a relationship with God.

    Still plenty of green here but the color is coming.

    Hope you find a church, Julie. I think going even if the pastor isn’t to your liking is still helpful. I’ve done that, but each of us have the free will to reach for God as we perceive God reaching for us.

    Thank you for your prayers. Some days you can see, feel progress, other days you feel like two steps forward and one step back.

    Prayers that you find a job, get the help you need with medical issues, and soon have a resolution to the awkward, uncomfortable home situation.

    Thank you Mary, may school and home go well.

    Hi Fred, welcome, I think there are some common threads but agree that “individuals are different in every aspect of everyday life and this makes their mutual Faith stronger as their different, individualistic minds, are argued and discussed as a whole and based on Biblical foundations applied to the Church’s goals and Faith doctrine!!” Well expressed. Thank you!

  • Julie Posted September 26, 2018 8:08 am

    Sigh, I have so many books I have bought and never found the time to read. Now, when the reflection would move me to purchase the book I refrain. Sigh. This reflection is talking my language.
    Prayers for Jill and a resolution to her physical pain as well as her emotional pain. Prayers that Gloria attends counselling and prayers for Larry. Maybe he should also see a counselor.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich. May Erich find You, Lord, and may they both find Your path for them so they can be of use to You to further Your kingdom on earth in their new home.
    Prayers for Mary, Molly and their parents. I pray their parents are doing well and that Mary is allowed to teach without extraneous duties.
    Prayers for Connie and her hummingbirds. I am grateful for a dark and stormy day and a warm and cozy home and elecrticity so I can see despite the dark day.
    Prayers for our dear Marcy. May she have less pain aand more sleep. So for a smalll time this morning I did not see Tazzie. I had heard him trying to open the cupboard doors earlier. Tonkinese are very smart and able to open doors, etc. Well, I could hear a commotion in one cupboard and in short order out popped Tazzie. He had shut himself in and forgot how to get out and of course he reeked havoc while in there!
    Prayers for all my UR siblings, new and ones who have faithfully imparted wisdom for years

    • Julie Posted September 26, 2018 6:21 pm

      Sorry wreaked havoc

    • Connie Posted September 27, 2018 7:53 am

      Tazzie is a little scamp! (a sweet one)

  • Andrea Posted September 26, 2018 9:47 am

    Yes, I need to make more quiet time to deepen my inner life. The nudge is timely.

    I got back from New England Sunday evening and am catching up on rest. My best memory – visiting a new state park on Cape Ann, Halibut Point State Park. The sound of the wild, frothy Atlantic waves pounding the huge masses of rocks along the ocean coastline, and the roaring, driving, fresh wind – metaphors of God’s awesome power.

    My daughter is upset with me again and has backed away. I pray for her, I pray for guidance and wisdom, and I ask for your prayers. It confounds me how we can be so close and then suddenly, she cuts me off. I am trying to understand it.

    With prayers for Jill and her parents, Robert, Erich, and Anneliese, Julie and her daughter, Mary and her parents, job, and students, Marcy, Connie and her husband, Lou and her daughters, and all in the UR community. Blessings, all.

    • Connie Posted September 27, 2018 7:57 am

      Mother/Daughter relationships can be complicated. Kind of Love/Hate at times, but Love conquers all!

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