X

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

MEERKATS ARE among the most sociable creatures on earth. Because of their size, these small mammals must band together in order to survive the harsh conditions of the Kalahari Desert. From baby-sitting and grooming to hunting and defending, they do nearly everything together. Remarkably cooperative, they often display a high degree of selflessness. They find strength in numbers against enemies that could easily wipe them out one by one.

Christians need companions on the faith journey much in the way that meerkats need one another: for survival. The fellowship of companions in Christ strengthens us to face the world faithfully, enabling us to do together what we cannot do alone. Spiritual companions make us more than we can ever be on our own because God’s love binds us together. The presence of friends makes God’s love more real to us.

– Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster
The Godbearing Life

From page 129 of The Godbearing Life: The Art of Soul Tending for Youth Ministry by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. Copyright © 2008 by Kenda Creasy Dean and Ron Foster. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Who are your Christian companions? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

But surely, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life.

Psalm 54:4, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who affected by natural disasters. 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: Hildegard of Bingen (September 17).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

8 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted September 23, 2018 4:30 am

    I consider the UR family among my closest Christian friends. More accepting
    people I have never met. Thank you all. You are most appreciated and dear.

    Thankful for a great day yesterday with my son. We visited the area where we hope to call home this coming spring and became more acquainted. It was a wonderful day.

    Thankful the new tool, tin snips, is making progress on the Bismarck steamer
    possible.

    Church, choir practice, singing, and today’s message on “War, Violence, Guns, and Self-Defense”

    Prayers for wisdom, guidance, and civility in Washington DC, the well being of those affected by Hurricane Florence, the recovery effort in that area and also in Puerto Rico , the Philippines, Japan, and China after hurricane damage. Thank You, Lord, that You are always available for help.

  • Jill Posted September 23, 2018 5:38 am

    I, too, count this clan amongst my Chistian community. A very faithful bunch – pray-ers, doers, imparters of wisdom, listeners. I think of heaven and surely there will be a space/time for us to unite, to greet each other warmly and to lift our praise to Our Father in unison.
    My Christian companions are Lisa, Sandy, Denise and Suzanne. Their support and care – truly of God. My heart is full.
    Julie – have been meaning to speak of my Roger’s nickname…but keep forgetting. I rarely call him Roger – all tho he got his name yelled this morning when he knocked over the lamp I was using to read. I thought it was broken, but just the bulb broke. Lucky for him… I have no idea why I started calling him this – but his nickname, what he goes by is Bubbies. Sometimes I wonder if he thinks his name is Hey Bubbies. My mother calls the two of us “an outfit”. She always asks about him and I relay a story and then she says – “what an outfit.” Sometimes she calls him Roger Dodger, but, she, too, has taken to calling him Bubbies.
    Grateful for two good nights of long sleep – very needed. Today is packed full of activities – church, golf with a colleague and the Fall tennis season begins tonight and I am playing. Good thing I got my rest. Grateful for another “covert” walk with dad yesterday – time for him to air out his take on the week, the doctor’s report. I appreciate your continued prayers for him – for his health and strength moving forward on this road.

  • Julie Posted September 23, 2018 8:07 am

    This community of believers are my Christian community. I have learned soo much here and I feel valued as a Christian also. I am so very grateful that God led me here and that I was so warmly accepted into this family.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich. May God make straight their path and may Erich find his path to You Lord as well.
    Prayers for Jill, Roger, Larry and Gloria. Prayers of thanks for Jill’s continued good health which allows her to remain active and continue cherished activities. Prayers of gratitude that she can support Larry as he supports Gloria. Megan sometimes calls Chai Bubbies. Funny that our kitties are called their names only when they misbehave, much like human children. Also funny that they know and respond to so many names. We often say that Tazzie especially would respond if yoou called him Mud.
    Prayers for Marcy. May her pain be less and may Lucy help dispell her loneliness.
    Prayers for Mary. I pray she was able to rest and recharge for the week ahead.
    Prayers for Betsy, may she have safe travel and a warm visit with friends.
    Prayers for Connie and her quiet reminders to find and express our gratefulness.
    Prayers for all those affected by the recent natural disasters and those still trying to recover from past tragedies.
    Prayers for this UR community of supporters and friends

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 23, 2018 8:51 am

      Thanks dear Julie!

      My Christian companions are all of you here and two very close friends, not forgetting my dear sister, Molly.

      Thank you God for Christian companions to cheer us on our life journey. Our joy is doubled and our sorrow halfed when we share with one another.

      May we continue to pray for one another, edify and build up one another in the body of Christ!

      Blessings to all!

      • Connie Posted September 23, 2018 9:00 am

        Mary and Molly….bless you both.

        • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 23, 2018 9:09 am

          Thanks dear Connie!

          I am eternally grateful for your companionship too!

          May God bless you and your family abundantly!

  • Connie Posted September 23, 2018 8:58 am

    Clan, Tribe, Kindred Spirits……Christians! And we will meet in the “sweet bye and bye”. “Til then we will continue to be a support here. There is a special Spirit on this site. The Holy Spirit.
    Prayers for Jill and family.
    Thankful for:
    Sweet Sabbath.
    The beginning of Fall.
    A wonderful visit with my Daughter-in-law and Grandson via phone. It was the same kind of day here as when they came and we all went to the Apple Farm.
    The life God has given me. I am blessed.

  • Darr Sigilman Posted September 23, 2018 7:06 pm

    My faith companions are the church web sites that I always visit when I’m on the internet. I love Mother Angelica Classics and I love the sermons that Erwin Lutzer preaches both on YouTube. I love the daily devotions of the Upper Room web site. I don’t necessarily agree with just everything everyone says about religion but I also like to get other people’s take on the subject. But I do believe in God and I find churches very comforting. I thank God so much for the church that He established while He was here on earth.

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *