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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

SWAMI DESCRIBED the modern-day Hindu guru as God’s grace — not a ploy for men and women to be worshiped and elevated above others. God cares for us enough to bestow mercy on us by showing us how best to serve. Grace has been bestowed on someone who is more advanced and who can now show us the way,” Swami explained. “We shouldn’t envy someone whom we perceive to be more advanced at living like Christ than we are. Instead, we should feel joy that God cares enough to send that person to show us what to do.”

I hadn’t thought about God appointing gurus to help us figure out this mess of a life. But that is exactly what Jesus was: the ultimate guru and the ultimate grace. And that’s precisely what the hometown gurus I’d known — the dear followers of Jesus — had done for me.

A real guru, like Christ, will always point to God. The saints I’d known in my childhood and adolescence embodied God’s grace — and accurately represented God by that grace.

– J. Dana Trent
Saffron Cross

Pages 128-129 of Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk by J. Dana Trent. Copyright © 2013 by J. Dana Trent. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Fresh Air Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Name the grace-filled gurus in your life. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Do not rob the poor because they are poor, or crush the afflicted at the gate;
for the LORD pleads their cause and despoils of life those who despoil them.
Proverbs 22:22-23, NRSV

This Week: pray for the leaders of nations. 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: Mother Teresa of Calcutta (September 5).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • Jill Posted September 4, 2018 3:42 am

    My dad – Guru #1. Always the rock of our family. Unselfish, others needs always before his. Bible-studying. Full of grace. For such a long time – I took him for granted. No longer. Thank You, Father – for opening my eyes and giving me an appropriate appreciation for my dad. Thank You for his health, his strength, his tender care for mom.
    And for others, whose paths have become intertwined with mine…Sandy, Lisa, Suzanne, Denise…these come readily to mind. It was one year ago yesterday I was introduced to Suzanne, and she immediately became such a source of information, a steady presence and a prayerful companion. A year ago tomorrow I received my diagnosis. I am so grateful to God for my good adjustment to meds and the ability to do yard and garden work, continue to function well at my job and the ability to play tennis.
    Grateful for our little Tuesday morning prayer group at school. It will be good to gather this morning and jump start this four day week. Grateful for our family gathering yesterday – a bit smaller than anticipated because my nephew was ill. We were to be at his house – he has a pool. But – we met at my sister’s house instead. A make-shift slip and slide with a few tarps kept the kiddos entertained out in the sweltering heat. Mom seemed to be doing ok, enjoying the family and card game.
    Prayers for the gatherers here. The Lord is near.

  • robert moeller Posted September 4, 2018 7:16 am

    Some how this showed up on yesterday’s reflection.

    One “guru”, I’m not so comfortable with that word, guess I prefer saintly person instead, did a one on one Bible study with me not long after my wife passed away. I very much appreciate that and it was a major turning point in my spiritual life. I also think there are others who helped me on my way, but for whom I have no name. Being sent to church on Sunday in army basic training, certainly is an example.

    Thankful for a restful day, a nice walk, a change in the breakfast menu, an heirloom tomato on a sandwich at lunchtime, and a wonderful supper. Watched a baseball game, and saw two interesting movies.

    Need to get up some steam and write the email to Germany for help with the Bismarck steamer. Have the cab, coal, and water assembly built. Need some nice tin snips to work on the boiler. It needs to be modified to fit over the motor.

    Hope your Labor Day weekend was enjoyable. I miss not going to church on Sunday, but the time spent with Erich was very good.

    I am enjoying the book, “The Anatomy of Peace”. Am not finished yet, but
    am half way through. The diagrams, usually helpful for me, are a bit tougher.
    Following the thoughts has been interesting, putting them into practice withh take concerted efffort.

    Like every generation, at least from my understanding, the challenges to finding the right job change with the times, circumstances.Baby boomers ha different challenges than do the generations after us. Finding your way in life is not an easy task.

    Prayers for Julie’s daughter and her job search, but also for Julie who is also looking to work again. Yes, lots of research is important and necessary. I think the move will be the answer to the research that has been done and continues to be done.

    Most certainly prayers for Gloria, Marcy, and Julie and the health issues they face. God helps us deal with these problems in ways we couldn’t even imagine.

    Thankful for the saintly persons who have been in my life thus far. They most certainly have helped me along my way.

    Prayers for a blessed day, knowing that God is always with you.

  • Julie Posted September 4, 2018 8:14 am

    Certainly every one of the posters on this site have provided such valuable insights for me. I am reading a memoir currently and the individual is very insightful and honest. She includes chapters with a small heading of bee mindful. I would like to emulate many of the actions she portrays and for the reasns she enumerates for herself.
    My daughter and I had a picnic lunch and spent 2 hours talking about anything that popped into our head. We just enjoyed the day and each other and it was ordinary and special.
    Prayers again for Jill, Gloria and Larry. May the Lord uphold this family.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich. Robert is such a steadfast presence for the UR famiy, Erich, his church, his railroad groups, and most importantly himself. May Robert’s health continue to reflect his perseverence.
    Prayers for Marcy may she not have a migraine today. Tazzie sat on the TV stand while Megan played a computer game with fish moving across the screen. He was riveted, moving his head to watch as they darted about. Eventually he tried reaching a paw out to try to catch the fish.
    Prayers for Mary and her job situation.
    Prayers and blessings for all the UR family

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 4, 2018 8:56 am

    Thanks dear Julie for your prayers.

    Glad that you enjoyed your fellowship with your daughter, Julie!

    Worked 12 hours today. Going to sleep now. Hopefully friday’s 12 hours will be better and also sat duty 5 hours will be fruitful.

    Thank you God for strength and work. May it be better each day!

    Blessings

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