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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

God has given us the gift of family and we can, whenever we gather together, give thanks to God for these familial gifts. All of the families of the earth are precious to the Lord. None of our commitments and loves go unnoticed by the Creator of heaven and earth.

As with those of old, God is most concerned for our relationships with one another. Family—and becoming a family of God—is how we discover that we can accomplish more together than we can individually. Being and becoming a family of God is what the kingdom of God is like.

—Todd Outcalt, Let Us Go Now to Bethlehem: Daily Devotions for Advent and Christmas (Upper Room Books, 2020)

Today’s Question

In what ways do your family relationships resemble God’s kingdom? In what ways do they fall short?
Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
—Psalm 96:7 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, as you have made all things, I know you are still creating in me too. You are not finished working on me. Thank you for your patience throughout the seasons of my life, and I pray that I may offer beauty, comfort, relief, joy, and strength to those I encounter today. Help me to rely upon your counsel through all of the adversity of my life. Amen.
—Prayer by Todd Outcalt
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

2 Comments

  • Jill Posted December 30, 2023 4:03 pm

    Huh – pretty good timing on this one. Falling a bit short currently, with my sister. She is so hyperbolic in nature and I would say a good chunk of the time I just let it go. But – these past few days, I didn’t fully keep my mouth shut and she called me out on it today. It has to do with dad, his ailments and she just kinda let me have it today. I suppose she isn’t entirely wrong, and I didn’t dare comment on her tendency for hyperbole – the Spirit helped me there. So, I spent some time with God about it, will continue to ask for self control and gentleness. I don’t want her to think that I am taking what she and Don are doing (taking dad into their household) for granted.
    Kinda grayish and yukky here – but got out for a walk nonetheless. Just finished grading my last class set of exams – so that feels good.
    Going to fix a nice, light fish meal for dinner – lots of eating these past few days. Also, going out to lunch with a friend tomorrow – so this meal is in order. It is grouper. Was going to cut it up and fry up some grouper fingers. But found a simple recipe on line – calls for pan searing. Will give it a whirl. Healthier than deep frying.
    Taking in some football and reading this evening. Nice to not leave the house.

    • Rusty Posted December 31, 2023 6:54 am

      Thank you for your openness with us about this Jill. It sounds hard. Prayers on the way, and thank you for the encouragement about “spending time with God.” Definitely something I need to stay focused on myself, and the simplicity with which you phrase that is instructive and helpful to me.

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