Today’s Reflection
GOD, I am angry, frustrated, and sad. At the root of these bitter feelings, I feel hurt. Please help me to let go of the painful memories – the fights, the jealousy, the unkind words, the scorn I feel from other people. Take my pain and transform it for good.
Help me to see that those who hurt me are hurting too. Teach me to be more understanding, to offer them the love I need so much. Remind me that you see all of us as worthy of love and forgiveness.
Give me your peace, God. Fill me with your strength and your love so that I might be an instrument of your peace.
– devozine May-June 2018
Prayer by Bernadette Grove, page 40 in devozine, the devotional lifestyle magazine for teens, May/June 2018. Copyright © 2018 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
Pray today’s prayer. Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills.
Song of Solomon 2:8, NRSV
This Week: pray for those who are receiving cancer treatments. 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: Augustine of Hippo (August 28).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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5 Comments
This is the hardest thing to do, to offer love to someone who has hurt you. I think it requires a careful reading. “Someone who hurts you” should not be confused with csomeone who abuses” you. It is not healthy to offer love to an abuser; however, I believe with time, one can learn to forgive and heal from the pain inflicted by the abuser.
We are all human and at times, inevitably, we will hurt someone despite our best intentions; and at times, we will be the person who is hurt. Gracious God, help me to forgive, and help me to ask for forgiveness where it is needed.
I am thinking of Erich this morning and wonder if he has started his new job? Prayers for him, and for Robert and Anneliese.
Marcy, our walk yesterday was at a large county park featuring hilly oak savannah terrain. In the areas of open prairie, masses of goldenrod and big blue stem were in bloom, and the big blue stem waved and rippled in the breeze. Sumac bushes had long, dark orange seed pods on top, and here and there the leaves showed touches of autumn red. At times, the trail went into patches of oak forest, giving us welcome shade, and at times it skirted along a natural, unspoiled lake with lily pads floating serenely on the water and cattails near the shore. We saw a green heron looking for frogs. It was hazy, with the sun breaking through towards the end, and a high dew point made us sweat. It was a new trail for us, and at a low point, we had to step on rocks to cross standing water from the previous day’s rain shower. We met a couple of horseback riders and a couple of mountain bikers along the way and, in Minnesota fashion, exchanged hellos.
Prayers for all dear UR friends and visitors. May you feel your hand safely held by God.
Andrea, you are a wonder! I am wishing I could read with my eyes closed, right now! I’m going to read these beautiful words over again, and again! I’ve saved the page. I am actually experiencing the scents, the changes between light and shade and the breeze. The scent of the lake, the horses, maybe some leather, the forest and slightly, flowers. Thank you!
And I’ve not even begun on the first section of your comment. Overwhelmed. Will be back later! Love you!
Thankful that Erich’s frst day of work went very well, thank you Andrea and all who prayed for him. Most of all thank You, Lord. A few warm days before the weather cools off. Perhaps summer’s last gasp. won’t say so for certain.
Thank you Andrea for that delightful description of the locale of your walk. I don’t recognize all the plants, but overall it was a very sensory filled description. I’m delighted that Marcy can fully embrace that description.
The church Lawnfest is coming up this weekend so all week long set up is well underway. Lots of progress today, back at it tomorrow.
Prayes for those receiving cancer treatment or those dealing with the effects.
Know that God is with you and will bring you through in the way that is best for you.
The reflection came late today, after 1 pm, bit I’m delighted to have it and be able to respond. Since replies to posts no longer come, communication has become somewhat more tedious, none the less it comes.
Time for one more task and then a rest before Erich comes home. It has been a circuitous route to this job and it’s only day two, but so far so good.
Blessings to you all, hopefully more conversation later.
Robert, I also mentioned you yesterday when I spoke of good descriptions of walks. You and Andrea both do this so well and helps me when I think about my inability to walk. These descriptions calm my heart, soothe my soul and bring me closer to God, as I recall my own thoughts of God when out in nature. That’s why I ask for your descriptions, too, when you have the time. I did ask about what comes after the boiler on your Bismarck train set, but with notifcations not working anymore, it’s hard to stay connected!
I’m praying Erich continues to have success at his job. I know you enjoy his cooking! Ha! When you used to tell us about his pies, my mouth would water! You continue to be in my prayers, Robert! I’m praying for the two church members (couldn’t see well that day), that are close to going home to be with God and their families. Praises to God for those members who have recovered completely or have made good progress! Of course, Erich, Annaliese, your daughter and her family and Pearl remain in my prayers.
I’m thankful for your prayers and comments and feel the prayers of the UR Reflections family in my life daily. Be blessed this day!
Hello blessed UR siblings and friends! I am thankful for your prayers and I continue to pray for each of you!
Oh yes! Abusers are dangerous people to be around! Forgiveness is paramount, or else we wouldn’t be able to move on. But we cannot and should not forget certain aspects, as they have taught us much! And this can be be seen as how we can take the pain and transform it to good. I would be able to discern things now, that I was unable to discern thirty years ago. Had I not forgiven my “husband,” (still not divorced), I would never have been able to begin the healing process. And I pray that those I have hurt will forgive me. Words and actions, whether deliberate or misconstrued, can be so hurtful to others. I have learned to apologize and do so, quickly! It’s been a long time since I’ve deliberately hurt someone, but stumble over words often!
We must practice forgiveness, because God forgives us, after all. I just think it’s a process and I know our faith in God and His Love for us, enables us to do what we would be incapable of doing on our own. Forgiveness is a difficult and onerous task at times. When one’s love and trust has been taken, and treated badly, it changes us. Our Almighty God acknowledges our pain and encourages us with each new day. We are a new person in Jesus Christ, our Lord! Thanks be to God! I pray I can become a useful person for peaceful outcomes!
Thinking about and praying for Jill, Mary, Julie, Lou, Betsy, Connie, Pam, Gail, April, Francesca, Louise, and all of our UR family!
And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE! God’s heavenly blessings to you all and I’m sending along my Love, too!
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