Today’s Reflection
GOD,
Collect our tears
Tears of sadness
tears of joy
Tears of anxiety
nervous tears
Tears that don’t know why they run like rivers down the face
Gracious God,
collect our tears in your bottle
And pour them back on us as life-giving water!
– Safiyah Fosua
The Africana Worship Book: Year B
From page 178 of The Africana Worship Book: Year B, edited by Valerie Bridgeman Davis and Safiyah Fosua. Copyright © 2007 by Discipleship Resources. 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
Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, “This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!”
Mark 9:7, NRSV
This Week: Pray for those single mothers and fathers. 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: Margaret Gaffney Haughery (February 9).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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17 Comments
I know that He holds my tears as surely as He holds me. And I trust Him as He holds my parents. Yesterday, my sister and I were to play cards with my folks. But my dad has really been wiped out by this bladder infection. I took a couple of things over to their house yesterday – and he looks old. I have never thought my dad looked or acted old. But, wham – all of a sudden, he looks his age. He feels like doing nothing but laying in bed. He has no energy, no stamina, walking to the bathroom wearies him. He is to return to the doctor tomorrow to have more blood work and another urine sample. My sister is going to take him. Hopefully she will be assertive with the doctor.
While I would much rather my dad was feeling better, it was very nice to have the remainder of my afternoon and evening to myself.
Grateful for church this morning. I missed last week, having been away. Also, missed connecting on Wednesday at Bible study – as it was cancelled due to the weather. I notice that missed interaction with my new friends.
Prayers for those gathering here. Continued improvement for Mary’s dad and her working environment. For Julie’s hands, Annaliese’s heart concern, Andrea’s daughter and grandson and her finger, Lou’s children. Father – I know Your eye is on Marcy and that You are providing her daily bread. For Isis, and snow removal for Connie. May we all worship today and everyday in Spirit and in Truth.
Thanks so much Jill!
May all be well with you and your parents too!
Blessings!
Visited my dad yesterday and today. He is much better now. He can even feed himself now except he still cannot swallow very well. Only soft food. Hopefully he can come back this week.
Blessings
Thankful for worship today, there’s a Shrove Tuesday Pancake dinner and Ash Wednesday service at church this week. Lent is soon here.
Prayers for Jill’s parents, especiaslly her dad. Thankful for news about Mary’s dad, hope he can come home for New Year’s. Yes. Lord, watch over Marcy, she is very much in our prayers.
Isis is doing well, getting lots of attention, takes her meds well. Think they are helping her, we want her days to be as peaceful as possible.
Time to get ready for church.
Prayers for Jill’s father.
Good news from Mary, what joy.
Good news regarding Isis. Yes, I understand wanting to spend as much time with her as possible and hoping to alleviate her suffering.
Thank you for your prayers. My one toe is now affected by the Reynaud’s. It has a large and weeping sore. Hope this winter is over soon.
blessings and prayers for all of the UR family
We all have the same roots, and we are all branches of the same tree.
Aang (author of The Last Airbender)
Thanks dear Julie!
Blessings
Julie, thanks for your prayers and the information on Ash Wednesday and Vakentine’s Day on the same date. The most recent was 1945. It will happen again in 2024 and 2029.
Prayers for your hands and toe affected by Reynaud’s, for your daughter, and for your situation.
Yes, Isis is a female cat, doing well so far with meds. Worst case scenario is two weeks, but we have meds for a month. She will be well cared for as long as she is with us.
Many blessings.
God knows our hearts and collects our tears- I believe that he wants me to be happy- I know I need to forget the past and move forward but that is hard after a 30 year relationship that I really really thought was solid and good-nevertheless everyday I pray to God to help me and my broken heart. This place and your testimonies and the faith expressed here helps me- thank you for praying for me and my children –
My son was offered the job but he doesn’t think it is a good fit…he has other interviews this week and he will let the first place know in the next week- I thank God for your prayers and for this offer. I think this generation is very “selective” and while it is difficult for me to understand I continue to be supportive as best I can. He has been very helpful to me and the neighbors with snow removal- we have had a foot of snow. Haven’t heard from my middle daughter-am trying to give her space that she clearly wants. Youngest daughter took college entrance exams yesterday but was not overly anxious and has been in a good state of mind for the past few days- thankful for “normal” life for them, your prayers and God’s sustaining love.
Prayers for Jill’s dad and his health concerns- I lost my Dad 17 years ago after a difficult illness. I miss him everyday. I pray that his health turns around and I pray for your mother’s strength and peace. Prayers for you as you continue to support them. So thankful that Mary’s dad is better – I hope work is also going better for you Mary. Blessings to Robert – thankful for his unwavering trust in God and his positive attitude and active lifestyle – an inspiration. Prayers for Erich and Annelise-
Prayers for Julie who has sounded down to me – how are you Julie? Prayers for Louise, Francesca, April, Betsy, Andrea and her family, Connie surviving the snow, Paul, and Marcy- and all who come to this place.
God is love.
blessings and peace in the new week ahead.
Prayers for your health concerns Julie- I hear your struggle and how it must impact your spirit – God loves you and watches over you -praying for you.
Lou, I try not to let my health influence my heart. Sometimes this is difficult but I never allow negative thoughts or feelings to linger.
Thank you so much for your concern.
Thanks Lou!
Yes, work is also better for me!
Grateful for the change!
Thank you God!
Blessings!
Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. The snow removal went so well and was done in a short time. We have more today, but it is very manageable. God (and praying friends) is Good.
Prayers for Jill and Mary’s Fathers. Glad Mary’s Father is doing better and hope today finds Jill’s Father gaining “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”. Daughters do better when Dads do better.
Julie, nothing worse than sores on your feet. Makes getting around so painful. Prayers.
As we approach the Lenten Season may God purify our hearts and may we focus on Him.
P.S. “I will put your tears in my bottle”. I love this so much.
I re- commented on yesterday’s site. I sure wouldn’t ask for prayer unless it was a lot of snow and it WAS, and your prayers were answered and I am grateful. Love to all.
I love the Africana Worship poems and especially this one on tears. A doctor and father shared the poem “Baby Tears” he had written for the memorial service after his 6-week-old daughter passed away. He penned words to express his wife’s tears of joy when she learned she was pregnant and again tears at their daughter’s passing. How blessed we are that our Gracious Father provides “life-giving water” for us at all times.
The month of February with Valentine’s Day is a month of tears for me….and so it seems as I read the posts from my UR family: Jill, Sarah, Julie, Mary, Marcy, Robert, Lou, Andrea, Betsy, Francesca, Welcome to Tim and everyone/pet I have not named but are part of our family that posts or reads. Because He lives, I can not only weep tears, but I can also sing with Connie that He gives me:
“Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow
Blessings all mine with ten thousand beside
Great is thy Faithfulness…Lord unto me.”
Thanks April!
Indeed, great is Thy faithfulness, O God!
Blessings
Amen, April.
Yes, April, I agree with you. Bless you and thank you for your witness and statement if faith.
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