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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

Henri insists that in order to act lovingly and to embrace fundraising as a way of loving, we must allow ourselves to be possessed by God’s love. To grow in the knowledge and experience of God’s love is to know who we are and where we belong. Everything we say or do as fundraisers will be determined by the depth of our experience of love and by our ability to return to God’s loving embrace.

—Nathan Ball, Henri J.M. Nouwen, A Spirituality of Fundraising Workbook Edition (Upper Room Books, 2019)

Today’s Question

What does it look like to “be possessed by God’s love”? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.

—Zephaniah 3:17 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Dear God,
Show me how to use my talents and treasures in ways that demonstrate my love for you and for my neighbors. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Join The Upper Room in prayer for the U.S. Election. Visit The Upper Room Facebook page on Monday, November 2 and Tuesday, November 3 at 11 a.m. (CST) for guided prayer. Regardless of any divisions we have over perspective or politics, let us join together and pray. Save the date, and save the link: facebook.com/UpperRoomCenter

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

7 Comments

  • Jill Posted October 30, 2020 5:24 am

    To be possessed by God’s love has many looks, I believe. One would be – radical obedience. Another would be to be a conduit of His love – a vessel He uses to pour out His love, mercy and grace to others. From Micah – to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Be a peacemaker and peace sower. A sharer of Good News to those who have ears to hear.
    Father – I lift to You April and Lou – in this season of blah, this season of listlessness. Father – comfort them. Quiet them and may they sense Your peace…and remain in this wilderness – awaiting Your blessing, Your oasis. In Your perfect timing, lead them on.
    Thank You for this space, Father. May You alone be glorified.

    • Lou Posted October 30, 2020 7:57 am

      Thank you Jill- for your prayers and your wonderful contributions to this space.

  • robert moeller Posted October 30, 2020 6:16 am

    Jill has a way with words, ”
    To be possessed by God’s love has many looks, I believe. One would be – radical obedience. Another would be to be a conduit of His love – a vessel He uses to pour out His love, mercy and grace to others. From Micah – to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God. Be a peacemaker and peace sower. A sharer of Good News to those who have ears to hear.” AMEN! There’s some of me there, but certainly not all of me. I desire peace, live peacefully, but am not yet a peacemaker. I need help there.
    Might be some snow here today, high temps in the low 40s and down to the 20s at night for the next few days. Thankful for resources, snow tires, modeling progress, and breakfast with the pastor this morning.
    Prayers for Msrcy, Roxy, and whoever comes next to help Marcy, Jill and Larry, Julie and Megan, Lou and children, Ally and David, those who we remember from many UR posts, and those who remain unknown.
    From my German heritage I remember Martin Luther. Set your clocks Saturday, a month ends and a month begins this weekend. Thank You, Lord for the blessings of the day.

    • Lou Posted October 30, 2020 7:59 am

      Thank you Robert- for your prayers and wonderful example of faith always- and yes thank the Lord always for the blessings of this day.

  • Lou Posted October 30, 2020 8:02 am

    Thank the Lord for He is good and his Mercy endureth forever – Lord have mercy on us as the pandemic surges and our nation struggles to find peace- grant is the peace that only you can give – we wait on You.

  • Julie Posted October 30, 2020 8:45 am

    All the questions this week challenge me because love is lacking in my life and my faith. I gleened much from Jill’s words. I do try to be a conduit of His love, however as more of a pipe than a pump. It flows through me but none of it stays within me.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry and may they continue to find safe ways to connect.
    Prayers for Robert who I see as the ultimate example of being a conduit of God’s love. He radiates the holy love that resides within him out to his world, be they his family, friends, church or strangers.
    Prayers for Lou and may she lift her head from her work to take time to see the Lord smiling at her.
    Prayers for Ally and David and I pray that Ally was cleared for her surgery.
    I had a visit from Protective Services yesterday morning. Someone reported that they were concerned about h. He was not here when she came as he leaves most mornings. He is here today which causes my stress level to escalate further, especially because he sat across from to eat.

  • Ally Posted October 30, 2020 10:28 am

    Today’s scripture from Zephaniah is a good illustration of what it means to be possessed by God’s love. God covers us with God’s love and rejoices over us. It is like a mother’s love for her little baby. If God possesses us with love, then we put on love, as Paul directs in Colossians 3:14:
    “And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” May it be so, Lord.
    As I waited to see my dr. yesterday, I was prepared for her to possibly order another stress test. After talking with me for a few minutes, she said, “I think we need to do another heart cath.” I was blindsided and started to cry. She said, “it’s going to be ok, because this way we can head off any problems. You have been through worse this year”. So true, but I’m still scared. If blockages are discovered, hopefully all they will require are stents. I’m terrified of open heart surgery. I’m not sure how to ask y’all to pray. I’m trusting the Holy Spirit to intercede and know Holy Spirit will show you how to pray. Please pray for David. He’s trying to be strong for me.
    Jill, thank you for your insight into what God’s love looks like and relating it to Micah, 6:8, one of my favorite scriptures. Robert, I’m glad you have a warm place to be and that you have a strong church family to stay connected with. Prayers continue as you model God’s love for your children. Lou, I echo your concern for our country and the pandemic. I agree that only God can bring the peace we seek. I lift up your concerns and pray you feel God’s love today. Julie, I pray that your stress level decreases today. Praying for your and Megan’s continued safety. Marcy, I’m missing your hymns and pray you are staying migraine-free. I pray we all find ways to stay connected and find peace through God’s love. Blessings to all.

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