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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

LENT IS the forty days before Easter (excluding Sundays) during which we turn our attention to God and the things that keep us from God. Lent begins with Ash Wednesday. continues through Holy Week, and ends at Easter.

Lent is observed differently in different traditions, but it is generally a time of turning toward God and turning away from things that separate us from God.

– “40 Days: A Guide to Lent”

From “40 Days: A Guide to Lent,” page 37 in Alive Now, March/April 2011. Copyright © 2011 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn about the season of lent.

Today’s Question

Do you observe the season of Lent? What do you do to observe it? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

Psalms 51:1, NRSV

This Week: Pray for a holy lent. 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: Valentine (February 14).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

11 Comments

  • Jill Posted February 14, 2018 3:11 am

    Lent has become more prevalent for me in the past few years. This year, with all that is going on with my family, I feel as though it has snuck up on me, and I have not given appropriate consideration for what I will give up and/or what I will take on.
    In some ways, as I have continued to pray over and meditate on James 3:17, Galatians 5:22-23, and I Corinthians 13:4-5…these passages fit with Lent perfectly, as I try to take on these characteristics. Even have an increasing awareness and have them be exhibited in me more. With the increased focus on these passages…I have gotten away from my previous verse meditation – Psalm 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness. This is a “forever” verse for me…I will wrap all my requests in this verse during this Lenten season. Father – thank You for bringing it back to the forefront of my mind.
    Father – thank You for this community. As we progress towards the gloriousness of Easter – stir our hearts, prepare our hearts. In the midst of the challenges and praises of our lives, center us on Your Son, His Sacrificial life, His determination to do Your Will only.

  • Louise Posted February 14, 2018 3:49 am

    Hello to all my UR friends. All is well. Myself and family members were really sick with respiratory illnesses but we are all on the mend now. School has been extremely busy for me. We have a lot of major changes…some good…some not so good. That is okay though…God is in the middle of everything and we guide us all to do the right thing. My husband and I received wonderful news. We will be grandparents for the first time in August. Our daughter and son-in-law are expecting. Know that I offer prayers up everyday day for all here at UR. I pray for good health, peace, and happiness for all of you. I pray that you will all have a blessed lent and God will fill you with his everlasting peace. I will keep in touch and I will keep praying for all of you. Please pray for me. ❤

  • robert moeller Posted February 14, 2018 5:56 am

    Have some suggestions from our pastor on things to do for Lent, need to pay attention to them and decide what I will do. Went to my first Shrove Tuesday at church Pancake Supper. A simple meal of pancakes, sausage, and fruit.

    After sunset, now the beginning of a new day in the Jewish tradition, we had
    an Ash Wednesday service and received ashes. Lent is underway.

    Very thankful for Jill’s post today, will look up those Bible passages. Prayers for a holy Lent and the well being of your parents. Glad to hear from Louise,
    congratulations on the joyous news. Being a grandparent is a great blessing. Lots of respiratory problem illness going around this year, especially the flu.
    Thankful you and your family are on the mend. Yes, I can fully imagine the problem this causes at school for all students and teachers. Prayers for a holy Lent.

    Very thankful that Isis is having many good days. Erich still struggles with the knowledge that she is slowly passing away. I am thankful that he is having many opportunities to experience her in positive settings.

    Will see my daughter and grand-daughters the first week in April. Will travel by train something I look forward to.

    Have no idea if Valentine’s Day has come on Ash Wednesday before, it’s the first time I am aware of it. Seems contradictory in a way. I pray everyone has both a wonderful Valentine’s Day and a holy Ash Wednesday. One day soon our prayers will be answered and we will hear from those we miss here at the UR. Lost my dad 10 years ago on this day.

  • Betsy Posted February 14, 2018 7:02 am

    The Lenten has kind of slipped up on me also, Jill. The last few years I’ve gotten away from giving up comforts/foods and instead tried to give toward something or a special cause. Haven’t decided yet what that will be. Thankful that we are able to make these choices in how to serve others during this Lenten season.

    Congratulations, Louise, on becoming a grandparent! I pray for health and happiness for your daughter, son in law and you as the grands. Robert, So sorry to hear about your beloved dog as he slows down in life. I know how special our animal friends are. I pray he doesn’t suffer.

    Prayers for all here in whatever ways you celebrate the beginning of this special season in the Christian year. May we pause and reflect on Jesus’s journey.

  • Julie Posted February 14, 2018 8:15 am

    Prayers for Isis, the female kitty, and Erich. I know all to well his heartache. But he is giving her a good quality of life and going above and beyond in her care. He can rest in this knowledge and know that she loves him for his lve and concern and benevolence.
    So good to hear from Loiuse. What great news! I will pray for your daughter and baby.
    Much pain in fingers and toe. Reynaud’s is very bad this year.
    I read recently of a Lenten practice a woman undertook. She wrote a note of gratitude each day to an individual in her life. I would like to attempt this for Lent this year.
    Bessings and prayers for all
    To be loved, be lovable Ovid
    Robert, Valentine’s Day and Lent have occurred on same day before, but it was a very long time ago. We would not have been alive

  • Connie Posted February 14, 2018 8:18 am

    I observe Lent by focusing on what I can do to improve my “holiness”. I have not been my best self so far this year. I probaly will not receive ashes and I did not receive them last year either. There’s a “hole in my bucket” and I pray that God will mend it. Ash Wednesday Blessings to all.

    • Pam Posted February 14, 2018 4:09 pm

      Connie, not-to-worry; without those holes and cracked pots, how would we spread God’s rain?

      • Conne Posted February 15, 2018 8:27 am

        Amen and Amen, Pam.

  • Andrea Posted February 14, 2018 1:11 pm

    Congratulations on future grandparenthood, Louise. I will pray for your daughter.

    Please pray for my husband, Lowell. He is laid low with a respiratory bug. Hoping it is not flu. Thank you.

    Happy Valentine’s Day to all, and Ash Wednesday blessings.

  • Jan Posted February 14, 2018 9:58 pm

    Instead of me giving up something for Lent, I give to a favorite charity, an animal rescue.

    • robert moeller Posted February 15, 2018 2:20 am

      I like the new tradition of doing positive things, not that sacrificing isn’t positive. We can learn to live with less and give what we would have done for ourselves to help others who have needs.

      Great idea Jan.

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