Today’s Reflection
The heart represents the core of our being that receives, holds, and gives love. . . . This week choose to love in situations where you may not feel loving. This week name (out loud or in writing to your spouse or friend) those people or situations where you find it difficult to express or feel love. Imagine your heart filled with God’s love and choose to love that person or in that situation this week.
—Kara Lassen Oliver, Passing It On: How to Nurture Your Children’s Faith Season by Season (Upper Room Books, 2015)
Today’s Question
Can you remember some things that made you happy and sad this week? Where did you feel God during both the good and the bad of the week? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
—1 John 4:7, NRSV
Prayer for the Week
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
Thy angels watch me through the night,
And keep me safe till morning’s light.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
This week’s featured book, Passing It On: How to Nurture Your Children’s Faith Season by Season, is a practical guide to help parents, grandparents, and other concerned adults nurture their children’s faith. Author Kara Lassen Oliver offers easy-to-follow suggestions for families during the back-to-school, Advent, Lent, and summer seasons. Read more.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
Save 45% and receive free shipping on the regular and enlarged-print editions of Disciplines 2021 by using promo code DISC45. Offer is good while supplies last.
5 Comments
Going to Kennywood with Megan was a happy tttime despite the rain. I saw a favorite server at the bagel shop I frequent that day and she related that she was still awaiting delivery of her meds she takes for Crohn’s. She is a veteran and receives the meds via the postal service and she had missed a dose and was suffering a flare up. I have been praying for her since she told me of her diagnosis. I know God allowed the sun to return while we were at Kennywood after delivering rain the farmers badly needed. I know God is with the server in her time of need, holding her and getting her through this time.
Prayers for Ally’s job search and disability application and may she and David find relief from their health issues. Prayers for Jill as she recovers from her sports hernia. I pray that Larry learns from her example and also allows his body to heal. Prayers for Robert as he continues to grapple with Erich and his needs that are physical, emotional and mental. May God lead Erich to find help for his issues. Prayers for Marti and her staff.
I continue to struggle with the idea of loving h considering all he has tried and continues to try to do to me. He has abused me emotionally and mentally to the point of hospitalization due to extreme weight loss and he attempted to leave me penniless and homeless while he walked away with over a million dollars. Maybe once this divorce is over I can better attempt to follow the Lord’s edict. I ask for his patience and forgiveness. Thank you for your prayers and may God bless all who visit here.
Thankful to read Julie’s post this morning. News, weather pleasant or not is always welcome as it helps prayers of joy and concern. I am alsi aware of people who get behind ih their meds due to variety of reasons (bureaucracy, post office delays to name two). I too have times of joy and irritation where God is most definitely welcomed or needed. My counselor is helping, that’s a positive, Erich has bent a bit based on this. He still has a variety of issues that need attention.
Prayers for Jill’s sports hernia, Larry’s feelings of being unwell, the long drawn out legal proceedings Julie faces, and wellbeing and health issues for Ally & David, as well as Marcy. Hopeful to finally get the masking on the CV Brill car just where I want it and then be able to paint once the humidity goes down. We’ve had New England style hot and humid weather for three days. For most of us, not our cup of tea. Thankfully I have been able to get out and walk, but will take a break today. Have a great and blessed weekend, worship will be with masks on. Thank You, Lord.
God is most certainly with us in the good and bad. This week I felt his presence during the series of awful storms and was thankful for only minor issues. I also felt him in the quiet moments of this week. I felt his call to reach out to a friend who is struggling and I know sharing time with her was because of his love.
Prayers for all experiencing challenges today -may you know God’s love and feel his presence.
Good morning, all. I’m thankful for my friends who have checked in this week, as I did not feel well for a couple of days: fever, chills, body aches. In this world of vivid, I was a little nervous. It has been hard to have love for those who refuse to do the right thing and protect those who are vulnerable.
I’m working through process of applying for this job. Please pray with me as I complete the process. Know that your heartfelt concerns are in my heart and my prayers. Please stay safe. Be blessed.
I have had moments of gladness and sadness this week. God was there in the midst of both and I am grateful. In the heaviness, God is present and there is peace. In quiet, holy moments with one or two others – He is in the midst too. I wonder if they sense His presence as much as I do.
My best friend is having a party tomorrow at their new house…to celebrate my god daughter’s birthday which was back in May, to celebrate my god son’s 15th birthday which is in a few weeks, to let others see their new house, and to wish my god daughter good wishes as she heads off to college next Thursday. They live life at break neck speed. She is looking forward to getting past next week – when Sidney will be at college and Ashton will begin his freshman year at his new high school. Neither will be playing a Fall sport – and my friend looks forward to things really slowing down. She is super stressed right now, but keeps facing each day.
I spoke with dad this morning, to see how he was doing. He said he wasn’t feeling quite right, that he was lightheaded. He then proceeded to tell me he was out walking. It was 78 with high humidity. I was speechless for a bit and then ventured, once again, into suggesting he take a few days with no activity to see if he can get back to full strength. Just as he can’t help himself, I guess I can’t help myself from trying to get through to him.
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