Today’s Reflection
THE EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY REFORMER Martin Luther said that the gospel comes to us in the form of promise: God has acted and will act to save us. The God of the Bible is a promise-making, promise-keeping God. …
When we forget that God relates to us on the basis of gracious promise, we may be tempted to turn our relationship to God into an if-then relationship. If I am good, then God will love me; if I study my Bible, then God will listen to me; if I tithe, then God will bless me; if I serve the poor, then God will reward me.
Whenever we take this approach, we are reshaping the gospel. … God’s promise of salvation never comes as a response but as a free, unconditional gift.
– L. Roger Owens
Belonging to the Truth, e-book from Disciplines 2015
“From page 335 of The Upper Room Disciplines 2015: A Book of Daily Devotions.” The readings for the week of November 16-22, written by L. Roger Owens, are titled “Belonging to the Truth” and are available as an e-book for Kindle or in EPUB format for other e-readers. Copyright © 2014 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books.
“http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
How do you experience God relating to you and to others out of gracious promise? Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”
Mark 13:2, NRSV
This Week: pray for estrange family members. 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: Gertrude the Great of Helfta (November 16).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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15 Comments
Thank you God for keeping your promises and your unconditional love for each of us.
May we also be gracious and forgiving, following your example in keeping our promises even it may be difficult.
We commit all astranged families into your hands. May you help them to forgive one another and be reconciled. May you heal their broken relationships and fill them with your love and peace.
Blessings!
God’s extravagant unconditional love – so good to us undeserving folk. Father – thank You. Make our love more like Your Love – Your Hesed Love – selfless, pure. Thank You for Your many promises – may we cling to them.
Prayers for Betsy’s family this weekend, as they gather to celebrate a wedding.
Grateful to know next week is a short work week, and for strength for this current week. Grateful for safety yesterday during ice, sleet and snow.
Jill, you and your whole family, remain in my prayers. Many thoughts of peace and serenity, strength and courage, are being sent your way!
Unless there is another more modern Martin Luther, I think the date should be the 16th century. Otherwise I am in agreement that God’s salvation is a gift. We can’t buy, earn, or deserve it. How precious is that gift. Thank You,
Lord.
This latest arrangement with no follow up posts or emails has ben moving backwards and forwards in an effort to respond to others. Didn’t make it back yesterday as I hoped. Had a needed nap after a busy productive morning.
Yesterday’s training went well for Erich, to both the manager and Erich’s surprise, due to s scheduling error, he was the cook for the shift he worked.
After a momentary jolt, Erich went to work and settled in.
Lots of snow predicted for today.
Thankful for Suzanne’s help as told in Jill’s testimony. Great partnerships are
a true blessing. Prayers for Julie’s job search effort and encouragement for Megan. Praying Connie’s test results are good. Continued prayers for Marcy’s health and well being. The smoke box cover is progressing. Prayers of healing for Timothy. Thank You, Lord
Blessings and best wishes to all the UR family.
Thank you, Robert, and may God continue to bless you and Erich in your plans!
I’m thinking of my train sets and contemplating how to go get them. I’d love to have my small Christmas tree (it’s been in storage) up and decorated for the first time in years, with my Dad’s trains set up underneath! A bit concerned about Lucy, though!
My early life had few examples of promise keeping. I have related how steadfast and dependable my grandparents were to me. Therefore I try to understand a God who keeps promises by remembering them and their promises fulfilled faithfully.
I am deling with increasing discomfort in my hands as the weather here is very cold. We, like Robert, have snow.
Prayers for Mary and her family and their joy together.
Prayers for Jill and her family. Thankful for safe travel in the same weather conditions that I am experiencing.
Prayers for Robert and his busy mornings and tired afternoons. Prayers of thanks for Erich doing well in his new job.
Prayers for Marcy and her new helper, Mary. May Mary bring Marcy great comfort.
Prayers for Connie. Waiting to hear how the doctor visit went yesterday and praying for good news.
Prayers for Betsy and her family. May they be safe as they travel for the wedding. May the wedding be filled with joy despite those who will be missed.
Prayers for Andrea and her family and their relationships.
Prayers for Timothy. May his pain abate today.
Prayers dear UR family
Thank you, dear sister Julie, for your daily prayers. I am praying for Megan to find an interest in a good job. I am praying for you as the cold weather makes things challenging for your hands. Hands that I’m sure have performed countless loving tasks. I am sending Love and hugs to you!
I graciously accept God’s gracious promise and I will trust in Him.
Some relatives relate instances of close ones not speaking. Lord, at this Thanksgiving Season and on, please heal this. Amen.
Most tests good according to doctor-one being treated, one waiting results. I have lost many lbs. but he does not seem concerned. I have done what I can for now and I put it in God’s hands. Thank you for listening.
Hope Julie’s hands do better. Cold hands, warm heart-that’s our Julie.
Glad Erich is doing well. I know I would like Erich.
Blessings to all as we go into the weekend.
“We are one in the Spirit”
Connie, your kind words made me cry. My heartfelt thank you for your kindness.
Connie, I continue to keep you in my prayers as test results are pending. Sending encouragement and Love to you!
Good reflection today, about God’s free, unconditional gift.
This article refers to the “18th-Century Reformer Martin Luther. Wasn’t Martin Luther active in the 16th Century – not the 18th Century? Or, is this a different Martin Luther?
Is it true that your devotionals are free
Hello, blessed UR friends and siblings! I am thankful for the sustenance your prayers bring me through the Love of our Almighty God, our Father in heaven. Many times, as I was speaking with the trauma therapist yesterday, I thought of all of you, Jill, Julie, Robert, Andrea, Lou, April, Mary, as it became difficult to unbury the awful memories, triggered by recent events of a few months ago. Your words of encouragement, the witness of your trials, and most of all, the constancy of your faithful care through Jesus Christ, for me in my troubles, be they mental, emotional and/or physical. It felt like God Himself brought you to me, surrounding me with His Love and strength. I am grateful beyond words for each of you and am doing my best to overcome the obstacles before me.
I await the approval of further testing for my heart, approval for the pulmonary medicine that was denied twice. It is a true game changer, as the doctor gave me a sample and it had made such a difference. The cardiologist says I now need to use the oxygen at night, and approval is needed for continued service for oxygen for 2019. I await approval of medication to cure another condition; a true cure, not just treatment. It seems as if the hurdles are ever higher and closer together, but God has me seeing my future healthier, and better able to serve Him. Thanks be to God, whatever He has in store for me!
The promise of God’s Holy graciousness is a promise we can depend on. We know He loves us because of what He did for us, giving His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, for us to have a path to heaven, and we praise Him with thanksgiving! O Holy Spirit, we are alive in God through You! We have never-ending Hope through You, Holy Spirit, as we commune with God daily, whether we are strong or weak. We are blessed, so mightily blessed, by our Triune God!
Prayers for Jill, Larry, Gloria and Becky (and Roger too!) Prayers and praises for Robert, Erich and Annaliese (and Pearl too!) Prayers for my dear sister Julie, who includes such beautiful prayers for us, and Megan (and Chai and Tazzie too!) Prayers for Andrea, Lowell, and Andrea’s daughter, son-in-law and grandson, and Father Edwin too! Prayers for dear Connie and all her loved ones too! Prayers for a joyous wedding, attended by Betsy and dear Grace and their loved ones, especially the soon to be married couple! Prayers for my sweet sister Mary and all her loved ones! Continued prayers for April, Pam, Gail, Francesca, Rusty and K, Edy. And also for Ami, Jean, Joan, Louise, Carol and Robin, Chloe and Paige, Tim Wells, Michael P. Butler, Mary Graczyk, Lawrence Berry, Kenneth Miller, Mark Bryant, Ken Linscott and all the names in my prayer list notebook, whether visiting here or not, and all whose requests are unspoken.
Lord, make me Your servant and a blessing to my brothers and sisters in Christ, as You planned for me to be!
And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE! Sending Love to all!!!
A hearty welcome to Mike Tinnon and Cynthia today. Blessings!
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