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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

WITHIN CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS, self-compassion has been underemphasized and sometimes outright subverted. While we laud the Christian mandate of loving our neighbor, some people regard self-love with suspicion. They believe delighting in ourselves to be an offense and tending to our needs before those of others to be outrageously sacrilegious. Still, Jesus invites us to love our neighbor as ourselves, not instead of ourselves. The care, goodwill, and delight we extend to ourselves should be the measure of that which we offer to others.

—Frank Rogers Jr. , Compassion in Practice: The Way of Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2016)

Today’s Question

What can you do to offer compassion to yourself? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
—Mark 12:29-31 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

A prayer of compassion from Mother Teresa
Lord, open our eyes that we may see you in our brothers and sisters.
Lord, open our ears that we may hear the cries of the hungry, the cold, the frightened, the oppressed.
Lord, open our hearts that we may love each other as you love us.
Renew in us your spirit.
Lord, free us and make us one. Amen
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

7 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 10, 2020 3:51 am

    Since being diagnosed with PsA – my friend who has the same diagnosis – really “preached” to me about self care. In order to be able to do my job, spend quality time with my family, hopefully be well enough to remain active – I must attend to myself first. When walking closely with the Lord – I believe a person would be abiding – the truest measure of tapped-into-ness – and would therefore know appropriate measures of tending to oneself spiritually and ultimately be able to do Kingdom work well. I think those immersed in full time ministry are becoming more aware of the need to make sure they are devoting enough time to themselves and their family, as they tend to their “flock”. For myself – it is about constantly staying in contact with God and asking Him to show me where I am being neglectful.
    Incredibly grateful to share with you the news I received yesterday afternoon – my biopsy results are benign. I will have a follow-up appointment and ultrasound in June. A surge of gratitude when I answered the phone while driving home from my meeting with my spiritual advisor. When I texted a friend with the news – her response was “God is good.” Yes, indeed He is – and He is good, independent of what the test results were. Thank You, Father. And, thank you – UR family – for your prayers these past few days.
    My god-daughter’s ankle is not broken, a high ankle sprain. It remains to be seen how long she will be out. Due to this injury – I will not have to travel to her game tomorrow. While I am sorry she is injured, this opens up my day quite a bit tomorrow – and I am looking forward to a low key weekend.

    • Joyce Kaiser Posted January 10, 2020 7:29 am

      Jill, bravo…as I believe your thoughts of ‘tending to the flock- myself and you’ is vital to making it through so many trials and tribulations. There are so many challenges in our world especially now- it is true to stay ‘in contact’ with God 24/7
      Congrats on results, and your daughter’s x-rays..One day at a time or one moment at a time. keep on- keeping on!!!

  • robert moeller Posted January 10, 2020 6:48 am

    Thankful, Jill, l the biopsy is benign and your god-daughter has not broken her ankle. Hoping for a good recovery, athletes want to be in the action.
    This is a very much needed reflection , “do unto others as you do unto yourself”. There are many people who do not take good care of themselves, then too, there are those who go overboard. The same goes for caring for others. Finding the right balance is the task we are asked to do.
    It’s almost a week since my “bug” started, progress continues, but it isn’t over yet. Had a good night’s sleep with the help of Nyquil, coughing is helped by Riccola. Am eating good food. Prayers and God will get me through this. Thanks to all of the UR family for your support. Thank You, Lord.

  • robert moeller Posted January 10, 2020 7:08 am

    Yes, Julie and Jill, I was able following your suggestion to reach previous posts. Thanks to Rick and Julie for your prayers. for both Erich and me. Slow tiny steps are being made toward the business. Lots of research, checking this and that, making small purchases, and examining venues are helping make decisions. Prayers for Marcy, Rusty and K, and those who we don’t hear from as often as we would like as well as prayers for those whose concerns, needs , and issues we know. So much to pray for these days,
    an end to sabre rattling, wise decisions on when to fly, diffusing tensions, protecting the environment, caring for those ravaged by fires, flood, hurricanes, and earthquakes. There are many on the migrant path because of these and other serious issues. Health concerns add to the prayers. Lord, You provide us wth daily blessings. Thank You! Help us to recognize them!

  • Joyce Kaiser Posted January 10, 2020 7:31 am

    Jill, bravo…as I believe your thoughts of ‘tending to the flock- myself and you’ is vital to making it through so many trials and tribulations. There are so many challenges in our world especially now- it is true to stay ‘in contact’ with God 24/7
    Congrats on results, and your daughter’s x-rays..One day at a time or one moment at a time. keep on- keeping on!!!

  • Joyce Kaiser Posted January 10, 2020 7:32 am

    I have a quote that helps me….”God does not comfort us to make us comfortable but to make us comforters.”
    Folks– Gods Gotcha today for sure.

  • Julie Posted January 10, 2020 8:31 am

    How wonderful, Jill! Both you and your god-daughter receving good news is a wonderful gift from God. Your response is awe inspiring, may I reach that level of spiritual certitude someday.
    I also must give myself self care due to a chronic illness. I must be ever mindful of the weather and take meticulous care to cover my extremeties at all times. I allow for self care by remembering a different Biblical truth. God created us in His image and He loves us. So, I must care for His creation, His beloved, as a means of respect to Him.
    Prayers for Jill’s quiet weekend to regroup after the first full week of work and one with momentous results.
    Prayers for Joyce and her family.
    Prayers for Robert as he continues to battle his illness. May he recover soon. Prayers for Erich, may his preparations cover all contigencies.
    Prayers for Andrea, Connie, Lou, Mary, Marcy, and Rick, may all be well and greatly blessed.
    Prayers and thank you UR

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