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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

WHO ARE THE WOMEN you know who belonged right up there with the twelve and “some women” in their devotion to following Jesus and helping proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God?

The first woman who comes to my mind is my mother, Maggie Leola Wright. Her devotion wasn’t just the sit-down-and-pray kind (although prayer and worship were an important and integral part of her life); her devotion was also expressed in an active, following-in-Jesus’-footsteps way.

She, with my father, the Rev. Arthur Jerome Wright, welcomed twelve foster children into our home, created and ran a home for the aged, loved the left-out, and bound up the brokenhearted. In the segregated South of my childhood, they worked hard so that every child knew himself or herself to be a beloved child of God. …

[My mother’s] life was a picture of what it looks like when we really live out the inclusive, enormously loving, always forgiving good news of Christ with faithfulness and generosity. Think of those you celebrate who, like her, have lived lives in faithful response to that call. And then ponder how you can evermore faithfully follow Jesus like the twelve and “some women.”

– Marian Wright Edelman
Disciplines

From page 176 of The Upper Room Disciplines: A Book of Daily Devotions 2010. Copyright © 2010 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

Give thanks for the women who have shaped your faith. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.

John 12:24, NRSV

This Week: Pray for persons who experience chronic pain. 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: Patrick of Ireland (March 17).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

20 Comments

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted March 18, 2018 6:09 am

    I am very grateful for a lady lecturer who had shaped my faith when i was studying at the seminary. We had this fanily group time and she was my spiritual mentor. We met at her apartment and it was always neat and clean. When i came back from the family group meeting, i was inspired to clean up my room. She used to tell us that doing chores is therapuetic and the best time to pray.

    Thank you God for a very good spiritual mentor!

  • Betsy Posted March 18, 2018 7:06 am

    There have been many women in my life that have helped to shape me spiritually. Both my maternal and paternal grandmothers were strong Christians who modeled love and compassion for others. Many educators whom I worked under and with showed such grace and love for the students they touched; they were also models for me.

    Grateful for worship today and time with God. Also, all the ways that we as women (and men) of God can be mentors to those around us.

  • Lou Posted March 18, 2018 7:14 am

    My mother, grandmother and aunt in my father’s side have all shaped my faith as they were all strong believers and put their belief and love of the Lord into action by serving in many ways. My elderly mother continues to do many many volunteer projects in and for her church community and beyond- she is an example to me and my children. My mom and my aunt have both supported me during the past few years especially as I have struggled with my divorce – even sending me a bible verse or reading offering God’s love and support-it has meant the world to me-
    Please pray for me as I continue to try to meet the many demands facing me. The challenges keep coming one after another-I pray to keep my head up and for the strength to persevere. I am thankful to God for the many blessings in my life because I see those in addition to the struggle.
    I pray for all who come to this place today-peace and love be with you all.

    • Connie Posted March 18, 2018 8:52 am

      Tried and True “One day at a time, sweet Jesus”.
      Prayers going out for you…..you can do it! I know you can!

      • Lou Posted March 18, 2018 11:23 pm

        Thank you Connie- yes one day at a time- I know He is with me- and the UR pray-ers like you as well- thanks and love

    • Marcy Posted March 18, 2018 2:35 pm

      Lou, you are in my prayers each and every day. When you speak of one thing after another, I am walking with you in prayer. Different circumstances, but I’m sensitive to your feelings and I can feel this in my heart. Thank the good Lord, that He is with us, and others, as we travel the rocky road. I am sure in God’s Love for us, that the way will become smooth and even. God will sustain you and give you the strength to overcome! Sending prayers and much Love to you!

      • Lou Posted March 18, 2018 11:24 pm

        Thank you Marcy- I keep praying for you also- faith hope and LOVE

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted March 18, 2018 9:25 pm

      Lou, i am keeping you and your family in prayer.

      May God be your strength and ever present help

      Blessungs

      • Lou Posted March 18, 2018 11:25 pm

        Thank you Mary- blessings, peace and healing to you and your family.

        • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted March 19, 2018 9:02 am

          Thank you Lou

          Have a great week ahead!

  • robert moeller Posted March 18, 2018 7:56 am

    Yes, there have been women who in a variety of ways helped my faith develop. Each played a role in one way or another. More than anyone else one woman , a pastor, helped me in a very short time to deepen my faith and that moved me, if not from sinking sand or soft ground, to solid rock.I am very thankful.

    Prayers for Mary, Betsy, and Lou and the UR family We all need God and thankfully God is able to help each of us. Over and over we put our trust in the Lord and come through difficulties.

    Prayers for those in chronic pain, Julie, Marcy, and Anneliese come to mind, but there are many others. Pain takes many forms, they all hurt.

    Church today, thankful for that. May you all have a blessed Sunday.

    • Marcy Posted March 18, 2018 2:49 pm

      Robert, yes! Praise God that He can be there for everyone in challenging situations in life. He is God, after all, there is nothing He cannot do. Yes, there are many different kinds of pain, and when dealing with several types at once, it becomes a battle. Grace and mercy from God will see us through, even though it may be hard to see how, at times. I don’t know how we would cope without our Abba, Father, our Savior, Jesus Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. PTL!

      Thank you for including me in your prayers. You and Erich and Annaliese remain in my own.

      Blessed Sunday to you, also!

    • Lou Posted March 18, 2018 11:29 pm

      Thank you Robert-I hope you enjoyed church today- blessings and peace to you and Erich and Pearl this week. Praying for a reprieve from the snow for you- my daughter goes to school in Burlington and when you speak of the weather I feel closer to her- thank you for your prayers

      • robert moeller Posted March 19, 2018 12:00 am

        I grew up in the Champlain Valley where Burlington is located, went to school there too. Am glad my weather reports help you feel closer. While Stowe is not so far from Burlington, the weather in the mountains is generally snowier and colder than Burlington. Lake Champlain does not produce the lake effect snow that the Great Lakes produce for Buffalo.

        Prayers for house sale prep and good results. It’s a lot of work, find a good realtor, that’s very helpful.

  • April Posted March 18, 2018 11:08 am

    Good news…my co-worker’s pain has lessened and she was been able to sleep starting Wednesday night!! Thank you, thank you dear UR family for adding her to your prayer list….
    James 5:16 The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
    I have had several Sunday School teacher when I grew up that shaped my life…and as a Sunday School teacher myself I had the privilege to hear that I had connected with one young person in the 2nd grade. I saw her and a friend walking and it looked as if one had been injured…maybe fallen down?….so I pulled up and asked if they wanted a ride. One said, “we don’t ride with strangers”; the other said, “she is my Sunday School teacher so it is safe.”
    May we all know that it is safe to go to God in prayer for any hurts or pain and also share with others so that they can pray too.
    You are all special people that have continued to shape my life and I give thanks to you all.
    Blessing and Joy on this Sunday.

    • Marcy Posted March 18, 2018 2:55 pm

      April, such good news that your co-worker’s pain has lessened to the point she is able to sleep well. I will keep both of you in prayer. It’s great that you are a Sunday School teacher! That is where it all started for many of us, I believe. God has gifted you in teaching His Word to young, impressionable minds!

      • April Posted March 18, 2018 8:21 pm

        Marcy, it is so good to hear from you and that you are receiving pastoral calls and help….what a testament to your church reaching out!!
        I am not a Sunday School teacher now, but someday I hope to return to that and connect with young families and plant more seeds…
        I pray that you will be able to get out soon and enjoy Spring….my favorite season of the year.

    • robert moeller Posted March 19, 2018 12:05 am

      Yes. April, prayer is powerful. I agree fully. Thankful your co-workers pain has lessened and sleep is possible. Thank you for sharing. Prayers for both of you.
      Having a co-worker willing to pray is a blessing. Thank you!

  • Marcy Posted March 18, 2018 3:22 pm

    I am thankful to this loving UR family for sustaining prayers. I am continuously grateful to God for leading me here. I don’t know where I’d be without you. Thank you, God! Each of you, including new names, who have only posted once, are in my prayer notebook, and I am blessed to pray intercessory prayers for all. It is one thing I am able to do in service to our Father in heaven. When I’m not posting, it’s because I’m unable. Physical complications and other extenuating circumstances are especially difficult at present. Sometimes, when I try to post anyway, things go haywire. It will get better, as I keep praying. I miss posting every day.

    Anyway, my Sunday School teachers were great planters of seeds, watering and pruning my young faith, each of them guiding me on my way. Also, our Reverends and my maternal grandmother and great aunts. God is so good!

    Prayers for Jill, Julie, Andrea, Betsy, Connie and Mary and all!

    And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE!

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted March 18, 2018 11:15 pm

    Thank you Dear Marcy for praying for all of us daily.

    May God bless you abundantly!

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