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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

GOD'S GRACE flows both ways, doesn’t it? Just when we think we’re extending it to someone, we discover that it’s coming right back at us multiplied, amplified, and revealing more and more about ourselves, other people, and about what God is doing in the world. God reveals extraordinary grace and goodness in and through our relationships.

—Rebecca Dwight Bruff, Loving the World with God: Fourth Day Living (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today's Question

When have you been surprised to find God’s grace flowing both ways?  

Today's Scripture

“May grace and peace be yours in abundance in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
—2 Peter 1:2 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:
a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.
Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room .

Something More

Looking for creative ways to share gratitude this Thanksgiving? Click here to discover ideas for showing gratitude this Thanksgiving.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

7 Comments | Join the Conversation.

Today's Reflection

GOD LEADS us as individuals and as communities to reflect the engaging grace and love of God revealed through Jesus the Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit. We as Christians affirm this regularly and sacramentally. In our baptisms, we are commissioned, literally co-missioned with Christ, to a life in God’s grace expressed through commitment to God’s ministries in the world.

—Rebecca Dwight Bruff, Loving the World with God: Fourth Day Living (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today's Question

In what ways are you co-missioned with Christ?  

Today's Scripture

“So we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”
—2 Corinthians 5:20 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Grant us, Lord God, a vision of your world as your love would have it:
a world where the weak are protected, and none go hungry or poor;
a world where the riches of creation are shared, and everyone can enjoy them;
a world where different races and cultures live in harmony and mutual respect;
a world where peace is built with justice, and justice is guided by love.

Give us the inspiration and courage to build it, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room .

Something More

Looking for creative ways to share gratitude this Thanksgiving? Click here to discover ideas for showing gratitude this Thanksgiving.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

5 Comments | Join the Conversation.

Today's Reflection

EVERYTHING THAT IS, including we ourselves, is held forever in God’s love, in God’s grace and mystery. Mama is in it, as am I.
Grief is real and also held in God’s mystery. Yet love is the greatest mystery in our amazing universe. It is given to us as a way to
participate in life. It is the root and cause and completion of all things in God.

—Roberta C. Bondi, Wild Things: Poems of Grief and Love, Loss and Gratitude (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today's Question

How can you embrace the mystery of God’s love today?  

Today's Scripture

“Without question, the mystery of godliness is great: he was revealed as a human, declared righteous by the Spirit, seen by angels, preached throughout the nations, believed in around the world, and taken up in glory.”
—1 Timothy 3:16 (CEB)

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, As you draw us closer to you, draw us closer to each other. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room .

Something More

Who came up with the idea of using nativity scenes to celebrate Christmas? Many might be surprised to learn that Francis of Assisi, the well-known thirteenth-century saint, is credited with creating the first nativity scene. The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis introduces readers to Saint Francis and his joyous reenactment of the birth of Jesus, complete with a manger and animals. Discover more.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

6 Comments | Join the Conversation.

Today's Reflection

AND GOD IS the greatest and best mystery of all, for all of reality springs from God, was created by God, is held safe in God, and
will be completed in God. Julian of Norwich affirms that all things are in God and God is in all things. There is no place not filled with
God, nor any person either, and we have done nothing to make this happen. We live in a universe of God’s grace whether we know
it or not and whether we want it or not.

—Roberta C. Bondi, Wild Things: Poems of Grief and Love, Loss and Gratitude (Upper Room Books, 2014)

Today's Question

What spiritual practice helps you recognize God in all things?  

Today's Scripture

“And one called to another and said:
‘Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts;
the whole earth is full of his glory.’”
—Isaiah 6:3 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Creator God, As you draw us closer to you, draw us closer to each other. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Something More

Who came up with the idea of using nativity scenes to celebrate Christmas? Many might be surprised to learn that Francis of Assisi, the well-known thirteenth-century saint, is credited with creating the first nativity scene. The Living Nativity: Preparing for Christmas with Saint Francis introduces readers to Saint Francis and his joyous reenactment of the birth of Jesus, complete with a manger and animals. Discover more.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

6 Comments | Join the Conversation.

Today's Reflection

SOME OF THE QUESTIONS Jesus asks cut right to the heart of difficulties in our lives. If we decide to let Jesus ask his questions and we resolve to answer them honestly, we’ll be confronted with some ugly truths in our hearts and lives we’d rather not deal with. This is to be expected; any good relationship helps us know ourselves better—including seeing our faults more clearly. When this happens, we must remember to distinguish between the experiences of conviction and condemnation. Though both come from encountering ugly truths about ourselves, conviction often comes from God, but condemnation never comes from God. Condemnation is conviction robbed of hope. Condemnation says, “You’re ugly, you’re broken, and you’re never going to change.” Conviction says, “There may be ugliness, there may be brokenness, but that’s not who you are. Who you are—God’s beloved creation—is beautiful and whole. By God’s grace, you can be—and indeed you are becoming—this truest self.”

—Matthew Croasmun
Let Me Ask You a Question: Conversations with Jesus (Upper Room Books, 2018)

Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today's Question

How might hearing the difference between condemnation and conviction help you face and address your faults?  

Today's Scripture

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.
—Matthew 11:28 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Lord, help me know the difference between what you ask of me and what the world asks of me. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

As Christians, we hunger to know and live out God’s purposes for our lives. But how do we know for certain that our choices are moving us in the right direction. Learn more about Which Way, Lord? –  a 6-session churchwide or small-group study that will help you understand God’s desire for your life.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

6 Comments | Join the Conversation.