Today’s Reflection
This is what Saint Francis preached: “My sisters the birds, you are greatly indebted to God your Creator, and always and in every place you should praise God for giving you liberty to fly wherever you want … Furthermore, you neither sow nor reap and yet God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains to drink from. God gives you mountains and valleys for your refuge, and high trees to build your nests. Since you do not know how to sew or spin, God clothes you and your little ones. Your Creator must love you since God gives you so many benefits. Guard yourselves, therefore, my sisters the birds, from the sin of ingratitude, and always remember to give praise to God.”
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Francis & Clare (Upper Room Books, 2017)
Today’s Question
How does God’s care for the birds remind you of God’s care for you? Join the conversation.
Today’s Scripture
Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!
—Luke 12:24 (NRSV)
Prayer for the Week
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.
Something More
Discover sacred space at home. Join our Online Academy Day Apart on October 24 with Frank Rogers, Jr. and Christopher Carter for spiritual resources that help participants navigate polarizing times and cultivate compassion and resilience for themselves, others, and the world.
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.
5 Comments
All of creation, in its beauty, is a bountiful reminder of how He cares for us. The simplicity of the beauty, the perfect cohesion of existence, all signs to us as to the magnificence of our Creator. Yes, the birds – they toil not – yet exist and thrive well. They sing their little hearts out, faithfully and consistently each morning. May it be true of us, as well.
On this Day of Atonement – Father I thank You for Your masterful plan and Your Son’s obedience to it. His atoning sacrifice for our plethora of sins. May we live well for You, expressing our gratitude in our lives.
It remindsme of Genesis and the story of creation, how God created all the creatures and the garden and then humans. He gave the garden and all within it to humans, but He created the garden and all the creatures within first. These are impaortant to God and should be jusyt as valuable to us. He values and cares for all of his creation equally, but he gave His creation and trusted us to care for it as he does and as he cares for us.
Prayers for Jill, and I add my thankfulness to the Lord for his sacrifice to cleanse me of my sins. May we never forget nor cease to express gratitude with our lips and lives.
Prayers for Robert and his continued resources to help those that he does. His heart is faithful and his actions follow.
Prayers for Marcy, Roxy and Lucy, may all stay safe from the coronavirus and thanks to God for Roxy and her care of Marcy
Prayers for Ally and David, may they both have improvement in their health and may Ally find inner strength to meet all she is tasked with both at work and at home.
Tazzie is eating because I remembered some paiin meds we had left from some other issue. He has an urgent care appointment with a vet this morning. I am so thankful for your prayers and kind words. So many people would consider my concern ill placed but he is my baby. I feel that you understand. Thank you
Prayers, thank you and be well UR
Julie, lifting up your Tazzie and his appointment. Our pets are like our children and we love them.
Matthew 6 comes to mind, where Jesus tells His followers listening to the Sermon On the Mount that if God cares for the sparrow, God will care for us humans. Today’s UR devotional and blog entry addresses this as well: that God cares for us, even in the craziness of our times. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Saturday was filled with blessings, as I viewed United Methodist online Annual Conference from my home conference, North Alabama. My sister was delegate from her church and my old college dorm mate was elected conference lay leader, representing all laity for the conference. Prayers for our denomination, as we face large issues and a possible split. I love the United Methodist Church and the thought of a split breaks my heard.
Thanks to all for continues prayers for David and me. He has been having headaches, which according to the research I have done, is one of the common after effects of COVID-19. Also, the pressure sore on his back, which was almost healed, has become active again. Pray for continued healing . Pray for my prospective business partner, as she has been dealing with issues in her personal life regarding her spouse.
Jill, I read your story of Roger’s antics during your class session. Kitties are so funny! Thank you for your beautiful prayer this morning. Julie, with my boys regarding URI treatment, the steroid shot usually starts working in a few hours. Our vet gives them an antibiotic shot which acts as a booster and Rxes an oral antibiotic. They usually feel much better by morning after a vet visit day before. Usually the benefits of the steroid shot last about a month. It usually perks them right up, and stimulates their appetite as well. Praying that little Tazzie feels better soon. Thank You Lord, for our animal companions. Praying everyone is well and finds ways to connect with God and others in these challenging times. Praying we all find peace in Christ. Be blessed!
AMEN, am very much in agreement with all that has been said, had a wee bit of a struggle with the computer this morning, that too away some valuable time.THANK YOU for you thoughts and prayers.
I do think that we and birds have a struggle to survive, effort is required, God does provide the where with all for birds and humans to live and without God’s help all creation would not live.
Very thankful that my parents (Mom especially) save all the letters that were written to and from Seoul Foreign School when I was a teacher there. Those three years are among the most precious. I met Soo Ok there, Jenny was born there, and they were very special times.
The deck work is done, light sanded and repainted, some bedroom windows sanded and painted, helped a fellow CVRHS member with a back issues of our society’s journal count, and the grab irons for the caboose are now ready for installation. Bible study on Mary, Jesus’ mother tomorrow. Gorgeous leaves and more to come. I join in praying for the needs, cares, concerns, as well as give thanks for the blessings that have been received. Thank You, Lord.
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