Today’s Reflection
LET ME DESCRIBE what it means to be truly present. Being present involves letting go of our constant preoccupations, immersing ourselves in the here and now, and giving ourselves wholeheartedly to whatever is at hand. … It’s about becoming more aware, alert, awake to the fullness of the immediate moment. If we are with another person, it means engaging with him or her with all of our heart, our mind, our soul, and our strength. Such wholehearted attention requires patience, time, and disciplined effort. And it is one of the greatest gifts that we can give to those around us, especially our suffering neighbor.
– Trevor Hudson
A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion
From pp. 30-31 of A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion by Trevor Hudson. Copyright ©2005 by Trevor Hudson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
Look for opportunities to be fully present for another person. Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised in the city of our God. His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King.
Psalm 48:1-2, NRSV
This Week: pray an increase of love of neighbor. 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: Thomas (July 3).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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24 Comments
Yes, being totally present requires all of this. I think it should begin with being totally present for God. With that experience we can be totally present for others. I am trying hard to do this with my son. Of course, with humans this can be overdone. Have to be careful to to wear out your welcome. God welcomes us always.
Being able to respond to all the posts reminds me of the weakness of humans vs the capability of God. Trying to address, remember, be totally present to each post is challenging, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. Know that all of you are in my mind, heart, and spirit as God gives me the ability. Thankful for your prayers for family and friends., they are of great help, support, and reassurance. I only hope that my prayers bear at least a trace of the Holy Spirit and that you too are lifted up. Thank You, Lord for the energy, wisdom, and love that makes sharing the Good News possible.
I lift you up, Marcy and Lucy, Gloria, Larry, Becky, Jill and Roger, Mary, her colleagues, students, parents, and family, Julie and her daughter, the “husband”, Andrea, her daughter, grandson, son-in-law, and Lowell; Louise, Francesca; Betsy , her sister Grace, their families and church; Connie and her husband, tough Mondays – my wife passed away on Monday; April, Chloe, Lou, her children and Mom, the two men who post, Rusty and K, Carol, Anneliese, and those for whom you have asked for prayers, children who passed away, those who are ill or who suffer, and all who are in need.
May God’s wisdom come to the people and government of countries with refugees, immigrants, and migrants at and inside their borders, that civility, kindness, respect, and dignity are given and a resolution that is amicable and fair is found.People are hurting, it is our job to help them.
In Jesus’ Name.Amen.
Thank you, Robert. Wishing you and Erich a blessed Fourth! Praying Anneliese is doing well.
Thank you Robert!
May all be well with you and your family!
Blessings
I agree with Robert – we must be present to Our Father first and foremost in order to be fully present to others. May it be so of me.
Will have the opportunity to be fully present this morning, as I am meeting with a former student who is home on furlough. She is a missionary in a closed country. We are meeting for coffee to catch up. I have been supporting her for the past few years.
Prayers of comfort and mercy for those who gather here. Father, thank You for loving us and shepherding us. Be Thou our vision.
Very grateful for another fruitful and happy day with my new colleague
Blessings to all
May everyone have good health and joy!
I praise you God for your presence for in your presence, there is joy!
May God’s presence be with us all!
Thank you all for your prayers for me and my daughter. The appoinment with the lawyer went better than I could have hoped. There is still a long and arduous and I fear contentious road to trek but with God and your prayers and words of support, I will prevail.
Prayers for Robert and Erich and their continued quest both out in the world and with each other.
Prayers for Jill, Gloria, Larry, and Becky. May Gloria continue to have more good days than bad. May Jill and her student have a joy filled reunion.
Prayers of thanks that Mary has finally received relief from her burdens. Thankful the new collegue is of great help. Prayers for a complete recovery from her flu symptoms.
Prayers for Marcy and relief from pain and an ease of breathing. May she receive all of the support she needs including rides to appointments.
Prayers for Connie and her melancholy. May her heart be glad.
Prayers for all the UR family. Those who post, read and stay silent and those who once posted but remain in our hearts
Thank you dear Julie!
May your health and situation improve!
Blessings
One way to be present to another is to put your cell phone away before you visit. Georgia enacted a law saying that you cannot support your phone while you are driving. This was to stop texting, “distracted driving.” Be “hands free” when you meet others. I pray for physical and spiritual healing for all, including Julie.
It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day. I will strive to be present and focus on this day only and those I interact with.
Thank you, Robert, for sharing your Monday loss. It makes the day less lonely.
Jill, now my mind is thinking of “Be Thou our vision” and I will go to that hymn for more of its words.
“Be Thou my vision, oh Lord of my heart”
Connie, thank you! Just listened to a few versions of “Be Thou Our Vision” and boy, that felt good! Even hummed, then sang softly along. Blessings!
The Monday of all Mondays is November 17th. It’s been 20+ years and yet every year as the day approaches my biological and chronological clocks
remember. I thank the Lord that this happens sad as it is.
Love Be Thou My Vision as well. Went to a concert where it was sung and that helped cement it into my hymn memory banks.
Hello blessed UR family! I am present when I pray for others through the Holy Spirit’s leading me in intercessory prayer. I am outside myself and grounded in God and Christ more intimately as I pray.
You are all very dear to me, UR family, and I feel the prayers of many people. Thanks be to God! I pray for each of you, individually and this UR Reflections family as a whole. I am blessed. Thank you, Robert, Jill, Mary, Julie, Gail and Connie for your comments and/or prayers! Praying for you – Robert and Erich, Annaliese, your family and Pearl – Jill and your Mom, Gloria, Dad, Larry, sister, Becky, Roger, and all your family and students – Mary, your Mom and Dad and all your family, co-workers and students – Julie and your daughter, your “spouse” – Gail and your family – Connie and your husband and your ♡♡(heart), – Betsy and Grace and your family – Lou and your three children and extended family – Andrea, your husband, Lowell, your daughter, sweet grandson and your son-in-law – April, and your family – Francesca, and your family – Pamela, and your family – and Gerri and Louise and Rusty and K – Chloe and Paige, Carol and Robin, and any i have forgotten, all who visit, whether you are posting, reading or occassionally visiting.
May the Father, our Almighty God, Jesus Christ, our Savior and the Holy Spirit be with you always.
Praying travel mercies for all who will be on trains, planes and in automobiles tomorrow!
And these three remain: Faith, Hope and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE!
Sending Love and Light to all!
Thank you dear Marcy!
May you have a good week ahead!
Blessings!
Separately asking for prayers, specifically for my pulmonary issues and eyesight. I pulled a idiotic move in stopping one of my pulmonary meds, so I could read and see to write. I was unable to breathe correctly last night, oxygen numbers low and couldn’t lie down. I immediately resumed the medication, so the vision issues will recur. I’m already a little blurry. I’m in the recliner now, so breathing IS better, but having to use the oxygen full-time. Hopefully, will get some sleep soon, been up since yesterday morning…. I’m still hoping to be weaned completely off the oxygen, if it is God’s will. Pulmonary Dr next Wednesday. I love you guys, you are my family!
Marcy, I am praying for improvement in your breathing, for weaning soon off oxygen, and for your eyesight to get better for reading and writing; also, for you to get regular good rest. I pray too for guidance for your doctors. Bless you.
Thank you for your prayers, Andrea. No, I did it so I could read the Bible, study and read the devotionals. I’m really in trouble if I can’t at least stay in touch with others by reading, isolated as I am physically. Be blessed and have fun tomorrow!
In Jesus’ name, Amen – so be it. Thank You, Lord.
Thank you for your many thoughtful, caring comments, but I hope you will not skip medication to be able to write your comments. Prayers continue for you whether you comment or not, in the knowledge that you are praying for us, too.
Marcy, may you have a good sleep and msy your health be restored!
Blessings!
Thank you, sweet sister Mary! I’m glad you are feeling better! Praise God!
I echo this post from Andrea.
“Thank you (Marcy) for your many thoughtful, caring comments, but I hope you will not skip medication to be able to write your comments. Prayers continue for you whether you comment or not, in the knowledge that you are praying for us, too.” Oh yes, most certainly. Amen and Amen. That yiur issues will be resolved is on the hearts, minds, and souls of the UR family. Yo are constantly lifted up to the Lord.
The reflection today is important. I pray to be fully present to the person or people I am with as well as to the moment. May I set aside my preoccupations and focus better on others,” giving myself wholeheartedly to whatever is at hand.”
Wishing all a bless Fourth of July.
In response to this post from Julie. “The appointment with the lawyer went better than I could have hoped.(THANK YOU, LORD) There is still a long and arduous and I fear contentious road to trek but with God (YES)and your prayers (YES)and words of support, (YES) I will prevail. (YES)”
God’s peace be with you Julie.
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