Today’s Reflection

MAKE US LIKE THE WIND – ever-moving and ever moving others. And with joy we will dance with the leaves. In submission we will linger in the shade, cooling the skin of those scorched by the sun’s heat. In awe we will pause and be still enough to hover over creation, admiring your world and waiting for your command. And when you move us, we will fly with more strength, reminding people that you are present even in times when you may seem invisible. Breathe into our souls, Lord, and make us like the wind, like your Holy Spirit – in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
–Ciona D. Rouse”

- Edited by Valerie Bridgeman Davis and Safiyah Fosua
Africana Worship Book, Year A

From page 31 of The Africana Worship Book: Year A, edited by Valerie Bridgeman Davis and Safiyah Fosua. Copyright © 2006 by Discipleship Resources. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Pray today’s prayer. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say.”
Acts 2:14, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who feel forgotten. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.

This week we remember:
John the Silent. (May 13).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• Acts 2:1-21
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2013, a ministry of GBOD | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

Today’s Reflection

JESUS COMMANDS US to love God and love our neighbors as ourselves. I understand now the best way to do that is by listening. When we stop talking, arguing, and judging, we begin to hear. We hear God’s voice of love for us, and can only respond in love. It has become clear to me, and, hopefully, to those students: listening is the first step towards peace in our world.

- Weavings, May/June/July 2013

From “Beads of Prayer, Beads of Peace” by Kristen E. Vincent, in Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life, May/June/July 2013 (theme: Diversity). Copyright © 2013 by The Upper Room. Used by permission. [NOTE: Watch for Kristen E. Vincent's book A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner's Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads, coming from Upper Room Books in August. You can preorder at Amazon.com.] http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Do you use a prayer practice that is similar to that of another religion? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

…it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ–if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who feel forgotten. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.

This week we remember:
John the Silent. (May 13).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• Acts 2:1-21
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2013, a ministry of GBOD | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

Today’s Reflection

MAY YOU SEE the glory of God in sun and sky;
may you hear the Creator’s song in bird and breeze;
and may the grace of Christ’s Spirit course through you,
body and soul.
—Sam Hamilton-Poore, Earth Gospel

- Sam Hamilton-Poore
Earth Gospel

From page 33 of Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Sam Hamilton-Poore. Copyright © 2008 by Sam Hamilton-Poore. All rights reserved. used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Say today’s blessing for yourself and for someone else. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.
Romans 8:14, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who feel forgotten. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.

This week we remember:
John the Silent. (May 13).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• Acts 2:1-21
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2013, a ministry of GBOD | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

Today’s Reflection

JESUS’ LIFE didn’t go well. He didn’t reach his earning potential. He didn’t have the respect of his colleagues. His friends weren’t loyal. His life wasn’t long. He didn’t meet his soul mate. And he wasn’t understood by his mother. Yet I think I deserve all those things because I am spiritual.
—Hugh Prather, quoted in Secrets of a Good Life

- Secrets of a Good Life

From Spiritual Notes to Myself, page 7, by Hugh Prather; found on page 108 of Secrets of a Good Life As Told by Saints and Sinners, compiled and introduced by Kathleen Stephens. Copyright © 2005 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What does today’s excerpt say to you? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

2:12 All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?”
Acts 2:12, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who feel forgotten. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.

This week we remember:
John the Silent. (May 13).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• Acts 2:1-21
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2013, a ministry of GBOD | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

Today’s Reflection

IMAGINE A WATERING HOLE in a primitive place where nomadic shepherds gather to water their flocks. The shepherds come from the hillsides with their sheep, and the flocks mingle together. From our vantage point it is impossible to tell one from another. The shepherds enjoy this rare moment of fellowship, telling stories, sharing food and drink. Finally, the time comes to depart. A shepherd stands, takes his staff in hand, and speaks. He speaks a word, or perhaps he speaks the names he has given to the individual sheep. The sheep that belong to the shepherd cock their heads to one side and begin to move out and away from the others and follow the familiar voice.

Jesus paints a similar picture in the Gospel of John (chapter 10, verses 1-10). The shepherd calls the sheep by name, and the shepherd leads them out. The sheep follow because they know the shepherd’s voice. When I read this passage, I always ask, “How will they know the shepherd’s voice?” And how will we know the Shepherd’s voice? How will we discern the voice of the Good Shepeherd from all the other voices that threaten to drown out Jesus’ voice? …

Gentle Shepherd, in moments of quiet and stillness we hear you call our name and prepare to follolw where you lead. Amen.

- Ken Edwards
Disciplines 2014

From “The Shepherd’s Voice,” readings for May 5-11, 2014 by Ken Edwards, in The Upper Room Disciplines 2014: A Book of Daily Devotions. Copyright © 2013 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book. Or join the conversation at http://books.upperroom.org/blog/.

Today’s Question

Pray today’s prayer. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them.
Acts 2:1-3, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who feel forgotten. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.

This week we remember:
John the Silent. (May 13).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• Acts 2:1-21
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• Romans 8:14-17
• John 14:8-17, (25-27)

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2013, a ministry of GBOD | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

Today’s Reflection

HAVING LIVED WITH HIV for nearly two decades, I have had my share of struggles: a bout with pneumonia, loss of weight and muscle mass, extreme fatigue, depression, and losing nearly 3,000 of my friends to HIV/AIDS.

On my good days, I greet the morning with a smile, give thanks to God for another beautiful day, and go on living life to its fullest.

But the bad days make it hard to accept living with AIDS. On those days I start with a simple prayer: “God, you know how hard it is for me today. I need your help.” As soon as I feel God’s arms around me, I remember Psalm 23. Then I am able to climb out of bed singing my favorite hymn, “Then sings my soul, … how great thou art!” …

God, let me feel your loving arms holding me today. And make that so for all those who suffer. Amen.

- Dave Daniels
Prayers for Encouragement

From “The Good and the Bad,”by Dave Daniels, in Prayers for Encouragement: Hope for Persons Living with HIV and AIDS, Malaria, Tuberculosis, and Other Serious Diseases. Copyright © 2007 by Upper Room Ministries. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
“http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Share your prayers for people living with serious diseases like HIV, AIDS, cancer, malaria, tuberculosis, and others. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me. I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”
Revelation 17:25-26, NRSV

This Week: pray for single mothers. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section below.

This week we remember:
John of Avila. (May 10).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

• Acts 16:16-34
• Psalm 97
• Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
• John 17:20-26

Sponsored by Upper Room Ministries ®. Copyright © 2013, a ministry of GBOD | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA