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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

The tender love that our good Lord has for all who will be saved . . . comforts quickly and sweetly, explaining in this way: . . . “All will be well, and every kind of thing will be well.”

These words were shown quite tenderly, with no hint of blame toward me or any who would be safe.
—Julian of Norwich

From page 31 of Writings of Julian of Norwich, edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, part of The Upper Room Spiritual Classics series. Copyright © 1998 by Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Throughout the day, repeat to yourself: “All will be well, and every kind of thing will be well.”  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.”

Matthew 2:1-2, NRSV

This Week: Pray for inner peace. 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: Simeon Stylites (January 5).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

25 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted January 5, 2018 4:24 am

    I would add this to today’s truthful statement. In Christ “All will be well, and every kind of thing will be well.” A very welcome and helpful statement. As a human I need this reassurance from time to time. It came this morning and has been a great help. Thank You, Lord.

    Thankful for the prayers all of you make daily and the support you provide to others. This is a blessed site and thankfully there are more posters, responders almost daily. Prayers for those from whom we have not heard in some time, the Lord knows we miss them. Thankful that God gives us the ability to remember them and pray for them.

    Marcy, the two Central Vermont boxcars are in the process of being painted.
    They’ve been washed, primer, then paint come next. I would suggest wet food for Lucy. Isis recently had surgery, is doing well, stitches out and she’s back to normal. in the process Erich gave her wet food and she ate that. I’m sure she misses you too. Cats recognize people.

    Yes, we all need inner peace. I think today’s reflection prayer has us headed in that direction. A good place to go. God be, is with you all. Thank you so much for all you do in the name of the One who keeps us from falling, our Lord, Jesus Christ.

    • Louise Posted January 6, 2018 4:19 am

      Robert the boxcars sound wonderful. I bet the train itself is a beautiful work of art. Working with your hands and creating brings one peace. I pray for you and your family that you will stay close to God and His peace will always be with you.

  • Trackback: All Will Be Well – College United Methodist Church
  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 5, 2018 6:20 am

    Grateful for the blessed assurance: all will be well

    Grateful for the week ends

    Praying for inner peace for everyone

    Visiting dad on saturday and sunday

    May the visit be a fruitful one cause sometimes the food they serve us not suitable for my dad and he cannot swallow. These days, he has no appetite.

    Mum also. We asked her to wake up for meals but she does not want to get up,

    Hope tomorrow everything will be better

    Blessings

    • Connie Posted January 5, 2018 8:18 am

      I hope so, too. I have trouble swallowing and eating is “not much fun” anymore. Love and prayers.

      • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 5, 2018 8:45 am

        Thanks Connie!

        Blessings

    • Louise Posted January 6, 2018 4:22 am

      Mary I pray for your mum and dad and also for you. It is difficult to work full time and take care of your family when they are not well. Mary make sure you take some time for yourself also. I pray that God’s peace will be with you and He will give you the strength that you need.

  • Betsy Posted January 5, 2018 6:51 am

    “It is well with my soul”; this hymn came to mind as I read this excerpt from Norwich. I will rest in these word today.
    I’m watching a beautiful sunrise this morning and thanking God for providing nature’s glory all round us.
    Mary, I’m praying for a good visit with your folks this weekend. Hope your mom and dad can feel your love for them through your presence.
    Prayers for all those along the East Coast affected by the brutally cold temperatures this day. Amen

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 5, 2018 7:13 am

      Thanks so much Betsy!

      Blessings and may you have a happy weekend

  • Jill Posted January 5, 2018 7:08 am

    Today’s saying brought the song “All is Well” to mind – I believe Michael W. Smith wrote it as a Christmas song. I love that song, and play it throughout the year. This year, heading into Christmas with all the upheaval with my folks, I thought – if I hear this song at church, I will not be able to keep it together emotionally. I did not hear it at any of the services I attended. But – I played it often in the morning, and would quietly sit with the words, sometimes crying. Despite circumstances, indeed – All is Well/It is Well with my Soul. So glad that is always the ending point, the ultimate truth.
    Marcy – since your cat is used to dry food – I would suggest some of the “chunkier” wet food. I feed my cat the chunks that are in a pouch with gravy. He doesn’t like the “pate” style of canned wet food. He has wet pouch in the morning and hard food in the evening. She misses you so.
    Took mom and dad to regularly scheduled doctors appts yesterday. Everything seemed ok – just waiting for the appeals process with the insurance. Dad’s procedure is in 2 weeks.
    My tennis doubles partner, also a teacher, texted me yesterday asking if I wanted to play tennis today, since she doesn’t have school due to the temperatures. So – a great surprise – and we are going to play later this morning. The previous 2 times I have played, one was drills and the other was doubles. This will be my first time playing singles – anxious to see how it goes.

    • Andrea Posted January 5, 2018 10:16 am

      Jill, so good to hear you have a tennis game today with your friend! I pray you continue to find time for self- care.

    • Louise Posted January 6, 2018 4:30 am

      Jill I pray that God will give you the strength and patience that you need to help your parents. I am glad that you were able to play tennis. I pray that God’s peace will be with you.

  • Julie Posted January 5, 2018 7:54 am

    Yes, we all need to feel that God is watching over us, smoothing our paths, making “all well.”
    Jill, good luck with tennis. Prayers for your parents and a positive response from the insurance company.
    Robert, so nice to hear the progress continues on your trains. I know this brings you joy.
    Mary, I pray for you to be strong with all of the demands on you right now. I continue to pray for your parents as well.
    Marcy, f the wet food does not work, try meat flavored baby food. My one cat eats it and oves it. He des not start eating after surgery and the vet has me use it. My cat also suffers from separation anxiety. There are sedative treats you can give.
    Andrea, I continue to pray for you and your situation. I pray as I go to bed that you will receive God’s peace and will rest.
    I echo Robert’s appreciation for this group and the readiness of everyone to pray and offer symapthy and suggestions.
    Blessings for all

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 5, 2018 8:47 am

      Thanks so much Julie!

      You are a wonderful prayet warrior!

      Blessings!

    • Andrea Posted January 5, 2018 10:11 am

      Thank you for your prayer support Julie, I so appreciate it! Blessings.

  • Connie Posted January 5, 2018 8:23 am

    I love today’s Reflection. I know “all will be well”, but it’s nice to be re-assured of it.
    Robert, and all, you are such a blessing.

  • Andrea Posted January 5, 2018 10:05 am

    Mary, I pray for your strength and support, for your dad and mum, for your start in a new job. Robert, Anneliese is in my prayers along with you and Erich. I pray for Anneliese to have pain relief, without grogginess, and for good support for both of you. Marcy, continued prayers for you, and prayers for your cat. For those who live in the path of the storm, prayers for your safety. Prayers for Lou, Julie, Jill, Chloe, Louise, Betsy, and everyone in this loving community.

    I am in a grief and loss art therapy group led by a grief therapist, and we had our monthly meeting last night. I also visit the grief therapist individually occasionally and I have an appointment with her on Monday. She knows the history with my daughter. I did receive a text from my daughter this morning and replied with what I hope was a sensitive reply, as she is brittle. Thank you for your continued prayers for me as well as for her.

    I will focus, for all of us, on “All will be well and every kind of thing will be well.”

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 5, 2018 4:58 pm

      Thank you Andrea so much for your prayer support!

      Blessings

    • Louise Posted January 6, 2018 4:39 am

      Andrea I pray and feel for you. All of our situations are different but when there are problems with our children we find it hard to rest. I am glad that you have a group for support. I won’t get into all the ups and downs with my daughter but I feel your pain. I pray that God will give you both strength and peace when it comes to your daughter.

  • Andrea Posted January 5, 2018 10:10 am

    For Edy: Rusty has not posted in a long time. After it had been some time since he stopped commenting, he did “stop by” once with a comment that things had gotten very busy for him, and it sounded like K was needing more care, if I remember correctly. He has not commented since.

  • Marcy Posted January 5, 2018 11:09 am

    Hello, my dear UR family siblings. One of you just quoted this: All will be well, and every kind of thing will be well. Julian of Norwich. This was very recent, and I shall be wracking my brain until you tell me. It’s just one of those things, because I wrote it down, you see. I will be using it today, as I have my 2nd day of physical therapy today. I am sore and hardly did very much. I found out yesterday, that the delay is insurance related, not schedule related. Truth is better, no? I started out on a bicycle you sit on, but it was too much for me. Only five minutes and I should have stopped sooner, they said. Sigh. So they continued with a pedaling machine that you sit in your wheelchair (wheelchair!) That is a much easier machine and I accomplished fifteen minutes. Will be repeating the same routine today. They are off this weekend, so only two days of physical therapy by the end of today. I am so wanting to go, go, go. I am going to make sure they set something up for Saturday and Sunday.

    “It Is Well With My Soul”
    BYU Vocal Point
    (A Cappella)
    Please look up and play on Play Music or YouTube
    An absolutely beautiful rendition and stirs me to my very soul. These are very talented young men. I am blessed today, as always, by our Father in heaven, calling us together to share our thoughts, needs or news with one another and pray for one another like the Lovers of Jesus Christ, our Savior, we are.

    Robert, so now the two Central Vermont boxcars have been prepped and just need painting. Wonderful! What color are you using for authenticity? And are you also stenciling or freehand? Dad did both ways. Used stenciling on the black locomotives, if I recall correctly. Thanks for talking about your trains with me, Robert. You know how much I enjoy hearing about them and understand why you only occasionally talk about them here. I continue to pray for you, Annaliese and Erich and pray something could be done about the tenant in due time. Thank you, for the advice for Lucy. She hasn’t seen seen me since December 21st and must be terribly upset, I know. I’ve written down all suggestions, because I want to try everything before I ask for financial aid to board her. That would traumatized her even worse. Blessings to you Robert, from our heavenly Father. Stay warm, safe, dry, and well.

    Mary, sweet sister! So much on your shoulders, but we are praying our support for you continually and God will watch over you, too. Please, be careful not to overdo things, Mary. You can be no help if you wear yourself out. Maybe find someone to take over the care of your Mother, at least. You do need to be there for your Dad as its extremely important that food doesn’t end up in his lungs, causing an infection. I am familiar with these types of issues, working in healthcare with people who had issues with their swallow function. I now have to swallow thin liquids differently than I used to and chewing and swallowing takes concentration. My body has already trained itself food wise, but the video swallow test showed why and the speech therapist showed me the drinking. Gotta get used to that! Love to you, my dear sweet sister who does so much for us all here, along with your own family.

    Jill, yes! It Is Well With My Soul, especially the version I referenced, brings me to authentic feelings of soul calming comfort. I know the story of the author’s experiences, and that only lifts me further up, closer to God and His Love for us. I always feel cleansed and refreshed after listening to the BYU Vocal Point A Cappella rendition. It is the only one I listen to now. One of the two lead singers, lost his brother less than a week before the recording. I am praising God that your parent’s regularly scheduled dr appointment went well yesterday. I am praying for your Father’s insurance appeals process. Oh, how I know the frustration and helplessness this can produce. We leave it all at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ, our Savior. But man came be heartless and uncaring of the anxiety that is provoked for care that is essential to living. I’m also praising the Lord you will be playing tennis this evening! Thank you, also, Jill, for suggestions about what I can do about my best buddy, Lucy. I do worry about her and know she must be really starting to wonder where I am. I miss her so very much. She is my therapy pet. All of the kitties I’ve ever had have been my therapy pets. But Little Guy, who passed away March 2, 2013 at the age of 19 and Lucy, who I adopted from a shelter two days after losing Little Guy, have been my closest companions through thick and thin.

    Julie, I join you in appreciation of our wonder-filled, gracious UR family and all we are and do for one another in prayer to our Triune God. We are a blessing, each one one of us, to one another. To those who read only, know that we pray for all here in the UR family and beyond and God knows your needs. Thank you, Julie, for the information about the baby food and sedative. Lucy is my scaredy cat and hides under the bed when people come around because I lived so far from church, had very few visitors. But she never leaves my side, so I know she’s probably getting very anxious. It’s been fifteen days since she saw me.

    Thank you for comments, thoughts and updates from Robert, Mary, Connie, Betsy, Jill, Julie and all other loving UR family members. Andrea, I am praying especially specific prayers for you, Lowell, your daughter, son-in-law and grandson and send you all my love from our heavenly Father Himself. I love and care about you very much. Prayers for all who are struggling physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually to overcome and be victorious through our Father, His one and only Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit leading us to health, happiness and harmony. Praising the Lord for the many blessings He has bestowed upon us.

    I am forever grateful to you, UR family and have developed true love for all, posting or reading and am thankful God led me to you all. Christian hugs and kisses to all.

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

    • Louise Posted January 6, 2018 4:53 am

      Dear…dear Marcy. You are very special. I pray that you will continue physical therapy and that it will help you. I pray that God will give you strength to push through the pain. Your cat Lucy sounds very special. Our pets become our support and part of our family. May God’s peace surround you Marcy.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 5, 2018 5:03 pm

    Thanks so much dear Marcy for your prayer support and sharing your experience.

    I am also keeping you in prayer

    Blessings

  • Louise Posted January 6, 2018 5:02 am

    “All will be well and every kind of thing will be well” is comforting. Knowing that no matter what God will be by our side and will help us through is such a wonderful feeling. With all that is happening to all of us individually coupled with all that is happening in our world it brings peace to say, know, and truly feel…all will be well and every kind of thing will be well. I pray for all those that struggle mentally, physically, and spiritually…may they all find God’s peace.

    • Marcy Posted January 6, 2018 6:39 pm

      Thank you, Louise. It was you who quoted this recently I believe. In any case, I have used it during physical therapy. Gets the Word into my mind, my heart, my soul and helps to strengthen me.

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