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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

PEOPLE WHO EXTEND COMPASSION to us are guardians of our soul. John Makransky calls them benefactors, emissaries of love in our lives. These are people who see us, understand us, value us, and celebrate our homecomings. They offer us the inestimable gift of revealing to us the truth of who we are – we are worthy of love even in our shame; we are held with love even when we forget it; our beauty is beheld even when we feel blemished; though our journeys leave us broken and burdened, we are and remain thoroughly beloved.

– Frank Rogers Jr.
Practicing Compassion

From page 44, Practicing Compassion by Frank Rogers Jr. Copyright (c) 2015 by Frank Rogers Jr. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Fresh Air Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Who extends compassion to you? To whom do you extend compassion? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him; stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

Psalm 22:23, NRSV

This Week: Pray for victims of gun violence. 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: Jacinta Marto, Francisco Marto, and Lucia dos Santos (February 20).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

20 Comments

  • Jill Posted February 20, 2018 3:52 am

    My rock of a friend, Lisa, how grateful I am for her. These past few months we have buoyed each other up on the uneven seas of our lives. She lost her grandmother the Friday before Christmas – a devastating loss for her and her family. She is the executor of the trust and this has been a time drain for her. Along with all the daily issues of raising a teenage daughter, as well as her pre-teen son – I don’t know how she keeps to her ragged schedule. And – she tends to me. We try to talk daily – I can usually catch up with her when I leave school. This past week was an emotional week for her and her daughter. A mother of one of her daughter’s friends committed suicide. Where does one start with this news. And then the tragedy in Florida…too much. A very dark world, and she is struggling to be light, to provide light for her daughter, to provide answers to her children. And in the midst of all of this, she, too, supports me, prays for me and my family. It has been a long 2 months – my mother’s testing is tomorrow. She is terribly upset and dreading the test and outcome. Gratefully, my dad’s strength is slowly returning. He was able to take a 20 minute walk yesterday in the milder weather. So, today will be a prayerful day, needing to stay near the Source of my strength and peace.
    Father – You hold us all. You know what lies ahead, for each of us. I ask for Your healing touch for Lowell, Robert, Annaliese and Julie. In our ailments and weaknesses, You are our strength.
    Blessed be the name of the Lord. Thank You for blessing us with fellow sojourners who tend to us deeply.

    • Betsy Posted February 20, 2018 6:52 am

      Praying for you and you mom as she undergoes tests. You are blessed to have such strong prayer warriors lifting your family up at this time.

  • robert moeller Posted February 20, 2018 4:50 am

    Very tough news from you this morning, Jill. Prayers for your friend, Lisa, her daughter and son, the family of her daughter’s friend, your Mom and Dad, and you. God provides rock solid friends when Satan tries to ruin us. Our faith is tested, but with faith we endure. Thankful for your prayers for Lowell, Julie, Anneliese, and me. God pulls us through.

    Prayers for Marcy, Rusty and K, the tragedy in Florida, Mary, the school where she teaches, her Dad and Mum, Lou, her children and Mom. Thankful for the days we have with Isis, healing for Erich, a wonderful walk yesterday, and the blessings of the day.

    I receive compassion from my children, the UR family, church, and friends.
    I try to give compassion to Erich, Anneliese, children overseas, and through church to others.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 20, 2018 6:36 am

    Thanks Robert!

    My dad is coming home on Thursday. School work needs good memory to recognise the oarents, paternal and maternal grandparents, uncles and aunts, maids, etc. at dismissal time to fetch the kids. Plus most of my colleagues soeak makay amongst themselves including the manager. Even the food they eat has to be halal. So i have to adapt and a good memory.

    Blessings

    • robert moeller Posted February 20, 2018 6:52 am

      Great news! I’m sure your Dad and all of you are happy about that. It will be a bit of an adjustment even though it’s home.

      Singapore is multicultural and these days there are all kinds of caregivers for kids, you’ll manage figuring out who goes to whom. Interesting menu at school. I’m not very familiar with it. I’m more familiar with East Asian food.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 20, 2018 10:37 pm

      Dismissal time is 144 students for this centre

      • robert moeller Posted February 21, 2018 3:36 am

        Mary, knowing all of the relatives and friends of 144 students is a huge task.
        Thankful that there are teachers who speak Malay, they can help you as you help them with Chinese. Language and food are important at your school..
        Both can be challenging. God will help you find a way.

        • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 21, 2018 6:59 am

          Thanks Robert!

          You are always so encouraging and such a blessing!

          • robert moeller Posted February 21, 2018 7:06 am

            On this earth we all have troubles, sharing them with each other and lifting everything to God is a very good and necessary activity. Bless you Mary, you do what God asks.

  • Julie Posted February 20, 2018 8:00 am

    Some truly horrific news from Jill. Prayers for your friend and her daughter’s friend. As for your mother, I have been through some truly horrific tests, and all I can say is that you get through them and then you can sigh and say it is over. Good news about your dad.
    Continued praaayers fr Isis and Erich.
    Mary, prayers for your work stress. But what wonderful news regarding yoour faather. How is your new year celebrations?
    Thank you all for your continued prayers. I sorely need them.
    Blessings and prayers for each and every prayer concern and request.
    Whatevr you are, be a good one. Abraham Lincoln

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 20, 2018 6:36 pm

      We had reunion dinner with mum and my brother’s family followed by lunch with my sisters and families the next day.

      Thanks for your prayers and blessings to all

  • Andrea Posted February 20, 2018 8:28 pm

    I have been feeling low in energy lately. I have decided it is okay to just go with the flow. I am thankful for a lovely day with my daughter and grandson today, and I am thankful that my husband is getting better.

    I am traveling to CA tomorrow for five nights with some quilting friends, a trip that has been planned since last spring. I pray for all to be well at home while I’m gone, for my husband to continue to recover from the respiratory bug that hit him last week.

    Prayers for Jill and her parents, and her friend Lisa and Lisa’s family, and for the family affected by a suicide; for Robert, Erich, Anneliese and Isis; for Julie, may you feel your UR friends’ love; for Mary and her parents and for Mary’s job – happy new year, Mary! For Betsy, Connie, for Lou and her family, for Marcy, for all who visit here; and for victims of gun violence. It is distressing to know that gun violence is so prevalent in this society. May our leaders be guided to develop policies that effectively address the epidemic of shootings.

    May I grow in compassion. May I be guided to act from a center of compassion and strength with difficult people and in difficilt situations.

    Love and prayers to UR friends.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 21, 2018 6:40 am

      Thanks Andrea!

      May you have a safe trip!

      Blessings

  • Rusty Posted February 20, 2018 9:48 pm

    Hi everybody – my dear, dear friends. You all are still here. Of course! What a faithful and rock-steady loving family this group is! All your names, Jill, Betsy, Robert, Mary, Julie, Andrea – what a shot in the arm for me – each one of you bring me peace and loving, find, fond memories.

    Today’s question about compassion – it’s you! Every one of you personifies compassion! K and I, we’re doing fine. Coping, for sure! But we’re fine. This week I was feeling a bit down. K has periodic medicine infusions that knock her down – and by extension knock me down for several days to a week. She had one last Thursday – an all day affair – but we’re great. We made a date of it and K even taught me how to do Pinterest on my iPad while we sat with the nurses coming in at regular intervals. They thought we were so cute … and I do believe we were!

    Prayers for all! And for Lisa, and Jill’s mom and dad, and for Lowell and Anneliese and Erich, and for May’s mum and dad, and Connie, Lou and Marcy …

    And prayers for Jill, and Betsy, and Mary, and Julie and Andrea … and Robert!!! My, my what an unexpected blessing to see my name and K’s on your prayer list! Thank you, thank you – such love and faithfulness! And to you all, blessings upon blessings.

    So, so glad I popped in this evening.

    I hope to be back again, before too long. Time for chores and prayers, in the meantime.

    My Lord, thank you for this wonderful group of friends.

    Peace be with you all this night.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 21, 2018 6:43 am

      Thanks Rusty!

      So glad to hear from you and also both K and you are doing well!

      Blessings

  • April Posted February 20, 2018 10:27 pm

    Blessings to my UR family after a long day for all. I pray that tests for Jill’s mother went well, that you will feel Jesus beside you and all those touched by the suicide of a beloved Child of God, that Mary’s Father will be home in a few days, that Mary’s work will be less stressful, that Julie’s fingers will heal and be less sore (and I love your inspiring posts), that Robert may continue to recover each day, that Andrea’s husband will overcome his cough, that Lou will continue to see You are with her and comfort her, that Marcy is being cared for and recovering, the Connie will continue to share old hymns with us, that Betsy will be led to the work You have for her. How blessed I am that you all are compassionate through your prayers and postings. May our UR family sleep well tonight, knowing that Our Father watches over us and holds us close…Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.

    • Lou Posted February 20, 2018 11:58 pm

      Beautiful April- thank you.
      Welcome home Rusty !
      Prayers for all this late night

    • robert moeller Posted February 21, 2018 3:24 am

      Thank you April. I too pray that ” Connie will continue to share old hymns with us, that Betsy will be led to the work You have for her. How blessed I am that you all are compassionate through your prayers and postings. May our UR family sleep well tonight, knowing that Our Father watches over us and holds us close…Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto me.” Amen!

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted February 21, 2018 6:55 am

      Thanks so much April!

      May all be well with you and your family

      Blessings

  • robert moeller Posted February 21, 2018 3:01 am

    Very thankful to hear from Rusty! Prayers for you and K, thanks for sharing how things are going, There have been prayers for both of you by the UR family, we missed you. Thankful for the reunion dinners for Mary’s Dad. Prayers for Marcy, she too is very much missed. Safe travel prayers for Andrea, and a good recovery for Lowell. Prayers for Julie’s hands and toe, spring is coming! Thank you Lou for welcoming Rusty home, prayers for you as God does wonders through you. Prayers for your daughter’s friend’s family as they deal with tragedy. Pam, April, Connie, and Chloe, you are lifted up to the Lord.

    Thankful Anneliese has had her heart tests, will see her rheumatologisr this week, and start a plan to recover from Lyme disease. Erich’s back has recovered, his knee is coming along, thankful for his cooking. Isis is holding her own. My counselor is helping me learn more about myself. Even my model is progressing. Thank You, Lord.

    God’s peace be with you all, so thankful for this wonderful group.

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