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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

PRAYER BEADS are a tool for prayer. Just as a hammer and nails help us construct a house, so prayer beads help us construct a life of connection with God. The beads are not the end; they are the means to an end, which is communion with God.

I want to emphasize that prayer beads are just one of many tools to assist in prayer. Not everyone needs a prayer tool. Many people feel comfortable with prayer and have developed ways of praying that work well for them. If you are among them, I invite you to continue reading to learn more about the history and use of this ancient Christian prayer practice.

However, many people struggle with prayer. Their minds wander; they get bored; they wonder if they are being heard; they struggle with what to say. Prayer beads can help them develop rich lives of prayer, deepening their connection with God.

– Kristen E. Vincent
A Bead and a Prayer

“From page 16 of A Bead and a Prayer: A Beginner’s Guide to Protestant Prayer Beads by Kristen E. Vincent. Copyright © 2013 by Kristen E. Vincent. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books.
“http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Have you ever used beads while praying? What was that experience like for you?

Find out more about making beads and praying with them. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias; and he was added to the eleven apostles.

Acts 1:26, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who feel left out. 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: John of Avila (May 10).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

12 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted May 7, 2018 7:04 am

    If prayer beads work for you, are helpful, use them. I agree there are many ways to pray, commune with the Lord. Thankful, that there are these many options.

    Communion yesterday, fellowship with apple cider donuts and cider.

    Thankful for church yesterday and a new week. It’s a sunny day. Pearl up very early, she’s watched ducks on the pond, explored around the house, been rubbed, and played with a toy.

    Prayers for your needs. Will return during the day. Many blessings to all of you.

  • Andrea Posted May 7, 2018 7:21 am

    Pearl sounds like a delightful blessing.

    I am thankful for two beautiful walks with my husband yesterday, one around the nature pond in our neighborhood, the other around our University campus. We saw an outstanding Big Ten baseball game outdoors, 11 innings, and our university team won in an exciting finish. I am thankful for texts exchanged with my daughter yesterday and hope to re- connect in person very soon.. I am thankful for UR friends; it is a deep blessing to pray with you and I have felt uplifted knowing you are “there.”

    I am thankful it is finally spring here, and beautiful sunny weather. I am thankful I talked to my neighbor vacationing in Hawaii and she is fine.

    Blessings, wishing all a blessed Monday.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted May 7, 2018 7:39 am

      Praise God for texts exchanged with your daughter. This is the best news i have received for this year. May you, your daughter and grandson and husband have many happy moments together, Andrea!

      Blessings to all!

      • Andrea Posted May 7, 2018 2:17 pm

        Thank you for your words and prayers, Mary. I hope to see my daughter and grandson soon. I pray all is well with you, your parents, and your new job. Blessings!

        • Andrea Posted May 7, 2018 2:24 pm

          Mary, I am thankful for your comments demonstrating your strong faith and for all the caring you share here. Sending a hug through cyber-space and across the ocean to you.

  • Julie Posted May 7, 2018 7:50 am

    I am so very thankful for my two kitties. They help me get through each day. I pray each night for their safety and health and praise God each morning when they greet me. They are the reason I get up each morning.
    Thankful for Robert and his beautiful descriptions of his life. Thank you for sharing so freely.
    Thankful Andrea has a loving and supportive relationship with her husband. Thankful her daughter has responded to Andrea’s overtures. Thankful Sharon has responded to Andrea’s calls.
    Thankful the “husband” went t work. However, had to endure his hatred and fury first thing this morning. Such venom so early and for no reason.
    Blessings and prayers for and thank you to all of the UR family. Each and every concern shared here I lift daily to the Lord and you remain in my heart throughout the day
    Cherish that which is within you.
    Chuang Tzu

    • Andrea Posted May 7, 2018 2:20 pm

      Thank you, Julie, I appreciate your words and prayers. I am sad to hear of your husband’s nasty behavior this morning. Sending prayers to the Loving God for you and reaching through cyber-space to give you a hug. Blessings.

  • Marcy Posted May 7, 2018 6:03 pm

    Please forgive me, my caring UR family and friends, for being “gone”. I’m so sorry for any worry I caused. I just finished catching up on the last month+ and do want you all to know how touched I am for your concern. I am in tears, as I have been as of late, but these are different. I’m not worthy of such, I do not feel I have been true to God in my weakness, although I pray much. And not only for myself. After going without insurance 45 days, I was without the medications for my mental health which I am still struggling with. Oh, the bleakness, unworthiness and constant fight to keep Hope alive consumes me. Not only this, but new and worrying illness detected, insurance is not approving medications, treatments and doctors, making a bad situation much worse. I am depleted, weak, sick, still without home health, physical rehabilitation, remain on oxygen (another ghastly episode) and am isolating myself because I feel all the news I have is bad news. Depending on others is bothering me more and more. You see, it is happening now. Others have much more pressing matters. I continue to fight but it is exhausting, even with the help and prayers of my Pastors. I am thankful to God that insurance has been restored and I have a row over my head and food to eat and the live of my little cat Lucy. She has been by my side, won’t leave me for more than half an hour at most. Thank you, Lord.

    As I mentioned, even though I wasn’t keeping up (again, I’m so sorry), I was keeping you all in prayer. I spent today adding the new names and concerns to my notebook.

    Jill, I am praying your mom, Gloria, continues to improve and hope that medication therapy, if chosen, will help her. Prayers for you and your family going up.
    Robert, praying that Erich’s new job goes well, starting on the 19th, thankful to hear about the model work and the history behind it. Also thankful for Annaliese’s condo situation and prayers for her health. And most especially, prayers for your own health and well-being.
    Andrea, hang in there. I am also doing so. I’m praying that your daughter will appreciate the gift she has in her Mother. I’m so sorry she has hurt you, and pray God will comfort you and guide you in what to do. I’m praying for you.
    Connie, I’m sorry for the loss of your cousin. Jesus walks with you and I will keep you and the family in my prayers.
    Lou, I continue to pray for you and your children and will add on prayers for moving.
    There are more, I know, and I am keeping you all, each and every one of you, all new concerns in my prayers. I also keep in my prayers new visitors to Reflections as well.

    Thank you, thank you all, so very much for your prayers. I cannot describe the feelings I’m experiencing, it’s like a damaged has burst! God bless each of you!

    I miss you all very much and hope I can get back to myself and be useful. It is hard to put into words what I’m going through and hope you all understand. I still believe in my closer:

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

    • April Posted May 7, 2018 8:45 pm

      Oh Marcy, how wonderful to read your post!! I hold you close in prayer. May you feel our hugs….sweet dreams to you and our UR family….blessings to all.

    • robert moeller Posted May 8, 2018 3:39 am

      Marcy, so glad to read your post, know that you have health insurance, a roof over your head, food ,and Lucy. You most certainly should not be sorry for the concern we have for you. God’s love flows through us to you as it should.
      Prayers that all needed medications, health care, doctors, and treatments are covered and you can be well. You most certainly are well in the Lord. That comes through very clearly.

      Thank you for your prayers for Anneliese, Erich, and me. Progress is being made. Anneliese is recovering from heart ablation and Lyme disease with meds and has a new tenant upstairs. The condo is still for sale. Erich starts his job on the 19th, waiting to start requires patience. I’m doing well walking and going to the gym, helping as I can, seeing my counselor for help with confrontation, assertiveness skills, and enjoying very much work on the Landecker layout. Will see my sister this Saturday. Church helps me too.

      Thank you for your prayers for the UR family, we are all so glad to read your posts again. Thank You, Lord.

  • Andrea Posted May 8, 2018 6:47 am

    It is wonderful to see you back, Marcy. There was an empty spot while you were gone. As Robert says, there is nothing to apologize for. I lift you up in prayer and give thanks for your strong faith. The Loving God holds you so close. Thank you for your prayers. Sending a cyber-hug to you. Blessings.

    • robert moeller Posted May 8, 2018 11:40 am

      Yes, Andrea, Amen to your post.

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