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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

PSALM 150 invites earth and heaven, sanctuary and sky, to united in praise to God. It encourages us to employ whatever we can – our bodies through dancing or instruments through making music – in praise to God.

Devotion
Cross: Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Invitatory bead: praise God, all creatures here below.Resurrection bead:Alleluia! Alleluia!
1st cruciform bead:God, you are praised above the heavens.
Week beads, set 1: With each bead recite, “Holy, holy, holy,” the song the angels sing around God’s throne.
2nd cruciform bead: God, creation sings your praise.
Week beads, set 2: Use each bead to focus on the wide variety of creation: trees, plants, animals.
3rd cruciform bead: God, through the skill you have given me, I can create instruments of priase.
Week beads, set 3: Use each bead to express gratitude for different musical instruments used in praising God.
4th cruciform bead: God, I will praise you with all that I have.
Week beads, set 4: With each bead recite, “With all that I am, I praise you.”
Resurrection bead: Praise God, the source of all our gifts,
Invitatory bead: praise Jesus Christ, whose power uplifts,
Cross: Praise the Spirit, Holy Spirit! Alleluia! Amen.

– Kristen E. Vincent and Max O. Vincent
Another Bead, Another Prayer

From pages 28-29 of Another Bead, Another Prayer: Devotions to Use with Protestant Prayer Beads by Kristen E. Vincent and Max O. Vincent. Copyright © 2014 by Kristen E. Vincent and Max O. 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

Pray the prayer adapted from Psalm 150. If you have prayer beads, use them as you pray. 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

11 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted May 8, 2018 5:08 am

    I like the prayer, am not comfortable with the beads. Yes, prayers for those who feel left out. Our guest pastor read from a Dr. Seuss book about creatures with and without Xs on their bellies and the problems that resulted. It was a simple children’s message. Adults can take it to heart as well.

    Thankful for a 4 mile walk on the rec path yesterday, sunny, sometimes a chilly breeze, but a wonderful time. A nice lunch and more work finding the buildings needed for the layout: a sawmill, station, freight house, barn and house or inn.

    So thankful to hear from Marcy, learn that Andrea has emails from her daughter, and knows her friend is ok in Hawaii. Prayers for Gloria, Larry, Jill, and Becky. Thankful for God’s peace that has come to them, helping them through a tough time. Prayers for Julie, her hands, foot, daughter, and well being. Blessings to Betsy, April, Connie, and all the UR family.

    • Marcy Posted May 8, 2018 10:38 am

      Yes Robert, prayers for all who feel and/or are left out. Very difficult for those who have experienced it. I pray God will make it physically possible to walk again like I used to, to commune with Him in nature. Your layout sounds absolutely breathtaking in detail, Robert. I would love to be able to see it.
      Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. The tears are streaming down my face unchecked. I pray that through the prayers I’ve received from this blessed place of God, that emergence from the darkness comes soon…

  • Andrea Posted May 8, 2018 6:53 am

    Loving God, I place my anxiety and sorrow in Your hands. Guide me, I pray. Help me to see things through my daughter’s eyes to better understand her. Give me the necessary words and silences.

    With prayers for UR friends. May all who feel left out have an awareness of God’s love holding them close. May all who feel left out have a caring friend who gives them warm companionship.

    Blessings.

    • Marcy Posted May 8, 2018 10:47 am

      Andrea, I’m praying fervently for you in your pain and confusion. Although the circumstances are vastly different, I recognize where you are. You are much stronger in many ways than myself, don’t mean to compare. Your faith and the love and support of your husband and long walks, patience and many more fine qualities bestowed upon you and within you by the Holy Spirit will bring you through. Lord, hear our prayers.
      Thank you for responding so patiently and kindly to me, but even more for your prayers. I’m bawling like a baby and hoping it’s a breakthrough. All the Love I can muster up I’m sending your way…

  • Jill Posted May 8, 2018 7:06 am

    Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty. This is what I will carry with me today. Father, Your Love is so much more than we deserve. Your Grace is inexplicable. Thank You for loving us.
    What a lift to see the post from Marcy. May God continue to comfort you and see you through each day, each trial.
    Father – hold Andrea. Please give her wisdom and discernment for the next communication with her daughter. Oh relationships – they can bring such joy and such heart wrenching emotions.
    The cancer support group Sunday was incredible. The spirit in that room – oh how I needed to be part of that. People loving Jesus, clinging to Him, despite their circumstances. The earthly road can be a struggle, but oh, the hope of Heaven and reunion with Our Saviour.
    Come, Lord Jesus, please come quickly.

    • Marcy Posted May 8, 2018 11:04 am

      Jill, so very good to hear how much strength you are receiving through the cancer support group. You, your Dad, Larry, sister, Becky and especially your Mom, Gloria are in my prayers and are so deserving of God’s grace, comfort and peace.
      Thank you for praying for me in my troubles. I don’t know how much of a “lift” I can be to anyone at the moment, but am trying. As I keep saying, tears won’t stop, but am grateful nonetheless. I feel more and more I don’t belong here, want to go Home, but continue to push through each day, no matter how painful or pointless. How can I do God’s work from hete? Pray He will answer.

  • robert moeller Posted May 8, 2018 7:42 am

    Wonderful news from you, Jill, so thankful for the care your Mom, Dad, you, and Becky are receiving from the cancer care group. The Alzheimer’ s group does that well too. Prayers for continued support and God’s mercy, grace, and love. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Jesus made the bond inseparable. Andrea, you are a blessing to your daughter, ask for God’s wisdom and there will be progress. So thankful you have heard from her. It is tough dealing with people we love who give us a hard time. Not sure the reason why, but there is certainly hope as she replies. Hard to know her thoughts and feelings. Persistent, patient love in the manner of our Lord will succeed.

  • Julie Posted May 8, 2018 7:47 am

    I am so thankful that we heard from Marcy. Please know you never left my prayers or heart.
    Thankful that Robert continues to enjoy such wonderful health despite his heart issues. Thankful he has a wonderful relationship with Erich and engaging pastimes.
    Andrea, you are on my heart and I lift your pain to the Lord in prayer. We all have issues with our children but your daughter seems to have trouble within her heart. I pray you receive help through your therapy because you need to protect your emotional health through this.
    Jill, again, I am thankful that you have many sources of support during this time of stress and anxiety. I pray your mother continues to improve.
    Blessings and prayers for and thank you to all of the UR family
    It’s not the load that breaks you down. It’s the way you carry it.
    C. S. Lewis

    • Marcy Posted May 8, 2018 11:13 am

      Julie, I continue to pray for you in your relationship, that God shows you a way out. I pray that as the weather has warmed, your hands and foot are improving every day. Also any lingering pain in your knees.
      Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I continue to weep, as does my heart. Praying that prayers from all will rescue me soon. So lonely and alone, missing family no longer here.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted May 8, 2018 9:20 am

    Praise God that Marcy is back with us! May all her needs be met.

    Thank you dear Andrea!

    Blessings to all

    • Marcy Posted May 8, 2018 11:16 am

      Sweet sister Mary, pray all is well with you and your parents. Thank you for your prayers. I continue to pray for relief from God and am not hopeless. Jesus must still be near.

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