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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

FOR WESLEY, it is not only important to reflect the love of God to others, we also must report (tell) about this love to others. … The Wesleyan way of evangelism calls for us to tell about this love to others. … We, too, are called to report to others what God has done in our lives.

If we are called as Christians to report about God’s love to others today, then how do we do this? … Critical to testifying and to reporting about God’s goodness to others is establishing a relationship. The Wesleyan way of evangelism is relational, and for others to hear your testimony, it is necessary to have some form of a relationship with them. … People are willing to listen if they feel you care.

Reporting God’s love to others is not an attempt on our part to fool, manipulate, or force anyone into believing something different. It is instead an unapologetic and honest reporting of how we have experienced God’s love and goodness. When God is transforming us, it will shine through in ways we cannot imagine and bring us into relationships with individuals we could never imagine. Are we willing to love others by sharing with others God’s love? The Wesleyan way of evangelism encourages us to tell of God’s love and goodness so that all may experience God’s transformation through Jesus the Christ.

– Henry H. Knight III & F. Douglas Powe Jr.
Transforming Evangelism

From pages 83-84 of Transforming Evangelism: The Wesleyan Way of Sharing Faith by Henry H. Knight III & F. Douglas Powe Jr. Copyright © 2006 Discipleship Resrouces. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Discipleship Resources. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Where will you have opportunity to share God’s love today? Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now.

Romans 8:22, NRSV

This Week: pray for the growth of new relationships. 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: Isidore the Farmer (May 15).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

4 Comments

  • Jill Posted May 18, 2018 4:11 am

    Gratefully, I have numerous opportunities to share God’s love at school. Although not evangelistically, I certainly can be an agent of grace and mercy in a way that would separate me from other teachers. May it be so.
    So very grateful to have played tennis Monday, Tuesday and last evening – and to be feeling as well as I do. My hands feel really good, as do my feet. It is stunningly good. It has also been a huge mental break to be on the court, shutting off my brain from concern for my mom.

    • Gail Churchill Posted May 18, 2018 7:40 am

      Jill, I wish everyone could experience how good physical activity/exercise makes a person feel.

  • Lou Posted May 18, 2018 5:20 am

    Glad you are feeling better Jill.
    Yes Connie- thank you – that is how I felt last year when my son graduated from college – the parents on opposite sides of the auditorium – it saddens me – we raised them together and now it is not the way I ever imagined it. But God’s will be done- not mine. I know God will see me through this weekend- thank you all for your prayers and support. Robert I will be very close to you -I know.
    Prayers for all who come to this place looking for peace- thankful for all of those who offer up prayers and support.
    Amen

  • Julie Posted May 18, 2018 8:07 am

    Jill, so good to hear of your good health. I know tennis means a great deal to you. Participating regularly is a bright reprieve as you deal with so much turmoil.
    Gail, continued prayers for you, your friend and her son.
    Lou, prayers for your safety as you travel. May you and your family have a joy filled celebration of the success of your daughter following such hard work. I sat with her father at my daughter’s college graduation. She was worried but I assurred her that we are all adults and the day was hers so we were there to celebrate her. It went well and we got along fine.
    Blessings and prayers for and thank you to all of the UR family
    All we are saying is give peace a chance.
    John Lennon

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