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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 CHRISTIAN FAITH teaches that God wants to save us when we are at our worst. God loves us still. God is not ignorant of our sin; God sees it more devastatingly than we do. But God loves each one of us and sees someone whom God wants to redeem and make new. Think back to the words that Paul heard from Jesus: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

It is essential to keep grace at the center of the conversation when we talk about growth in the Christian life. We must remember that grace is the major power source that gives energy to all of our efforts to grow in our faith.

A Blueprint for Discipleship

From page 16 of A Blueprint for Discipleship: Wesley’s General Rules as a Guide for Christian Living by Kevin M. Watson. Copyright © 2009 by Discipleship Resources. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

How do you define grace? What does it mean “to keep grace at the center of conversation when we talk about growth in the Christian life?”  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:17, NRSV

This Week: pray for church study groups and Sunday school classes. 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: Maximilian Kolbe (August 14).

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 August 16, 2018 5:25 am

    I’d define grace as God’s blessing when we don’t deserve it. When we are weak, God is strong. God loved us while we were still sinners.

    Keeping grace at the center of conversation about growth reminds us that without God growth is impossible, we all need God no matter where we are on our spiritual journey.
    Erich’s search for a job goes on and we continue to research housing in thr area where we think we are guided to move. Many more affordable possibilities.
    A day off from modeling yesterday, I go to the gym today, had some strong downpours last night, hope the garden benefitted.

    Prayers for those off to school and prayers for Sunday school this weekend.
    May God help each one of you with the issues, problems, tasks, and concerns you have. Thankful that God’s solutions are always best. Lord help us to accept Your ways, shaping, molding, guiding, and chastening. Thank You , Lord for grace that makes progress possible. Thankful for the blessings that come each day.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted August 16, 2018 10:38 am

      May Erich be able to find a job that fits him perfectly!

      May Robert have excellent health!

      Blessings!

  • Betsy Posted August 16, 2018 7:00 am

    Grace to me is that unseen thread of hope that God freely gives when we are in need. I feel God knows all our faults and loves us in spite of them. That is grace. We can only grow in our Christian journey if we have it.

    Robert, I hope you are having some relief from your neck pain. I also suffer with neck issues and know how that can get in the way of sleep and activities.
    Thinking of Jill this morning. I know she is preparing for her school year, and pray that all goes smoothly with the start of the calendar. My daughter began her 12th school year yesterday. Mary, also praying for your students and for you. Once a teacher, you always have this time of year close to your heart!

    Grateful for a lazy day today with errands and grocery shopping. Hope to catch up on some reading and a long distance call to my sister. Grace to you all.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted August 16, 2018 10:34 am

      Thanks dear Betsy!

      May all be well with you and your family!

      Blessings!

  • Julie Posted August 16, 2018 7:53 am

    After reading the refleection and Robert and Betsy’s words I would say grace is what God extends too us in oour weakness. He knows that we will sin and that we will fail to meet all of life’s demands. So He provides His grace to us. The grace of forgivng our sins and grace to help us through life’s trials.
    Prayers for Robert and his neck pain, may it never return. Prayers for Erich, may he find You and seek Your will for his life.
    Prayers for Betsy and another quiet day with a chance to catch up with her sister.
    Prayers for Mary and her stress and workload.
    Prayers for Marcy. I pray she finds relief in Your grace. Kitty tales: Tazzie has decided that maybe Megan is not so bad after all. He has taken to sitting on her lap late at night (she is a night owl while I am an early riser). He also will flit between our laps in the evening when she and I watch tv together. The problem is his paws are tiny and feel like little needles walking around on our laps.
    Prayers and blessings for and thank you to all of the UR family
    May you all have a blessed day

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted August 16, 2018 8:24 am

      Thank you dear Julie!

      May God grant us a double portion of Hus grace!

      Blessings!

      • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted August 16, 2018 9:03 am

        HIS GRACE i mean

    • Marcy Posted August 16, 2018 3:18 pm

      Julie, dear friend, thank you for these amusing and endearing cat tails! Though blinded with pain, they bring a smile to my face. The grace of God is evident each day, enabling prayers for this loving UR family that provides another anchor to keep the faith! You and your daughter and Mom, Chai and Tazzie remain in my prayers each day! Thank you for praying for me! I manage to read daily. Sending Love to you!

      • Julie Posted August 16, 2018 5:52 pm

        So relieved to receive your words of prayer and support. Will continue to pray for you and weave my kittie tales

  • Connie Posted August 16, 2018 8:33 am

    Without the Grace of God, we would find it difficult to continue on. Grace, Grace, Amazing Grace.
    Thankful for:
    A good night’s rest.
    A gentle rainfall.
    A peaceful day yesterday.
    Prayers for Jill and Mary as they begin their “journey”.
    Prayers for all.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted August 16, 2018 9:02 am

      Thank you dear Connie!

      May God bless you abundantly!

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted August 17, 2018 5:41 am

    Grateful for the weekend and working on Saturday to prepare lessons

    Blessings!

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