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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

ANXIETY FILLS MY LIFE.
Busyness is the order of the day.
Crowded schedules, shopping sprees, and misplaced priorities mask my deepest pain.
My heart is crying out for true intimacy.
Lord, draw near to me and let me sit at your feet and grab hold of this worship moment.

-Junius Dotson
The Africana Worship Book: Year C

From page 41 of The Africana Worship Book: Year C, edited by Valerie Bridgeman Davis and Safiyah Fosua. Copyright © 2008 by Discipleship Resources. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Pray today’s prayer. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Mark 7:21-23, NRSV

This Week: pray for those who are receiving cancer treatments. 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: Augustine of Hippo (August 28).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

10 Comments

  • robert moeller Posted September 2, 2018 4:30 am

    At the moment I don’t feel full of anxiety. I do yearn for intimacy with Christ.
    Despite being an activity at church and things going fairly well with the Lawnfest there, I sense a spiritual void. Will miss communion and church today to help my son. Glad I am able to do that.

    Despite being told he was doing a great job, Erich decided that this job was not for him and he’s done. The move won’t happen until next spring, he’ll try again, but the atmosphere at the jobs that are available is pretty much the same. I don’t know how the people who do these jobs exist, they pay very poorly, and most people travel some distance to work at them. This is a sad side of a town that has an excellent reputation as a quaint New England village with great skiing and beautiful scenery. It has put a stain on my VT homecoming.

    Hope you all have a blessed Communion Sunday. Sadly, I’ll miss it to help Erich, we’ll take a trip through the town whee we hope to live next year.

  • robert moeller Posted September 2, 2018 4:45 am

    Read yesterday’s posts, thankful for the messages from Jill, Juliie, Lou, and Connie. Clinging to God gets us through every situation. I consider that a truth. I would suggest, Julie, that you keep in close touch with your lawyer and find out what is happening there. That might help you with the otherwise absence of communication from h. Yes, there are times when time flies by and times when it barely creeps, but through it all God is always there.

    Prayers for those we don’t hear from so often, thinking of Marcy, Rusty and K., but many others as well.The Lord bless you and keep you, now and always.
    Thank You, Lord.

  • Jill Posted September 2, 2018 6:10 am

    Yes, I come to sit quietly, to linger, to experience You. Calm the clamor, may I hear and experience only You.
    Father – I lift Robert to You. As he continues to reflect Your love to Erich, I ask that You would stir Erich’s heart and he would be open to what Robert would share with him. Continue to be with both of them during this period of searching.
    Grateful for the activities of yesterday. I played in a tennis tournament with my doubles partner, it was very close to where my parents live. My parents came out to both matches, despite the sun and heat being pretty intense during the afternoon match. Then in the evening I asked mom to go shopping with me to a few stores. Dad tagged along. Grateful that she seemed pretty ok. I had a moment when I dropped them off to speak with dad alone. He said this week had been better than last – so glad to hear this. Her scan is a little over a week away and I thought she would be consumed by this. One thing that is helping, I think, is that the US Open tennis tournament is going on – on tv pretty much all day – and she is absorbed in watching it. A very good distraction indeed. And tomorrow there is a family picnic at my nephew’s. Grateful for this reprieve in her doldrums for my dad’s sake.

  • Betsy Posted September 2, 2018 7:37 am

    It is hard for me to get to the quiet within me so I can look heavenward. Thank you, Lord, for being ever patient and forgiving. I rest in You.
    So sorry to hear about Erich’s job, Robert. I pray he will find the fi that works for him. It will happen.
    Jill, so glad you had a good day with your folks. Sounds like your mom is enjoying the present. Will be thinking of you all as you await the scan in a week.
    Blessings to all on this Sabbath and coming together at the Lord’s Table.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 2, 2018 7:46 am

    Yes, Lord, draw near to me!

    I commit the new week and its challenges ahead into your hands. Lead and guide me every step of my life journey.

    I commit Erich and Robert into your hands. Bless them, lead and guide them. Fill them with your love, joy and peace. As they seek your guidance, grant them wisdom and keep them in the centre of your perfect will.

    Thank you for hearing our prayers!

  • Connie Posted September 2, 2018 8:13 am

    I was “under the weather” yesterday, but rested and am better today.
    I was able to catch some rainwater for my indoor plants, however. Thunder and lightening all night long, but calm today.
    Thankful for:
    The Sabbath
    Hymns and scriptures and God’s mercy.
    A comfortable home.

    I love you oh Lord my strength. You are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.

  • Julie Posted September 2, 2018 8:21 am

    You all know that I am struggling now with uncertainty and stress. So this prayer is perfect for me right now.
    Prayers for everyone
    Daughter waiting so has to be short
    More detailed prayers tomorrow

  • Marcy Posted September 2, 2018 7:28 pm

    Hello loving UR siblings and friends! I came off another three-day migraine Saturday, with the usual aftermath; head feeling bruised, vision issues and weakness from not eating much and sleeping almost not at all. Been reading every day and praying always for each of you, Robert, Jill, Julie, Lou, Betsy, Connie, Mary and Andrea. Think of others and pray briefly also for them and those who needs are known only to God. Can’t buck the melancholy, though I hide it well when friend texted. Hard to connect texting. Spent the day yesterday and today reading scripture as much as eyes allow. Hope to be more encouraged again, soon. Love all of you, really do. Thank you and thank You, Father! I know You haven’t left me. I’m sorry to be such a bummer today…..

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 2, 2018 8:32 pm

      May you have a speedy recovery and good health, dear Marcy!

      May God’s presence be so close to you and may He fill you with His love, joy and peace. May He protect you from migraine, vision issues and weaknesses.

      Blessings!

  • April Posted September 2, 2018 9:39 pm

    “grab hold of this worship moment”…this stuck me as I read…I can do better than this….I can plan and make time for worship moments, and I will!! I have a wall hanging that talks about dreams “dreaming does matter….it allows you to become that which you aspire to be.”
    Today in worship, we all said a prayer together that asked for laborers to be paid a just wage. I thought of Erich and how you talk about this Robert. You and so many are in my prayers….how can this be? Lord, I pray that you would instill wisdom to all those that are making decisions that affect others so that all may be treated as equals, for we are all your beloved children….

    Our sermon series ended today with the message that God is a God of love, not vengeance. How do we know this? ….. He sent his Son, Christ Jesus, to show us…I read how Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John shared His life with us and it is all about Love.

    May all who are hurting and share at this site feel Christ’s love as you read the Bible. May I be the hands and feet of Christ to those close to me, so that I may share a hug…
    Blessings to my UR family.

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