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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.

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Today’s Reflection

MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT fall upon you.
Like a falling star, trailing across the dawns and dusks of your Advent living,
may the Spirit mark you with light and point the way toward God-With-Us.
Be patient, draw close, for the Lord is very near. Amen.

– Pamela C. Hawkins
Simply Wait

From page 67 of Simply Wait: Cultivating Stillness in the Season of Advent by Pamela C. Hawkins. Copyright © 2007 by Pamela C. Hawkins. 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 today’s prayer. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, who are one of the little clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days.

Micah 5:2, NRSV

This Week: Pray for joy. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Prepare for Advent

Explore how nativity sets, Advent wreaths, candles, carols, Christmas cards, and other traditions help prepare our hearts for the God “who bends low to enter our world and our lives.” The Living Nativity, a new book and eCourse by Larry Peacock, is available now.

This week we remember: Peter Casinius (December 21).

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

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In order to continue receiving Upper Room Daily Reflections after January 1, 2019, please confirm your subscription here.

15 Comments

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 17, 2018 1:55 am

    Grateful for the joy of having good fellowship with a friend for lunch today and receiving my first Christmas gift, a Cath Kidston bag.

    Yes, may we be filled with the Holy Spirit and empowered to live a victorious life in Christ Jesus!

    Blessings to all!

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 17, 2018 3:01 am

      May the Holy Spirit also mark us with light and point the way toward God-with-us and fill us with joy!

  • Lou Posted December 17, 2018 6:49 am

    Be patient – draw close- for the Lord is very near…
    what comfort that gives me. I rest in that assurance today. Peace to all of the ur faithful – those who post often and those who do not –
    The Lord is very near.

  • Andrea Posted December 17, 2018 7:23 am

    Yes, “may the Spirit mark you with light and point the way toward God-With-Us.”

    I sense God most strongly in winter. The quiet and serenity of a snowfall and a white landscape. Even the darkness feels like protection. I thought about that and realized that in Biblical times, war could not be waged at night.

    Prayers for Erich’s skin. Might the right healing remedy be found. Prayers for Donna, may she have supportive companionship in her grief.

    My husband’s ankle is still quite swollen and painful. He can’t take ibuprofen due to a health condition. I pray it heals and he regains full mobility.

    Blessings and prayers.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 17, 2018 7:56 am

      May God bless your Lowell with a speedy recovery!

      • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 17, 2018 8:12 am

        May Lowell be healed in the name of Jesus Christ!

        • Andrea Posted December 17, 2018 1:16 pm

          Thank you, dear Mary. Prayers for you and your parents. Blessings!

          • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 18, 2018 7:17 am

            Thanks dear Andrea!

            Blessings!

  • robert moeller Posted December 17, 2018 7:27 am

    Returning to and reading yesterday’s posts may I humbly suggest that the Holy Spirit fell on all who posted or read. Thank You, Lord. I’m thankful for the news, sharing, and prayers. Erich’s skin was definitely improving yesterday, haven’t seen him yet, he was hoping to go to work today.

    Marcy, I rejoice in your improvement and the help you have from Mary. Prayers for both of you and Lucy. Thank you for including so many people by name in your prayers. Train work has been interrupted by
    a variety of things, still working on the smokebox cover hardware.

    Julie, your understanding of Erich’s skin problem is very helpful.I pray for your hands, foot, wellbeing, peace of mind, and a joyous Christmas with family.Saw the concert in Pittsburgh for those lost in the synagogue shooting.
    Very helpful.

    Andrea, prayers for Lowell’s ankle, your family, and thankful for your nature descriptions.

    Peace, simplicity, and comfort to you Connie and your family.

    Lou, first year teaching is a challenge, thankful your daughter is making her way. Your son’s introduction of a new girl friend is a blessing. Glad you will have a daughter home for longer than usual. Prayers for good interaction between the children and their father.

    Jill, it is a great joy to learn that your Mom is doing so well. What a blessing that she is enjoying life, participating, and being involved I pray for many more such days. May there be peace, resolution, and comfort at school for all concerned, especially the friends and families immediately affected. You are reconnected to the young mothers as their leader lives near you. I sense the Spirit working in all these situations. Thank You, Lord.

    I pray all who come to the UR receive and continue to receive the Holy Spirit as we wait to celebrate the coming of the Lord.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 17, 2018 8:11 am

      May Erich be healed in the name of Jesus Christ!

      Blessings!

    • Andrea Posted December 17, 2018 1:17 pm

      Thank you, Robert. Prayers for you, Erich, and Anneliese. Blessings!

  • Julie Posted December 17, 2018 8:04 am

    Be patient, wait for the Lord. Yes all things occur in God’s time and we must be patient and wait to see how he guides our lives no matter what we face. I pray for joy as I do not feel joyful of late.
    Prayers for Mary and her Christian felowship and early Christmas.
    Prayers for Lou and for her daughter who is traveling may she arrive safely.
    Prayers for Andrea and Lowell, may his ankle swelling decrease and may he feel less pain today.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich and may Erich’s skin continue to heal and may he be able to return to work. I know someone who had chronic skin issues and she installed a whole house water treatment system and her skin issues resolved completely. So your observation regarding Erich may be spot on.
    Prayers for Connie and her family and continued quiet time free of stress or strife.
    Prayers for Jill and her family and all their health, physical and emotional.
    Prayers dear Marcy and Lucy and Mary. May you find pain relief and insurance approval.
    Prayers dear UR family

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 17, 2018 8:10 am

      Thanks dear Julie for praying for all of us

      Yesterday I just wrote and submitted a meditation on patience.

      Julie, may you be healed in the name of Jesus Christ!

      Blessings!

      • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted December 17, 2018 9:06 am

        In the name of Jesus Christ, may Marcy be healed!

    • Andrea Posted December 17, 2018 1:18 pm

      Thank you, dear Julie. Prayer for you and Megan. Blessings!

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