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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

LAST WEEKEND I started mentally gearing up to host a meal. What date? How many? Who? I’ve learned that a good dinner party includes people who share common interests but can also bring fresh ideas to enliven the table talk. I scribbled names of professional women with admirable faith, all lively conversationalists. The ideal grouping I envisioned the perfect ladies’ night.

Even the thought of entertaining can prompt me to tidy up. Skimming through and discarding old magazines, I stared at a bold-faced headline that made me think twice about the potential guest list: “Guess Who Ought to Be Coming to Dinner.” I stopped and read the smaller print of the text by the Reverend Dr. Bonnie Thurston about Jesus and his “unacceptable dinner guests.” She asked, “What if I invited folks to dinner and did not worry whether they belonged at the table?” …

Lord, whether I’m planning a dinner or a day, help me to ask good questions, starting with, “[God,] What do you want me to do?”

—Evelyn Bence
Room at My Table

From pages 24-25 of Room at My Table: Preparing Heart & Home for Christian Hospitality by Evelyn Bence. Copyright © 2014 by Evelyn Bence. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Pray the prayer at the end of today’s excerpt. Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
—1 Corinthians 12:7, NRSV

This Week: pray for someone beginning a good habit. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

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7 Comments

  • Jill Posted January 13, 2019 6:11 am

    Yes, Lord – show me what You would have me do today.
    This morning is the cancer support group – and I am so looking forward to being with this courageous group of people, rejoicing and weeping together, praising God for His faithfulness, His sovereignty and His goodness. Father – thank You for this resource.
    Bountiful Sabbath blessings to all who visit this site today.

  • robert moeller Posted January 13, 2019 7:29 am

    Today’s reflection reminds me to “ask good questions” at today’s Bible study as well. The pastor is teaching about homosexuality in preparation for the UMC conference on this topic. I pray there is a good understanding of what Jesus would have us do.

    Prayers for you, Jill, the cancer support group, your Mom, Dad, and Becky.
    Joan Duffy, a member of the church In attend seemed to be making great progress with her cancer, but now is in hospice. Some time ago my uncle also went through this although no prospects of recovery were offered. Knowing that God is with us always is a great comfort. I pray your Mom knows this too.

    Thankful for a walk yesterday, even in the cold there is beauty.

    Prayers for Marcy and Mary, Julie, Megan, Betsy-Grace-Kelsey and family, Connie, Andrea-Lowell-Andrea’s daughter-grandson and son in law, Mary,
    Lou-her children and Mom. Prayers for Bev and Arnolds who is in the hospital because of his heart. Prayers that soon Erich will be working and be able to make progress. Steps toward moving are slowly coming along. Expect to see a student from 44 years ago next weekend.

    Thankful there is choir practice and church today along with fellowship and Bible study.

    Stay warm, careful snow shoveling, be safe. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted January 13, 2019 8:08 am

    Yes, the first good questions should be to our Lord. Where do you need me, Lord? What do You want me to do for You? Who do you want me to greet/notice/help?
    Prayers for Jill as she attends the support group, may she ask helpful questions and have hers answered.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich, may they ask good questions of one another as they seek a new home and new callings.
    Prayers for Mary and her family, may they be safe.
    Prayers for Connie and her family, may she find solace in her garden.
    Prayers for Lou and her family, may her daughter ask good questions as she seeks a college.
    Prayers for Andrea and Lowell and may their PT heal their pain.
    Prayers for Betsy and her family as they tend to her brother and await the birth of a new grandchild.
    Prayers for Marcy, may her pain be less today and may she be safe and well.
    Prayers and blessings dear UR family

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted January 13, 2019 8:46 am

    Yes, Lord, what do you want me to do?

    Thanks for all your prayers.

    Thank you God for strength to do what you want me to do.

    Blessings

  • Tedrasharon Posted January 13, 2019 9:56 am

    thank you, blessings

  • Andrea Johnson Posted January 13, 2019 1:07 pm

    I so appreciate your prayers, dear prayer-warrior friends.

    The bell choir performed in church this morning, and we played a beautiful arrangement of Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. “Here’s my heart, oh, take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.” A good prayer for every day.

    Today we are making dinner for my daughter, son-in-law, and grandson, and we are taking it to their home. I invite Jesus to be present with us.

    Prayers for dear UR friends.

  • Lou Posted January 13, 2019 1:23 pm

    Prayers for all today – that we may do what God wants us to do and be the people that he wants us to be – We studied Isaiah 43 in Sunday school today and it was the scripture reading in church- we are precious and loved and He calls us by name- so what are we to fear. Reassuring and beautiful. We had a beautiful snow yesterday and the golf course across from my house is covered and beautiful today and the snow is sparkling in the sun.
    Prayers especially for Connie whom we have not heard from in several days – I hope that she had assistance in managing the snow. Prayers for Marcy whom we miss as well.
    Prayers for students studying and taking finals in our schools this week- especially my youngest who seems to be handling the stress of studying very well today.
    Thank you all for the prayers for me and my children –
    I pray for you all.

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