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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

EVERY TIME WE RECITE the Lord’s Prayer, we have opportunity to remember that where forgiveness if concerned, “the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” (Luke 6:38) Archbishop Anthony Bloom tells the story of a French general, Maurice d’Elbee, during the revolutionary wars in France. His men had captured some of the enemy and wanted to shoot them. The general reluctantly agreed, but insisted that they should first recite the Lord’s Prayer aloud. When they came to the words, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” they suddenly understood their situation and, weeping, let their prisoners go free.

What those men understood in that moment was their common humanity with the enemy soldiers. They were in this war together as fellow sinners, and they shared the human possibility of redemption by God’s grace.

—Marjorie Thompson
“Communion and Forgiveness,” Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table

From page 49 of Conflict and Communion: Reconciliation and Restorative Justice at Christ’s Table edited by Thomas Porter. Copyright © 2006 by Discipleship Resources, an imprint of Upper Room Books. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

How might reflecting on the Lord’s Prayer affect your path today?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”
—Luke 6:38b, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

God of forgiveness, help me forgive. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something more

A special invitation to the Daily Reflections family: Upper Room Books is offering a 15% discount on books purchased from The Upper Room Bookstore during the month of April. Use promo code APRIL15 when you make your purchase at bookstore.upperroom.org. Offer excludes packages and non-discountable items.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

Sponsored by The Upper Room. Copyright © 2019 | PO Box 340004 | Nashville, TN 37203-0004 | USA

11 Comments

  • Jill Posted April 14, 2019 6:12 am

    Reflecting on the Lord’s prayer will widen my path, will soften my path, will cause me to look at others longer, more deeply and with compassion.
    “Hallowed be Thy Name” – oh to just meditate upon that. And then, “Thy Kingdom come…Thy will be done.” There is richness here – is any other prayer necessary.
    Grateful for this prayer being called to mind today. So simple and yet – pretty much covers all the bases. I will sit a while with this – grateful to have the time to linger.
    I slowly feel myself settling back into my routine – where I find such comfort. My morning time here in my blue chair, back to school tomorrow after being gone for over 2 weeks. And so looking forward to church this morning. It has been over two months. I did get to a few services late – I would stay with mom so dad could attend his church. By the time he got back and I got to my service – I had missed all the singing and praying – but was able to hear the full sermon.
    Grateful for the graceful melodies of the birds, early in the morning. Grateful for a second good night of sleep – my body is recovering as well. Grateful for my nephews being so attentive to my dad this past week. My youngest nephew had my dad and me over yesterday for pizza and watching The Masters on his super big screen TV.
    Mary – may God sustain you as you assist your mum.
    Julie – prayers for you as things are unfolding with h – may God wrap you in peace and continue to heal your fingers.
    Thoughts and prayers for all this UR group this Palm Sunday.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 14, 2019 7:58 am

      Jill, my mum passed away this afternoon at 3pm. I am thankful she’s not suffering now. Also, I had the opportunity to spend the night with her at the hospital last night.

      Thank you everyone for your prayers!

      Blessings!

      • Jill Posted April 14, 2019 8:40 am

        Oh Mary – my deepest condolences to you, your sister and your dad. The Lord is near. I pray you all will be able to se we His compassionate presence.

        • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 14, 2019 8:48 am

          Thanks Jill!

      • Connie Posted April 14, 2019 9:16 am

        Oh Mary, I feel so bad for you. May her soul rest in peace. You are such a good and loving daughter.

        • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 14, 2019 9:44 am

          Thanks Connie!

          Grateful that God let me spend last night with her at the hospital.

          • Andrea Posted April 14, 2019 2:00 pm

            Dear Mary, my deep condolences. It’s a blessing you spent your mother’s last night with her. I am sure your mother knew you were there. May you feel God very close.
            Take care.

      • Jim Ligon Posted April 14, 2019 9:27 pm

        Mary, please accept my deepest condolences. May you feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit during the days ahead.

        • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 15, 2019 12:29 am

          Thanks Jim!

          Blessings!

  • robert moeller Posted April 14, 2019 4:39 pm

    Yes, Mary, my prayers are there for you and your Mum. Thankful for the care and love you gave her. Staying with her was a great blessing. God is with you, your Dad, and all your family.

    Thankful that Jill is returning to a routine finds supportive and helpful. I missed time from school when my wife passed away and going back to school was tough.

    Prayers for Julie’s hands and foot, hope the situation with “h” is resolved soon for once and for all.

    Marcy, prayers for you and your helper Mary, sold some trains that I don’t need. Still have the Märklin / Fleischmann trains that represent my Hessian heritage and the Central Vermont trains that model my boyhood.

    Prayers for Rusty, better eyesight and safe travel to work.

    Finding the condo was easy, finding financing is a bit more of a challenge.
    Can handle the costs once the mortgage is in place, closing costs are the issue.
    Working with a third lender, hope this will resolve the problem. The condo passed inspection with flying colors, have an agreement with the buyer.

    Had a wonderful morning and afternoon with my daughter and granddaughters on Saturday. Saw their Dad sing, went to a bird raptor center,
    ate delicious Sicilian gelato, and had a wonderful drive through the woods.

    Hope you all had a spirit filled Palm Sunday. The pastor encouraged us to endure suffering with Christ this week, especially from the Last Supper through Good Friday. Without it Easter is not possible. Like a seed we must die to be able to rise from the dead. Thank You, Lord, for all You do, did, and will do for us.

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted April 14, 2019 7:21 pm

      Thanks Andrea and Robert!

      Blessings!

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