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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 MESSAGE OF JESUS was and still is alive, and his meaning unswervingly direct. Jesus didn’t waste time beating around the bush. The Savior of the world always spoke the truth; indeed, genuineness was his calling card.

Jesus was all about keeping it real. He usually went—unnervingly— directly to the heart of the matter. Jesus didn’t waste much time with preliminaries; he got right down to business. Yet no matter how hard he rubbed people the wrong way and how much he avoided sugarcoating his message, Jesus always treated people with the utmost respect.

—Derek Maul
Get Real: A Spiritual Journey for Men

From page 26 of Get Real: A Spiritual Journey for Men by Derek Maul. Copyright © 2007 by The Upper Room. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Do you see the people around you speaking directly while also treating others with respect?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech!
—John 16:29, NRSV

Prayer for the Week

Give me the courage and strength to serve you, Lord.

Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.

Something more

Sight Psalms is a daily, online, photo inspiration intended to help people reflect on God’s presence in the world and in their lives through the use of images. Each day, a new photograph is posted to evoke reflection and inspiration within themes connected to the Christian year, and it is usually accompanied by a few words. Discover more.

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

8 Comments

  • Jill Posted May 29, 2019 5:11 am

    What a fine line this is – speaking truth while being respectful. Something I found I was not able to do with mom. I respected her desire to “not talk about it” – and wonder how many opportunities did I miss and was I being more faithful to mom than I was to God. Did I really honor my parents?
    I ask God for clarity and the ability to speak authentically. I long to be ready to be used in whatever manner He has for me. I look forward to deep conversations with others, where I can speak His truth, how He has worked in my life, how He continues to grow me.
    Grateful to have exams graded, grades entered, checklist from the office complete. The remainder of the week is just a formality. Grateful to get the remainder of my flowers in the ground last night before the storm began. I still have a few spots to fill in – will get a few more flowers this weekend.

  • robert moeller Posted May 29, 2019 6:15 am

    In the very divided atmosphere we live in here in the US, I see both sides having great difficulty talking and listening to each other respectfully. A saying from the days of WWII comes to mind. “Loose lips sink ships!” Today the ship being sunk is the country. Lord, help us return to “In God We Trust” and follow Your ways. Lord, You are needed now more than ever.

    God’s peace and safety as schools begin summer vacation. Restoration and recovery to areas and people hit by floods and tornadoes. Lord may we take better care of the place we call home. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

  • Gail Churchill Posted May 29, 2019 6:27 am

    I too am concerned about missed opportunities. More frequently though I am learning to speak up. “We may never pass this way again.” Speak directly, or spit it out, and then listen. Pray (silently) for the Holy Spirit to intervene. We don’t have to win. God does that. It says so in Revelations. God wins. We can help by showing up. Have no regrets about what might have been. The fields are ripe for harvest but the workers are few.

  • Connie Posted May 29, 2019 7:46 am

    Sometimes I feel like a piece of cellophane….invisible. However, I still keep expressing my feelings. I think it has always been this way in certain areas and I just never realized it.
    I put a large red bow by my Hummingbird feeder to attract my “friends”. The bow was on my Christmas wreath.
    Lots of things on my list accomplished lately….makes me happy. I cross them off with fervor! (sp?)
    Jill, if God guided you in your interactions with your Mother all is as it should be. You honored her beyond measure, without a doubt.
    Prayers for Oklahoma and Dayton and all people affected by such terrible storms. I cannot imagine their loss.
    Blessings to all.

  • Julie Posted May 29, 2019 8:08 am

    I rarely speak my mind with others. I keep opinions to myself and my situation as well. Megan and I speak freely and with respect. I echo Robert’s sentiments. One never knows these days how one’s words will be taken.
    Prayers for Mary’s dad and his appetitie, health and strength. Prayers for Mary as she continues to assist him.
    prayers for Jill as she continues to process the last year, may she find comfort in that she followed Gloria’s wishes.
    Prayers for good news for Robert.
    Prayers for many hummers for Connie.
    Prayers for Marcy and her health.
    Prayers of thanks for Lou and her kind words of comfort and sisterhood
    Prayers and blessings and warm hugs and thank you dear UR family

    • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted May 29, 2019 9:34 am

      Thanks Julie!

      May God take full control of your situation and God remove the spirit of fear from you in the name of Jesus Christ!

      2 Timothy 1:7 New King James Version (NKJV)

      7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted May 29, 2019 8:52 am

    Very grateful that dad is able to eat today and oxygen tubes removed.

    Thank you for all your prayers and thank you God for dad’s progress.

    Blessings to all!

  • Arianna Posted May 29, 2019 12:30 pm

    I try to be as direct as possible with others… however, kindness and. Ring nurturing to then is equally important. Sometimes listening and doing are just as good… sitting next another to hear them first… then talk to then with an open heart.

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