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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

OUR TIMES CRY OUT for a mass movement of compassion. This urgent need coincides with the goal of the Christ-following life, for unless our faith makes us compassionate, it can hardly be called Christian. Following Jesus means moving out of our privatized, isolated, and self-enclosed worlds into a compassionate engagement with our suffering neighbor. As we open ourselves to the pilgrimage experience, … we journey from self-centeredness to compassion. May you and I become everyday pilgrims whom God can use to bring healing to our broken world.

—Trevor Hudson, A Mile in My Shoes: Cultivating Compassion (Upper Room Books, 2005)

Today’s Question

Where do you see opportunity to show compassion?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
—1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

Give me the eyes to see when others hurt, the ears to hear when others cry, and the courage to bring light into their darkness.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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6 Comments

  • Julie Posted September 26, 2019 8:09 am

    This is one of my issues – I see need everywhere. I become paralyzed with the enormity and diversity of need. I am inundated with those in need of help in many different forms. Also my own limitations that limit my ability to provide aid year round.
    Tazzie is not acting his normal playful self since the vet visit which was over a month ago. He is not as active and I called the vet who wants to see him again. However, it is traumatic for him and they will draw blood which is painful. I am torn” Am I being a nervous nellie or a responsible proactive parent.
    I also called the dermatologist and asked that we begin the vasodillator. Inspired by Jill’s accounts of support groups, I asked her to ask her other Reynaud’s patient if she would like to get together with me to discuss our unique disease.
    Prayers for April, BJ, Betsy, and Lou.
    Prayers for healing for Andrea, Connie and Marcy.
    Prayers for Mary’s students as they take their exams.
    Prayers for Jill and her students. Prayers for Larry’s safety.
    Prayers for Robert and Erich to reconcile.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you dear UR faithful

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted September 26, 2019 8:26 am

    Chatting with a sick friend on the phone and praying for her pain to go away.

    Thanks Julie for your prayers. Praying that your cat and you will recover completely and speedily.

    Blessings!

  • Connie Posted September 26, 2019 9:45 am

    My Compassion Center has slowed down somewhat, but I still feel deep compassion for hurting people.
    No kind of routine the last few weeks! Hopefully that will improve. For many years the Upper Room has been my daily companion so this time has been like a hole in my heart. Also, missing all of you.
    My Hummingbirds are filling up their tiny tummies with nectar and will soon fly away. My hanging basket and petunias are at the end of their blooms. And now, Fall will begin…I hope it is colorful.
    Bless little Tazzie and give him energy.
    Robert and Erich? I have to see about that. What would I do without your input and prayers, Julie?
    Blessings and love to all.

  • robert moeller Posted September 26, 2019 3:51 pm

    I believe that in this world, this life, we are surrounded by those in need of compassion. One does not have to look far. I’m thankful that resources are coming that enables compassion.

    Doris was in good spirits after her chemo and able to eat a meal according to Anneliese. With no experience with chemo for cancer patients I don’t know if that is reality. I understand there are many side effects of chemo. Have been looking into chemo and cancer treatment to better understand what is happening. Continued prayers for Doris and her family.

    I’ve made contact with a clinic and should see some one in a couple months.
    Hopefully that will help Erich and me. In the meantime I have the second half of my oral procedure to accomplish.

    Prayers for Julie, her hands, contact with a fellow patient, and hope for improvement with the vasodillator. I agree with Connie, Julie your prayers are an inspiration.

    Thankful to hear from you Connie. Mary, bless you for your phone call to sick friend.

    Hopefully I can post before I leave for my train convention tomorrow. I hear the local tourist train horn blowing as I write.

    Blessings and prayers for you all. Thank You, Lord.

  • Jill Posted September 27, 2019 4:45 am

    Opportunities are abundant to show compassion. At school – last evening the mom and daughter came in who tragically lost their husband/father in the scuba diving incident. The mother gave me a long embrace. I said to her, one day at a time.
    With my dad – he is interested in engaging in deep, meaningful conversation. The intensity of it can be fatiguing. But I sense he was never able to go this deep with mom and now it is like a spring overflowing. Compassion is needed here as well.
    My friend whose daughter continues to struggle with depression and self harm. Compassion is needed as I listen. Wisdom and discernment are prayed for…for myself as I try to support her; for her as this road is stretching on and on.
    Julie – I pray God will direct you to someone or a group of people who can empathize with you and your condition. Sympathetic friends who listen well are a blessing – but one who understands and can empathize because they have been there – these are unspeakable treasures. May God, in His grace, afford you a companion. I understand your nervousness with Tazzie. Though Roger got a clean bill of health a few weeks ago, he continues to consume a lot more water than ever before – and it leaves me unsettled. Fortunately, the rest of his behavior is normal.
    My impatients, like Connie’s flowers, are “giving up the ghost”. I will pull them up this weekend. Once they loose their fullness and separate – my mom used to call them “leggy” – it is time.

  • Marcy Posted September 27, 2019 9:35 am

    Blessed Reflections friends, I apologize for my long absence. Medical and mental issues have devastated me the last three months, and I had to go to a facility for mental health for some weeks. My Faith is still strong, I’ve not stopped praying daily, but have lagged terribly on Bible reading. As I prepare to return to Pulmonary therapy and resume my normal prayer and Bible study, I will be back to talk with you all. I have never stopped praying for you all.

    Julie, I am praying for you, Megan, and sweet Tazzie. Jill, I am praying for you, ypur Dad, Larry, and Becky, your friend’s daughter and Roger. Robert, I am praying for you and Erich, and all your loved onrs, and your cat. I’m not able to recall your cat’s name, I’m sorry. I am praying for all those whose names I know, but can’t type that long, and all who are new here. I continue to pray for everyone in need; our Father knows who you are, as well as those who enjoy God’s healing, health and happiness.

    I’ve missed you all terribly. Thank you, Julie, and all who have included me in their prayers. Thanks mostly to our Lord, Jesus Christ, my personal Savior, as well as all who believe in Him.

    And these three remain: Faith, Hope, and Love, and the greatest of these is LOVE!

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