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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

CREATIVITY is so much more than art making. It is a tool for navigating through everyday experiences to find the sacred in each God-given moment. Those who believe they lack creativity have relegated it to remote regions of their life, burying it under the need for security, approval, and control. However, like love, which is stronger than death, creativity does not die; it simply waits to be unearthed and set free.

—Karla M. Kincannon, Creativity and Divine Surprise: Finding the Place of Your Resurrection (Upper Room Books, 2005)

Today’s Question

What helps you unearth your God-given creativity?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
—Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Prayer for the Week

Holy One, Help me discover my God-given creativity and find the sacred in each God-given moment.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room or share it in the comment section.

Something More

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Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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4 Comments

  • Robert Moeller Posted October 18, 2019 6:23 am

    Solving problems help me use God-given creativity. There’s a wide spectrum of problems, life is that way. I’m very thankful that God made me creative.

    Prayers for Doris who passed away, her daughter and grandson. Prayers for Anneliese who lost her best friend.

    Made it through the storm that had category 2 hurricane winds on nearby Mount Washington. Thank You, Lord.

  • Julie Posted October 18, 2019 8:02 am

    I take umbrage at the author’s words of condemnation of those of us who describe ourselves as not creative. I tend to see solving problems as a rational and logical methodology. This must be the scientist in me. I love math and science and I recognize that even they involve creativity in the way my mind works to solve an equation or understand concepts that are unable to discerned by human senses. One area of particular interest to me in subatomic particles and particularly quarks and neutrinos.
    Prayers for Robert, Annaliese and Doris’ family. May all be comforted.
    Robert, our news reported on the Nor’easter that hit your area and all the damage. I am so glad you are safe.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry and their contiinued sorrow, that is so near the surface still.
    Prayers for Mary and her family. May she shine with joy.
    Prayers for Marcy, may she be well.
    Prayers for Connie, may she be well and may she flowers in her house.
    Prayers for April, Andrea, BJ, Betsy, and Lou.
    Prayers, blessings, warm hugs and thank you all UR sojourners

  • Mary Ng Shwu Ling Posted October 18, 2019 8:14 am

    Thanks Julie!

    May God help us to discover more of our God given creativity.

    Courage helps me to explore new hobbies which unearth my God given creativity.

    Thank you God for courage!

    Blessings!

  • April Posted October 18, 2019 12:20 pm

    I am amazed that each day when I see the thought is centered around creativity, I feel a little spark of encouragement and hope that I will find a solution to the challenges in my life. As I am “letting go” I am also being open…and I feel God is speaking to me. I read the 365 promises every day and today the action to “partner with the Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent” resonated with me as in…this is a way to be creative. Maybe this is what Robert and Julie are saying when they post about finding solutions? Here is the paragraph:
    In yesterday’s promise from Exodus 14:14, I talked about the importance of us learning to be still and watch the Lord fight on our behalf. In today’s promise from 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, we are seeing a different facet to the same diamond. In this passage of Scripture, the Apostle Paul is exhorting us to learn how to partner with the Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent power that resides in us that will empower us to demolish every spiritual stronghold in our lives.
    I think that He empowers us to not only demolish every spiritual stronghold in our lives, but works to solve problems and overcome challenges in our lives. And yes, Mary, courage to help us. “The truth of our existence” is the day’s theme…I will ponder these thoughts today.
    Prayers for those grieving the loss of loved ones or limitations to activities/jobs/joys due to any reason. Lamenting is a word that I have not seen in my readings for a long time…thank you for reminding me of it, Jill. In our culture of hurry and hustle/bustle, have we lost “something” by not taking the time/effort to grieve/lament?
    Cool and cloudy day here. Going to make soup and read a good book.
    Blessings dear UR family.

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