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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

AS WE MOVE along our spiritual journeys, we live in the tension between fear and fantasy. But I know of a third way to continue our spiritual journeys: We can choose to live a story of faith and trust in God and God’s goodness. Making this choice does not mean that we will never feel fear or submit to fantasies about the future. Stories of faith do not resolve this tension; instead, they help us transcend fear and fantasy in surprising ways by pointing toward the divine presence in our lives.

—Michael E. Williams, Spoken into Being: Divine Encounters Through Story (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question

What story of faith in God’s goodness can you share today?  Share your thoughts.

Today’s Scripture

“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
—Colossians 2:6-7 (NRSV)

Prayer for the Week

I love to tell the story
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest.

From “I Love to Tell the Story” by
Katherine Hankey, The United Methodist Hymnal, No. 156

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

Something More

During Advent we think about a wondrous mystery: that God chose to become human and lived among us. Rediscover The Wondrous Mystery this Advent.

Lectionary Readings

(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)

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

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3 Comments

  • Jill Posted November 3, 2019 6:15 am

    Our Father is good and He is enough. I have shared so much of my story here, hopefully not too much, nor repeated too much. When I reflect on it – different emotions and sentiments arise…awe, gratitude, tears (good tears), compassion for others who also have a pool of tears (don’t we all…), a longing to assist others through dark times. Father – Your purposes are good, and You bring goodness out of trials. Show me how my circumstances can be used by You to further Your kingdom.
    Andrea – it is so good that you are an example of love in your grandson’s life. It is good for both of you. I pray that the challenges you are facing with how you are feeling will subside and you will be able to adjust well enough. May you sense His presence with you.
    Prayers for Erich as his new job begins Tuesday.
    Thinking of once faithful post-ers who have faded away from this space, but are still under Our Father’s wings.

  • Julie Posted November 3, 2019 8:02 am

    It is my faith in God’s ultimate goodness and promise of a “future with hope” that fortify me during this time of severe distress. When I was growing up we were very poor, but God always made sure we had a roof over our heads at least. Thank you God for grandparents as well.
    Prayers for Jill and Larry. I pray Larry is recovering as c diff can be difficult to treat and drain ones energy. Prayers that Jill spends time recharging.
    Prayers for Andrea and her relationship with her grandson, may her health not interfere with her time with him.
    Prayers for Mary. I pray her sabbath was full of worship, singing and fellowship. I pray her friend who recently accepted God had a wonderful day of getting to know the Lord and his followers.
    Prayers for BJ and her mother and may BJ be able to care for her mother for many more days.
    Prayers for Robert and his health and financial stability. Prayers for Erich, for success in his new job.
    Prayers and thank you UR posters, readers and administrators

  • Robert Moeller Posted November 3, 2019 4:43 pm

    God has been with me my entire life, too often I wasn’t so aware of this. I have been more aware since 1997 and I am very grateful as it is God who is enabling me to do what I do.

    A hymn I only heard sung in a foreign language on a tape I was given, has recently become more understood. I now have the lyrics in both the foreign language and in English. It is Fill My Cup, Lord
    Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole .. I heard a guest pianist play this earlier this fall and now our pianist played it twice today in church. Thank You, Lord.

    On a day when we remember All Saints, I served a soup after worship that had dumplings like ones my wife and mother-in-law used to make. Thank God for memory.

    Thank you, Jill and Julie for your prayers for Erich and me. Hopeful that
    Larry recovers soon, and Jill has a God filled time while Larry is away. Julie,
    may your hands and foot receive help from the Botox treatment, and may you and Megan be safe. Mary, you are ever present for us. Thank You, Lord.

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