Upper Room Daily Reflections

Wisdom

admin — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:01:12 +0000

Tuesday’s Reflection

WISDOM VIEWS the rising sun and the majestic silences of nature as daily messages from God. God is patient; God waits for us to get it right — or continues to work with us, despite our every error and lapse of conscience, in the sinews of every prayer and doctrinal attempt, every compassionate act, every encounter with stone and wind, every effort to read scripture and remember the Creator.

- Ray Waddle
Against the Grain

From p. 147 of Against the Grain: Unconventional Wisdom from Ecclesiastes by Ray Waddle. Copyright © 2003 by Ray Waddle. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. All Rights Reserved. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

If you are able, spend some time outside today and look for evidence of God. Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is a delusion and you are still lost in your sins.

- 1 Corinthians 15:17, GNT

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for people who are lonely. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

So, now you know you are a Lover, Mystic, Prophet, or Sage. (If not, take the Spiritual Types Test.) Did you know that each of the spiritual types has a favorite way to pray? Check it out: Praying as We Are.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Valentine (February 14).

Lectionary Readings:

Wisdom is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

Singing Our Praises to God

admin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 05:01:10 +0000

Monday’s Reflection

AS PEOPLE OF FAITH have know for centuries, when we join our voices in song, our hearts and minds are also united in a profound though mysterious way. The Spirit dwelling in us sings through us and binds us together. In a world full of dissonance and disunity, a common song can be a step toward and a sign of unity God desires for us.

- Douglas A. Hicks
On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life

From p. 91 of On Our Way: Christian Practices for Living a Whole Life. Copyright © 2010 by Dorothy C. Bass and Susan R. Briehl. Used with Permission. All Rights Reserved. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Sing a song of praise to God. Better yet, sing that song with someone else. Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

I, God, search the heart and examine the mind.… I treat [my people] as they really are, not as they pretend to be.

- Jeremiah 17:10, The Message

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for people who are lonely. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Valentine (February 14).

Lectionary Readings:

Singing Our Praises to God is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

Trust in God

admin — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:01:55 +0000

Sunday’s Reflection

DEAR GOD, help me to be wise but not obsessed with thriftiness. Help me to loosen my grip on money and to grab hold of you instead. In the uncertainties of life, I will trust in you. For the length of my days is a sacred mystery.

- Missy Buchanan
Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms

From p. 14 of Talking with God in Old Age: Meditations and Psalms. Copyright &copy: 2010 by Missy Buchanan. Used with Permission. All Rights Reserved. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What would you say to someone who is worried about money? Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

They had come to hear [Jesus] and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured.

- Luke 6:18, NRSV

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for weather and seasons. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that goes deeper than verbal communication. Try a Centering Prayer exercise.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Elizabeth Lange (February 03).

Lectionary Readings:

Trust in God is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

Our Capacity for Joy

admin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:01:55 +0000

Saturday’s Reflection

ALLOWING OURSELVES TO MOURN develops our capacity to feel life’s joys. I believe that positive and negative emotions are two sides of the same coin. Of course, many of us would prefer to experience and deal with only positive feelings. We often feel uncomfortable with our own or others’ sadness, anger, disappointments, fears. … As we learn to feel all our feelings, we explore what it means to be fully human, to be all that God created us to be.

- Mary Lou Redding
The Power of a Focused Heart: 8 Lessons from the Beatitudes

From p. 31 of The Power of a Focused Heart: 8 Life Lessons from the Beatitudes by Mary Lou Redding. Copyright (c) 2006 by Mary Lou Redding. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What grieves your heart today? Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain.

- 1 Corinthians 15:13-14, NRSV

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for weather and seasons. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that goes deeper than verbal communication. Try a Centering Prayer exercise.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Elizabeth Lange (February 03).

Lectionary Readings:

Our Capacity for Joy is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

How Far Kindness Goes

admin — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:01:48 +0000

Friday’s Reflection

YOU NEVER KNOW HOW FAR a little kindness may go. There are so many people who are unaware of God’s love or who are in circumstances that make their lives difficult. If everyone showed God’s amazing love to those around them, what an incredible world this would be!

- Jessica Green
Stepping Out on Your Own: Devotions for High School Graduates

From p. 107 of Stepping Out on Your Own: Devotions for High School Graduates. Copyright © 2010 by Upper Room Books. Used with Permission. All Rights Reserved. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Think of a time when an act of kindness reminded you of God’s love. Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

The Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

- Psalm 1:6, KJV

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for weather and seasons. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that goes deeper than verbal communication. Try a Centering Prayer exercise.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Elizabeth Lange (February 03).

Lectionary Readings:

How Far Kindness Goes is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

The Steadfast Love of God

admin — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 05:01:15 +0000

Thursday’s Reflection

THE HEBREW hesed is a particular love; it is the enduring, steadfast love of God, a compassion that never wanes. Joyfully the author of Lamentations declares, “Every morning God’s mercy is new again” (Lam. 3:22-23, paraphrased). God makes this vow of unceasing love to each one of us.

- Stephanie Ford
Kindred Souls: Connecting through Spiritual Friendship

From p. 57 of Kindred Souls: Connecting through Spiritual Friendship by Stephanie Ford. Copyright (c) 2006 by Stephanie Ford. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

Ponder the enduring, steadfast love of God. Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

When they had [let down their nets], they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.

- Luke 5:6, NIV

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for weather and seasons. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that goes deeper than verbal communication. Try a Centering Prayer exercise.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Elizabeth Lange (February 03).

Lectionary Readings:

The Steadfast Love of God is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

Renewal

admin — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 05:01:26 +0000

Wednesday’s Reflection

IN OUR FAILURES, in our busy forgetting, we are forgiven, renewed to continue to be the hands and feet of Christ — no small task, no small gift.

- Roberta Porter
Alive Now

From p. 10 of Alive Now, January/February 2010. Copyright © 2010 The Upper Room. Used with Permission. All Rights Reserved. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this magazine.

Today’s Question

Write a prayer of confession. End your prayer with a renewed commitment to be the hands and feet of Christ in a specific way. Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

“Master,” Simon answered, “we worked hard all night long and caught nothing. But if you say so, I will let down the nets.”

- Luke 5:5, GNT

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for weather and seasons. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that goes deeper than verbal communication. Try a Centering Prayer exercise.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Elizabeth Lange (February 03).

Lectionary Readings:

Renewal is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

The God Who Calls

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:01:43 +0000

Tuesday’s Reflection

O GOD, who calls those who will follow along with you, show us our duty today, and give us bread for our journey. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.

- Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck
A Guide to Prayer for All God’s People

From p. 214 of A GUIDE TO PRAYER FOR ALL GOD’S PEOPLE by Rueben P. Job and Norman Shawchuck. Copyright (c) 1990 by The Upper Room. All Rights Reserved. Used with permission. http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/. Learn more about or purchase this book.

Today’s Question

What is God calling you to do today? Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

When [Jesus] finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Push the boat out further to the deep water, and you and your partners let down your nets for a catch.”

- Luke 5:4, GNT

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for weather and seasons. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that goes deeper than verbal communication. Try a Centering Prayer exercise.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Elizabeth Lange (February 03).

Lectionary Readings:

The God Who Calls is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

The Need To Love

admin — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:01:06 +0000

Monday’s Reflection

THE NEED TO LOVE and be loved is one of the strongest of the four basic human needs. it is also a spiritual need. Even if a person can no longer express himself verbally, cannot demonstrate intellectual ability, and has no memory, at some level he can intuit meanings and feelings from the tone of voice and body language of people interacting with him.

- Jane Marie Thibault and Richard L. Morgan
No Act of Love Is Ever Wasted: The Spirituality of Caring for Persons with Dementia

Today’s Question

Name wordless ways that you experience to love of God. Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

Though the Lord is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

- Psalm 138:6, NIV

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for weather and seasons. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Centering Prayer is a type of prayer that goes deeper than verbal communication. Try a Centering Prayer exercise.

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Elizabeth Lange (February 03).

Lectionary Readings:

The Need To Love is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections

When To Say Yes

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:01:06 +0000

Sunday’s Reflection

Where is the “yes” I need to say in this moment, and what kinds of “no” are needed to protect that commitment?

- Marilyn Chandler McEntyre
Weavings

Today’s Question

Is God asking you to grow in some new way? Share your reflections.

Today’s Scripture Reading

The prophet Isaiah wrote, “I heard the voice of the Master: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?’ I spoke up, ‘I’ll go. Send me!’”

- Isaiah 6:8, The Message

This Week …

Special Need:

This Week: Pray for the oppressed — and the oppressors. Add your prayer to the Prayer Wall.

Tips for Your Spirit:

Personalizing Scripture: Sometimes we can personalize a passage of scripture by placing our own name in it. Some passages lend themselves to becoming personal prayers as we make ourselves the recipients of God’s Word. Try the practice,

Saints, Inc.:

This week we remember Corazon Aquino (January 25).

Lectionary Readings:

When To Say Yes is a post from: Upper Room Daily Reflections