The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Sunday, 2 July 2017 through Saturday, 8 July 2017
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The Upper Room Daily Devotion in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Saturday, 8 July 2017 "" -------
1 Peter 3:
13 For who will hurt you if you become zealots for what is good? 14 But even if you do suffer for being righteous, you are blessed! Moreover, don’t fear what they fear or be disturbed, 15 but treat the Messiah as holy, as Lord in your hearts;[1 Peter 3:15 Isaiah 8:12-13] while remaining always ready to give a reasoned answer to anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you — yet with humility and fear, 16 keeping your conscience clear, so that when you are spoken against, those who abuse the good behavior flowing from your union with the Messiah may be put to shame.
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Friday, 7 July 2017 "STRONG ROOTS" Read John 15:1-10-------
John 15:1 “I am the real vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 Every branch which is part of me but fails to bear fruit, he cuts off; and every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes, so that it may bear more fruit. 3 Right now, because of the word which I have spoken to you, you are pruned. 4 Stay united with me, as I will with you — for just as the branch can’t put forth fruit by itself apart from the vine, so you can’t bear fruit apart from me.
5 “I am the vine and you are the branches. Those who stay united with me, and I with them, are the ones who bear much fruit; because apart from me you can’t do a thing. 6 Unless a person remains united with me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up. Such branches are gathered and thrown into the fire, where they are burned up.
7 “If you remain united with me, and my words with you, then ask whatever you want, and it will happen for you. 8 This is how my Father is glorified — in your bearing much fruit; this is how you will prove to be my talmidim.
9 “Just as my Father has loved me, I too have loved you; so stay in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will stay in my love — just as I have kept my Father’s commands and stay in his love.
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Continue to live your lives in [Christ Jesus], rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. [Colossians 2:6-7 (NRSV)]
My daily walk goes by a lake that has cypress trees along the banks. One day I stopped to look more closely at one of these trees and its large, entangled roots. Some of the roots were wound tightly around the tree; others grew out from the tree. Still other roots seemed to sprout from the trunk of the tree itself. Many seemed tangled together. I marveled at the tree’s strong root system.
I thought about how much our life with God is like this tree. We, too, need the support of strong roots. Some of the roots grow straight and tall, mimicking the strong and direct teachings from scripture and the church. Others wrap around one another, forming strong support groups of friends and family, which encircle us and hold us tightly with love. Still others extend away from the tree, reminding us that we are to reach out and embrace others with God’s great love. I keep this image of the strong root system of the cypress tree as a guide to live by, knowing that I need many types of support to stay strong and connected to God.
The cypress tree Patricia mentions in today’s meditation
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The Author: Patricia M. Daniels (Florida, USA)Thought for the Day: Today I will stay rooted in God’s love.
Prayer: Holy God, help us to remember that we are connected to you and our community of faith just as strong roots are connected to a tree. Amen.
Prayer focus: SUPPORT GROUPS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Thursday, 6 July 2017 "ALWAYS PREPARED" Read Matthew 25:1-13
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Matthew 25:1 “The Kingdom of Heaven at that time will be like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 The foolish ones took lamps with them but no oil, 4 whereas the others took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5 Now the bridegroom was late, so they all went to sleep. 6 It was the middle of the night when the cry rang out, ‘The bridegroom is here! Go out to meet him!’ 7 The girls all woke up and prepared their lamps for lighting. 8 The foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both you and us. Go to the oil dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But as they were going off to buy, the bridegroom came. Those who were ready went with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. 11 Later, the other bridesmaids came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they cried, ‘Let us in!’ 12 But he answered, ‘Indeed! I tell you, I don’t know you!’ 13 So stay alert, because you know neither the day nor the hour.
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Keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. [Matthew 25:13 (NIV)]
As kitchen staff, we have a responsibility to keep our workplace clean. Every day before we leave for home, my co-workers and I clean the cooking utensils, scrub the floor, and wipe the tables in the dining room. Keeping the workplace clean is important because it protects people’s health. We could also get into trouble with the public health office if we ignored their requirements. Someone from the public health office inspects our facility frequently, but we never know when that person is coming. That’s why we always do our cleaning daily.
Our need for diligence reminds me of the second coming of Jesus. Our scripture verse for today encourages us to keep watch. Like the five wise virgins who took extra oil for their lamps, we must be constantly prepared for our Lord to come again. Unwavering faith in God and obedience to God’s commands will keep us ready to welcome Jesus when he comes again. And at that time, I want to be among those who are ready to receive him and to enter into his eternal kingdom.
See a photo of Amy and her co-workers, here.
Amy with two of her co-workers. Pictured from left: Oxana, Amy, and Andrea
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Read more from the author, here.
More from Amy Sutikdja
Working on a kitchen staff is not my dream job. Firstly, I don’t like kitchen stuff and secondly, I wasn’t trained for it. But 20 years ago when I received Jesus and joined a Bible class, my mentor told me we had to work as if we were working for God and not for humans and do our work (no matter how insignificant it seems) for the glory of God's name (Colossians 3:23). I remember this verse well, and today I do my job whole-heartedly.But sometimes I still grow tired. I hate scrubbing floors. I hate tidying up. The piles of dishes in the scullery distress me. We make a big mess in the kitchen during the peak hours of serving. One day I was tempted to just leave it alone, but then I was reminded of the consequences. This inspired me to write something, so as soon as I got home I jotted my thoughts down. Later I refined my writing and sent it to The Upper Room. It is as though God had wanted to remind me of something through my job. [Amy Sutikdja, Pictured above: Amy and two of her co-workers, from left: Oxana, Amy, Andrea.]
The Author: Amy Sutikdja (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Thought for the Day: How prepared am I to receive Jesus when he comes again?
Prayer: O God, help us walk in your path day by day until the time Christ comes again. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Prayer focus: FOOD-SERVICE WORKERS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotion in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Wednesday, 5 July 2017 "ANSWER TO PRAYER" - Read Acts 8:26-38 -------
Acts 8:26 An angel of Adonai said to Philip, “Get up, and go southward on the road that goes down from Yerushalayim to ‘Azah, the desert road.” 27 So he got up and went. On his way, he caught sight of an Ethiopian, a eunuch who was minister in charge of all the treasure of the Kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia. He had been to Yerushalayim to worship; 28 and now, as he was returning home, he was sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Yesha‘yahu. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go over to this chariot, and stay close to it.” 30 As Philip ran up, he heard the Ethiopian reading from Yesha‘yahu the prophet. “Do you understand what you’re reading?” he asked. 31 “How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” And he invited Philip to climb up and sit with him.
32 Now the portion of the Tanakh that he was reading was this:
“He was like a sheep led to be slaughtered;
like a lamb silent before the shearer, he does not open his mouth.
33 He was humiliated and denied justice.
Who will tell about his descendants,
since his life has been taken from the earth?”[Acts 8:33 Isaiah 53:7–8]
34 The eunuch said to Philip, “Here’s my question to you — is the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip started to speak — beginning with that passage, he went on to tell him the Good News about Yeshua.
36 As they were going down the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, “Look! Here’s some water! Is there any reason why I shouldn’t be immersed?” 37 [Acts 8:37 Some manuscripts include verse 37: And Philip said, “If you believe with all your heart, you may.” He answered, “I believe that Yeshua the Messiah is the Son of God.”] 38 He ordered the chariot to stop; then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and Philip immersed him.
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An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road — the desert road — that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch. [Acts 8:26-27 (NIV)]
I could smell the paint drying on my latest work as I knelt to pray, “Thank you, God, for inspiring me to do this piece. Now whom do you want me to give it to?” God brought my sister to mind, but I said, “Lord, she’s an atheist.” My sister would roll her eyes anytime someone spoke about religion. However, I obeyed God’s nudging, even enclosing a note explaining that God had told me to send the painting to her. Weeks later I received her response: “I was praying to God for a sign. Then I got this piece from you not even an hour later. When I read that God told you it was for me, I cried. I have opened my heart to God.”
My sister may think I was the answer to her prayer, but really she was the answer to mine. God helped our prayers to intersect at a critical juncture that changed both our lives for the better.
Being in prison on death row, I often question how and why God would possibly use me. I struggle with feelings of worthlessness despite being a sincere, repentant believer and despite the Bible’s saying God has a plan for each of us. My sister’s letter affirmed to me that God can work through every member of the body of Christ, including me and my sister.
The Author: George T. Wilkerson (North Carolina, USA)
Thought for the Day: Today I will pay attention to where God is leading me.
Prayer: Dear God, give us the faith to obey your Spirit, even when we don’t know or understand what you’re trying to accomplish. Amen.
Prayer focus: FAMILIES OF PRISONERS
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Tuesday, 4 July 2017 "COMPANIONS" Read Matthew 21:18-22
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Matthew 21:18 The next morning, on his way back to the city, he felt hungry. 19 Spotting a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. So he said to it, “May you never again bear fruit!” and immediately the fig tree dried up. 20 The talmidim saw this and were amazed. “How did the fig tree dry up so quickly?” they asked. 21 Yeshua answered them, “Yes! I tell you, if you have trust and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done to this fig tree; but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Go and throw yourself into the sea!’ it will be done. 22 In other words, you will receive everything you ask for in prayer, no matter what it is, provided you have trust.”
-------Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive. [Matthew 21:22 (NRSV)]I let a friend of mine borrow my horse, Norman. He stayed with her for almost a year. When it was summer again I realized how lonely I was without him. I used to talk in his ear about what was going on in my life and almost everything else.
While Norman was away I found out that I didn’t have to tell my feelings just to a horse; I could tell them to God. I realized that God has always been there for me and always will be, so I got baptized. I wanted to improve my life and try to be like Christ.
I knew that the Holy Spirit would tell me when it was my time to be baptized. I know I won’t be perfect like God, but I want to try my best. We can all listen for God and for the whisper of the Holy Spirit to learn how to grow in our faith and deepen our relationship with God.
See a photo of Lydia and Norman, here.
Lydia and her horse, Norman
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The Author: Lydia Harbor (Montana, USA)Thought for the Day: God is always listening to me.
Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for listening to our prayers. Be with us and help us encourage others to find their path to you. We pray as Jesus taught us, saying, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation” (Luke 11:2-4, NIV). Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW CHRIST
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The Upper room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Monday, 3 July 2017 "LEARNING TO WALK AGAIN" Read Isaiah 40:27-3
Isaiah 40:27 Why do you complain, Ya‘akov;why do you say, Isra’el,
“My way is hidden from Adonai,
my rights are ignored by my God”?
28 Haven’t you known, haven’t you heard
that the everlasting God, Adonai,
the Creator of the ends of the earth,
does not grow tired or weary?
His understanding cannot be fathomed.
29 He invigorates the exhausted,
he gives strength to the powerless.
30 Young men may grow tired and weary,
even the fittest may stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in Adonai will renew their strength,
they will soar aloft as with eagles’ wings;
when they are running they won’t grow weary,
when they are walking they won’t get tired.
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Though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the LORD holds us by the hand. [Psalm 37:24 (NRSV)]
My recovery from hip surgery includes intensive daily physical therapy to retrain the muscles in my weakened leg. I begin with gentle massage and passive range of motion and then progress to active muscle-strengthening exercises. Finally, I advance to the treadmill, gripping the handrails firmly, lest I stumble while my legs recall how to walk correctly. Daily therapy takes time and effort, but it’s worth it. I feel a little stronger each day.
I’m learning I need the same discipline in my spiritual walk. Limping along is easy for me. I skip daily devotions when time is short and pray only briefly while rushing from one activity to another. Over time, my spiritual muscles weaken until I am no longer able to walk with confidence through the challenges of daily life. However, through prayer, devotions, Bible study, and worship I am able to strengthen my walk with God. When difficulties arise and I stumble, God is holding my hand, lifting me up and offering me the opportunity to renew my spiritual journey.
Read more from the author, here.
Changes
Nearly four years have passed since the surgery I was recovering from when I wrote today’s devotion. As I re-read my bio I was struck by the many changes that have occurred in my life since then!My hip has healed completely, and I try not to take my pain-free gait for granted. Nevertheless, days go by in which I don’t think twice about walking from one place to another, an act that consumed my thoughts before surgery and during the months of recovery thereafter. As I begin my third decade as a pediatrician, the human body’s capacity for healing continues to astound me.
My children have "graduated" from Vacation Bible School and now volunteer to assist with the little kids. My role with the young people in our church has evolved from teacher to youth group leader. I guide middle and high school students as we participate in group activities and service projects such as Maureen’s Haven (a program for people who are homeless) and Samaritan’s Purse.
Writing has become a bigger part of my life. I am currently working on a novel for middle grade students about a non-athletic seventh grade boy who has to participate in a 5K race. As he trains, he gains confidence not only in his skills, but also in his intrinsic worth as a person. The message I want to get across to my young readers is "you matter." It’s a message that children today desperately need to hear. I see many young people in my practice who feel overwhelmed, unable to measure up, and unimportant. I suspect that many of us adults have felt that way also at one time or
another in our lives; I know that I have. The truth is, we are all important, dearly loved and cherished by our creator. We all matter, especially to God. And we all have God-given talents that we can use to further the kingdom.It’s easy to view seasons of change as stressful, but change is quite often a positive event. Children grow and mature, work becomes more rewarding, and new opportunities arise. Even when unwelcome changes occur in my life, I am okay as long as I remember that God is in control, orchestrating all things for my good (Romans 8:28). And I am comforted to know that, even when everything is changing around me, I am safe in the arms of the one who is the same “yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). [Susan Walker-Spring, Pictured above: Susan Walker-Spring with four of her kids (top) and members of Susan's youth group preparing to serve a Saturday morning breakfast for people experiencing homelessness (below).]
The Author: Susan Walker-Spring (New York, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we stumble, God is there to catch us and give us strength.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for being with us through the challenges of life. Strengthen our desire to walk more closely with you. Amen.
Prayer focus: THOSE RECOVERING FROM SURGERY
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The Upper Room Daily Devotional in Nashville, Tennessee, United States for Sunday, 2 July 2017 "WHAT REALLY MATTERS" Read Proverbs 3:13-18
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Proverbs 3:13 Happy the person who finds wisdom,
the person who acquires understanding;
14 for her profit exceeds that of silver,
gaining her is better than gold,
15 she is more precious than pearls —
nothing you want can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand,
riches and honor in her left.
17 Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who grasp her;
whoever holds fast to her will be made happy.
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Thus says the Lord GOD, See, I am laying in Zion a foundation stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: “One who trusts will not panic.” [Isaiah 28:16 (NRSV)]
After many years, my wife and I had reached the point that we could no longer care for our home. The family we had raised was grown and gone, and our years of working were at an end. What had once been a “labor of love” had just become a “labor.” It was time to move on.
Moving is never easy, but it’s even harder when you know that so much of what you’ve gathered and cherished for so long must be left behind forever. We prayed that God would help us decide what we could not decide on our own.
Then I remembered all the wonderful stories throughout the Bible, powerful tales of men and women who gave up every possession they owned and placed their trust in God’s wisdom alone. Knowing that God loves us always and will never lead us astray made taking the first hard step toward moving much easier. My wife and I now know that regardless of the earthly things we give up, seeking God’s will and obeying it is all that really matters.
The Author: Mark A. Carter (Texas, USA)
Thought for the Day: When we are with God, we are always home.
Prayer: Dear God, help us never to forget that as long as we are with you, we have really not lost anything. Amen.
Prayer focus: SOMEONE MOVING TO A NEW HOME
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