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The Upper Room: The things we leave behind

prayerI anticipate my daily time in meditation, deliberation and reflection as a spiritual aid in my goal of strengthening and realizing my spiritual resources. I find the devotional, The Upper Room, both valuable and enriching.

On the morning following Black Friday, I read a devotional that benefited and motivated me. I share these reflective comments in their entirety from The Upper Room (12.1.08)., as written by William David Willis of Australia.

Impressions (John 1:14-18)

The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to people – John 1:4 (TIV)

Have you ever visited the lost and found office of a bus or railway station? To do so is to be amazed at the quantity, size and variety of items left behind by travelers. You might be tempted to ask, “How could someone possibly have forgotten that?”

Have you ever left something behind? I well-remember leaving a camera behind on a bus in London and being joyfully  reunited with it two days later!

Every day we leave behind us attitudes and feelings that have a powerful effect on those who “find” them. Perhaps we leave happiness, positive ideas and thoughts, kindness and love. Or maybe we leave behind us bitterness, jealousy, unhappiness, hatred, and conflict.

Our Lord left behind a wonderful legacy — the gift of God’s Grace that brings joy to our lives and purpose to our days on earth.  John 1:16 reminds us that we have all benefited from such rich blessings Jesus brought by his teachings, by his death, and by his resurrection.

Our challenge is to continue Christ’s work by leaving behind evidence of his presence in our lives. When we do, we enrich the lives of those around us.

Prayers: Grant us understanding, O God, of our influence for good and ill in our living. May your loving light shine through our lives to light the way for others. Amen.

Thought for the Day: What do others know of Christ because of knowing me?

~~William David Willis, New South Wales, Australia

Prayer Focus: For deeper intimacy with God

Prayer: Thank you God for the lights in our journey of faith. help us in turn to be lights for others.”

Thought: Leave a light on for those who will follow.”

The Upper Room devotional is available at  United Methodist Churches in your community.

Rev. Charles Moreland
Rev. Charles Moreland
Rev. Charles Moreland, retired, has lived in Clarksville for seven years and holds great pride in his adopted city and its people. His one objection in Tennessee is the Hall law of taxes on dividends and savings. Charles served in the U.S. Army Chaplaincy from 1966-1986, retiring to serve as a United Methodist pastor near Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He serves on the Boards of Directors for the ARP, Roxy Theater and MCDP. Though retired, he is a regular speaker at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. His five grandchildren, ages two to thirteen years, live in Evansville, Indiana. He is a veteran of the Vietnam War and served in Germany and Korea while on active duty.
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