[Membersandfriends] Wednesday, December 08, 2004

Tue Dec 7 22:02:48 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Wednesday, December 08, 2004

_________________________

Advent Seasonal Reflections

Upper Room Ministries is pleased to offer Advent Seasonal Reflections to help you celebrate this most holy of seasons. This year's theme is "Prepare Your Heart." To read these daily Advent reflections, visit us at 
http://www.upperroom.org/seasonal/advent/
_________________________

PATCHES OF BLESSING
_________________________

Colossians 3:12-17 (NRSV)

As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

_________________________

Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
-- Colossians 3:14 (NRSV)
_________________________

A few weeks ago, it was my privilege to visit a friend who lives on a farm in the southwestern part of our state.  When I arrived, I found that several of the women in the community had gathered at her home for an old-fashioned quilting bee.

Quilting begins with a wooden quilting rack, cotton batting, and patches of cloth that each quilter brings.  Each person takes a place around the big frame and works on one special area of the quilt.  As each one stitches on her patch, she tells the others something about the significance of the cloth.  All of the work is done by hand; and as one person tires, another takes her place until the quilt is completed.  The finished quilt is a labor of love to be enjoyed not only by those present but by generations yet to come.

In a similar way, God pieces our lives together.  To all of the patches of blessing the Lord works into our lives, God adds the blessing of friends.  It takes a lifetime to complete this quilt.  As we look back at patches of understanding, compassion, sharing, sacrifice, and mercy, they become expressions of God's love through friends who have touched our lives.

Prayer:   Thank you, God, for all the gifts and blessings that enrich our lives.  Help us to see your hands at work.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
What "patches of blessing" has God woven into my life?

-- Frances Bundy (Arkansas, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Friends

_________________________

RELATED READING ...

With an intimate and personal glance, the Upper Room book FINDING A SPIRITUAL FRIEND evaluates the importance and need for close relationships with other Christians.  Using the devotional classics and Biblical stories, this book reflects deeply on the significance and necessity of God-centered friendships.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12627

PLEASE SHARE THIS MINISTRY with a friend. Invite them to sign up for the free E-Mail Devotional by visiting: http://www.upperroom.org/devotional/email/.

_________________________

QUESTIONS?  If you reply to this e-mail, you'll receive an automated message answering our readers' most frequently asked questions.  If your question remains unanswered, please write to us at the special "help" e-mail address you'll find in the automated message.

TO UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.upperroom.org/unsubscribe/

TO CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS: Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Log in, using your current e-mail address and password. Once logged in your account, click on the "Edit Personal Information" link. Edit your e-mail address and any other information, and click "Update" to complete the change.

FORGOTTEN YOUR PASSWORD? Visit the My Account page: http://www.upperroom.org/myaccount/. Click on "Forgot My Password." Enter your e-mail address, and if there is a password associated with it, the password will be e-mailed to you immediately.
_________________________

The scripture quotation is from the NEW REVISED STANDARD VERSION of the Bible, copyright (c) 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved.