[Membersandfriends] Saturday, November 13, 2004

Fri Nov 12 22:03:14 PST 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Saturday, November 13, 2004

_________________________

Help Support Our Worldwide Ministry

Published in 44 languages and 72 editions, THE UPPER ROOM is familiar to 2.5 million Christians in more than 100 countries around the world. In many areas a tattered and worn UPPER ROOM is passed from person to person for many years.  http://www.upperroom.org/fundraising/default.asp?item_id=114563&ep_id=250
_________________________

FROM THE BACKSEAT
_________________________

Leviticus 19:11-18 (NRSV)

You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another. And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD. 

You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning. You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD. 

You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD. 

You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

_________________________

A gossip goes about telling secrets, but one who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a confidence.
- Proverbs 11:13 (NRSV)
_________________________

AS we drove down the road, my husband and I discussed a situation in which someone had been wronged for no apparent reason.  As we voiced our opinions about how the person at fault should have acted, there came a voice from the backseat.  "What are you talking about?" our 10-year-old son interrupted.

"Never mind," said my husband sternly.

"It's still gossip," quipped the voice from the backseat.

A moment of sheepish silence followed.  "I think we've been chastised by our son," my husband replied.

"I think he's right," I agreed.

The Lord loves us and doesn't want us to gossip about others, even those who have done something wrong.  Sometimes God speaks to us from the backseat, in the words of a 10-year-old boy.  God uses many means to speak to our hearts, calling us back to the right way when we get off track.  Wise people listen and obey.

Prayer:  Dear God, thank you for caring enough to call us back when we stray from what you want for us.  Help us to guard against gossip.  May we listen for your voice and obey your word.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
Do my words heal or hurt?

-- Suzanne Lynn Muth (Indiana, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: To guard against gossip

_________________________

RELATED READING ...

Upper Room Book INVITATION TO PRESENCE provides a user-friendly approach to the world of spiritual disciplines that can rekindle our relationship with God.  Author Wendy Miller encourages us to accept Jesus' invitation to "come and see" the stumbling blocks in our way, the Christian practices available to us to remove these obstacles, and the work and presence of God in our lives. A twelve-session Leader's Guide is also available.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12504

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.