[Membersandfriends] Friday, October 29, 2004

Thu Oct 28 22:01:42 PDT 2004

The Upper Room Daily Devotional -- E-mail Edition
Brought to You by Upper Room Ministries
Friday, October 29, 2004

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Nurture a Child

Nurture the spiritual life of a child -- send them a subscription to POCKETS, a devotional magazine for children, ages 6-12.  http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?item_id=12897&ep_id=246
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IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
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Romans 8:31-39 (NRSV)

What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? Who will bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written,

"For your sake we are being 
killed all day long; 
we are accounted as sheep to 
be slaughtered." 

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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The LORD says, "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you."
-- Isaiah 43:2 (NRSV)
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FOR the first 44 years of our marriage, my wife and I enjoyed relatively good health.  Then suddenly and without warning she became ill.  Even though she spent nearly a month in the hospital, doctors were unable to pinpoint the cause of the problem.  Traditional treatments didn't work.  Our life and companionship revolved around the hospital.  The future for us became uncertain.  All our plans for work and pleasure had to be put on hold.

One morning, feeling anxious and confused, I read Isaiah 43.  These words spoke powerfully to my anxious spirit: "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you."  I was instantly calmed and comforted.  I knew that my wife and I would not be overwhelmed by what lay ahead.  God was with us in this ordeal and would see us through.

Prayer:  Thank you, Lord God, for your promise to be with us in all circumstances of life.  When we feel uncertain, hold us close and reassure us of your presence.  Amen.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
God's word offers us hope and peace.

-- Dick Ryley (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.)

PRAYER FOCUS: Families separated by hospitalization

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RELATED READING ...

Death and tragedy are inevitable in our lives; yet our society encourages us to ignore our emotions during these crises. AND NOT ONE BIRD STOPPED SINGING, a popular Upper Room book, provides a unique source of healing as it helps us cope honestly with our feelings of loss through death, in aging, and other emotional transitions.
http://www.upperroom.org/bookstore/desc.asp?ep_id=30&item_id=12596

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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.