Golconda First United Methodist Church

05/11/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

Breath Prayer:
A breath prayer involves two steps: breathing in and breathing out. When you breathe in, call on a biblical name or image of God. When you breathe out, express the longings of your heart or a God-given desire.
—Whitney R. Simpson, Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit (Upper Room Books, 2016)

Today’s Question
Repeat this week’s prayer as a “breath prayer.” When you breathe in, call on a biblical name or image of God. When you breathe out, express the longings of your heart or a God-given desire. Do you have a personal breath prayer?

Today’s Scripture
Pray without ceasing.
—1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
Inhale: Jesus
Exhale: Give me peace.
—A “breath prayer” from Holy Listening with Breath, Body, and the Spirit by Whitney R. Simpson

Welcome to The Upper Room Store & Resource Library

05/10/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

The Last Word: Love
“Would you know your Lord’s meaning in this thing? Know it well: love was the meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. What did God show you? Love. Why did God show it? For Love.”
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Julian of Norwich (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question
Do you recognize love as the source of all of God’s actions? Why or why not?

Today’s Scripture
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
—1 John 4:7–8 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
God, in you all things are loved. When I see myself, may I see your love for me. When I see my neighbor, may I see your love for them. May I learn to love all beings as much as you do. Amen.

05/10/2026

Have a Blessed Mother's Day!

05/10/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

God Speaking to Julian about Unity:
“It is I, the might and goodness of fatherhood. It is I, the wisdom and kindness of motherhood. It is I, the light and the grace that is all blessed love. It is I, the Trinity. It is I, the Unity.”
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Julian of Norwich (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question
There are many ways people describe God: Mother, Father, Friend, Light, Bread of Life, etc. What descriptions of God do you gravitate toward most? Which ones do you avoid?

Today’s Scripture
There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.
—Ephesians 4:4–6 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
God, in you all things are loved. When I see myself, may I see your love for me. When I see my neighbor, may I see your love for them. May I learn to love all beings as much as you do. Amen.

05/09/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

God Who Does Not Anger:
For I saw no anger except on our part, and God forgives that in us, for anger is nothing but a perversity and contrariness to peace and love. It comes from a lack of strength or lack of wisdom or lack of goodness.
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Julian of Norwich (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question
When have you seen God show mercy instead of anger? How did it affect you?

Today’s Scripture
The Lord, the Lord,
a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
—Exodus 34:6 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
God, in you all things are loved. When I see myself, may I see your love for me. When I see my neighbor, may I see your love for them. May I learn to love all beings as much as you do. Amen.

05/07/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

Failure to Love:
Yes, God loves us all well now, while we are here, as God will when we are there before God’s blessed face. It is a failure of love on our part that causes all our travail.
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Julian of Norwich (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question
When have you seen someone’s failure to love others cause them even greater grief.

Today’s Scripture
For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
—Galatians 5:14–15 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
God, in you all things are loved. When I see myself, may I see your love for me. When I see my neighbor, may I see your love for them. May I learn to love all beings as much as you do. Amen.

05/06/2026

New every Morning - Reflection

Love in Christ's Passion:
“If I could suffer more, I would suffer more.” . . . For he thinks everything is little compared to his love. Even though the sweet humanity of Christ could suffer only once, his goodness can never stop offering.
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Julian of Norwich (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question
Do you consider everything else to be little in comparison to your love? How can you grow the size of your love today?

Today’s Scripture
Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.
—John 13:1 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
God, in you all things are loved. When I see myself, may I see your love for me. When I see my neighbor, may I see your love for them. May I learn to love all beings as much as you do. Amen.

05/05/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

Julian’s Vision: Bliss in Heaven and Earth:
Then I saw the Lord taking no seat in his own house. But I saw him royally reign in his house, filling it all full of joy and mirth, endlessly gladdening and comforting his beloved friends.
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Julian of Norwich (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question
What would it look like if God reigned like this in your house?

Today’s Scripture
The priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
—2 Chronicles 5:14 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
God, in you all things are loved. When I see myself, may I see your love for me. When I see my neighbor, may I see your love for them. May I learn to love all beings as much as you do. Amen.

Welcome to The Upper Room Store & Resource Library

05/05/2026

New Every Morning- Reflection

A Prayer from Julian of Norwich:
“Lord, you know what I want and, if it is your will, that I might have it. And if it is not your will, good Lord, do not be displeased, for I will only as you will.”
—Edited by Keith Beasley-Topliffe, The Upper Room Spiritual Classics: Writings of Julian of Norwich (Upper Room Books, 2017)

Today’s Question
Do you want only what God wants for you and those around you? How can you know what God’s will is?

Today’s Scripture
Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.
—Romans 12:2 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
God, in you all things are loved. When I see myself, may I see your love for me. When I see my neighbor, may I see your love for them. May I learn to love all beings as much as you do. Amen.

Welcome to The Upper Room Store & Resource Library

05/03/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

Radical Compassionate Response:
Jesus’ way of radical compassion aligns our spirit with the Divine Spirit that brings life out of death, hope in the face of despair, love within the lethal contagion of hate in our world.
—Frank Rogers Jr., Compassion in Practice: The Way of Jesus, Revised Edition (Upper Room Books, 2026)

Today’s Question
How can you show compassion to someone who is in the throws of death, despair, or hate?

Today’s Scripture
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven you.
—Ephesians 4:32 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
O God of love, you have offered compassion to me in abundance. Bring me close to you, so I may offer compassion to those who are suffering. Amen.

05/02/2026

New Every Morning - Reflection

Restoration though Compassion:
Acts of compassion also restore the people moved to embody them. Extending kindness feels good. Taking time to care for another replenishes the pulse of our spirits as well. It frees us from the impulses that deaden and disconnect us.
—Frank Rogers Jr., Compassion in Practice: The Way of Jesus, Revised Edition (Upper Room Books, 2026)

Today’s Question
Have you ever felt refreshed by offering others compassion? Why do you think we are filled by filling others?

Today’s Scripture
Those who are kind reward themselves,
but the cruel do themselves harm.
—Proverbs 11:17 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week
O God of love, you have offered compassion to me in abundance. Bring me close to you, so I may offer compassion to those who are suffering. Amen.