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Winter Thoughts
By: S M Chen
Tags: Catholicism, Prayer, God, Protestantism, Bible

My daughter became a Catholic today.

One might think she was pressured to do this, but she says ‘No.’

Her understanding husband was raised Catholic (even steeped in it), but is barely a practicing Catholic now. He seems neither devout nor fervent, although many of his family members are Catholic.

She says he did not urge her at all; did not even encourage her, which might have been understandable.

Their pre-teen son attends a private Catholic school, which, by all accounts, seems to have a good academic program, run by well-intentioned people. It seems to be a promising launching pad for a potentially bright future at high school and college, though that, of course, remains to be seen. He enjoys school, is an avid student and does well academically. What is perhaps equally important is he seems well adjusted.

But she claims he, too, did not pressure her.
Prayer for December 17, 2020 -
By: Pastor Matthew Best
Tags: Christianity, Prayer

Prayer for December 17, 2020: Please pray with me. God of grace, we need what you give to us. We are in desperate need of your grace. Help us when we deal with demanding people who are never satisfied. Help us to see the image of God in them. Protect us from the harm that they can inflict too. Remind these people that your ways are not unsatisfied demands, but loving invitations. And help us to know when to step away from these folks when we are in danger of abuse of any type. We lift abusive people up in prayer that the bondage of their abuse may end for others and especially for themselves. Amen.
2020: Seeing Clearly- An End-of-Year Reflection Guide
By: Erina Kim-Eubanks
Tags: 2020, Year In Review, Reflections, Prayer, Solitude

2020 has felt like a lifetime.

So much has happened. So much of our society was in turmoil and chaos. So many of us experienced grief, loss, and heartache. So much of life was in a constant state of uncertainty and change.

While many of us feel ready for 2021, jumping into the new year expecting that everything will magically change and get better is unwise. We must take some time to pause, to reflect, and to see clearly what God is doing this past year (even in the midst of pain) in order to move forward into a new year.

What did we notice and learn? How did we change? How can we move forward with a clearer vision for our lives and for our society in 2021?

I have written a year-end reflection guide that may be used in both personal and group prayer retreat settings. Note that it is meant to be a resource, not a script. Feel free to use as much or little of it as serves you, and go at your own pace. Of course, if you want to add/modify activities, feel free!

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE:

I encourage you to set aside a minimum of 2–3 hours of uninterrupted time for this reflection time. If possible, go somewhere peaceful and consider turning off your phone completely (or use airplane mode)

There are several exercises that include the use of concrete and sensory materials, for a more holistic and tactile reflection process. If you are interested in participating, here are a few items that you may need:

A copy of Kelly Latimore’s- “The Trinity” Icon

Blank “thank you” card to write in

Candle + something to light it with

Piece of cloth

Materials for collaging

I also recommend using a printed version of this guide, so that you don’t have to use a screen or device.

For a full, PDF version of the retreat guide, please click here.
God of the Wind
By: Terrence Litwiller
Tags: Healing, Prayer, Faith, Poetry, Hope

God of the Wind

Not a branch sways,

Not a single leaf flutters

Outside my window there is stillness…

Where have you gone, God of the Wind

At a time of desperation and tears

When we reach out and plead

And need You the most

How am I to believe that you see me

How am I to know that you hear me

How are the birds to soar

I look for a sign and all I see

is a God withdrawn — a creation completely stalled…

Where have you gone, God of the Wind

I step outside to get some air

Regroup from this rejection

Hope once strong seems blurred

The thing is,

Out here I see much farther

beyond where my window had allowed

In the distance a giant evergreen waves at me

And sways

And dances

And whispers that everything will be ok

Stillness isn’t always the absence of heart

Sometimes it’s just a refocusing

Or one having gone ahead to prepare our next step

What we see

Is not all that there is

And the miracle is happening sometimes

Just outside our view

God our Healer,

God our Strength.

Thank you, God of the Wind…
Prayer Offends Me
By: S. G. S. Abel
Tags: Basketball, Prayer, Parenting, First Amendment, Religion

Prayer Offends Me

Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash

I am a Christian who believes in the separation of church and state.

Recently the news reported a University of Florida player collapsed on the basketball court during a game, his teammates said a prayer for him on the sidelines.

While I have nothing against prayer in general, and have been known to say a prayer in private, I do have a problem with the news report centering on how the player’s teammates, a team at a public educational institution, said a prayer on the sidelines. This should not be reported as news.

The Freedom Forum Institute explains:

When the First Amendment was adopted in 1791, the establishment clause applied only to the federal government, prohibiting the federal government from any involvement in religion. By 1833, all states had disestablished religion from government, providing protections for religious liberty in state constitutions. In the 20th century, the U.S. Supreme Court applied the establishment clause to the states through the 14th Amendment. Today, the establishment clause prohibits all levels of government from either advancing or inhibiting religion.

While there is nothing wrong with individual teammates choosing to say a prayer, at a state affiliated educational institution prayer on the sidelines could be considered advancing religion. “Prayer” is just between me and whatever spiritual being I believe in. Maybe I don’t believe at all. That is the whole point. What if I’m the lone agnostic or atheist on the team? Let’s face it, peer pressure is real at all ages. Why don’t we just avoid a situation that could actually be disrespectful or others’ beliefs?

There are other inoffensive ways to phrase thoughtful or spiritual support during a situation such as this. “Let our thought be with our teammate”, even the often used “moment of silence” is less offensive. Then let each of teammate decide what those thoughts are made of and how they will be conveyed.

My strong feelings about separation of church and state are in part because I am a parent. As a parent I felt it was my responsibility to guide my children in thinking for themselves and making their own choices. Many religions have followers that preach their way of thinking, is the only way. I disagree with that. I took on the responsibility to educate my children so they could choose their beliefs for themselves.

Simple put, if I don’t appreciate being asked to pray, why would I assume others would appreciate that? If I don’t appreciate others’ religious beliefs guiding decisions and actions in the secular world, why would I assume others appreciate that?

Dare I borrow words from The Offspring’s “Come Out and Play” when is comes to church and state?
Let there be Light
By: Lori Mccray
Tags: Christmas, Prayer, Poetry, Light

Photo mine, swans and pine cones gifts from sweet friends, Poinsettia from sweet husband

A children’s prayer for growed-ups:

God the Father, up above

Mother Earth, the root of Love

Teach us how to live in Grace

And see your Beauty in every face.

LBM 12/14/2020
Prayer for December 16, 2020 -
By: Pastor Matthew Best
Tags: Christianity, Prayer

Prayer for December 16, 2020: Please pray with me. God who forms us, you built your image right into us. Some have trouble accepting this. Many more have trouble seeing your image in others — especially their enemies and anyone who is different in any way. But your image is imprinted on all people — regardless of how we like it. Clear our eyes to better see your image in others, and in ourselves. Open us to encounter you through people. Amen.
Act of Conscecration To St Joseph
By: Vic Alcuaz
Tags: Catholic, Prayer, Miracles, Tradition

Catholic Prayers & Novenas

Act of Conscecration To St Joseph

Pope Francis proclaims the Year of St Joseph: December 8, 2020 — December 8, 2021

Image courtesy of the Countdown to the Kingdom website

A daily prayer to St Joseph… and a challenge

In his letter, Pope Francis notes how, “Every day, for over forty years, following Lauds [Morning Prayer]” he has “recited a prayer to Saint Joseph taken from a nineteenth-century French prayer book of the Congregation of the Sisters of Jesus and Mary.” This prayer, he says, expresses devotion and trust, and even poses a certain challenge to Saint Joseph,” on account of its closing words: “My beloved father, all my trust is in you. Let it not be said that I invoked you in vain, and since you can do everything with Jesus and Mary, show me that your goodness is as great as your power.” At the conclusion of his Letter, he adds another prayer to St Joseph, which he encourages all of us to pray together:

Image courtesy of Vatican News

Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer,

Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

To you God entrusted his only Son;

in you Mary placed her trust;

with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too,

show yourself a father

and guide us in the path of life.

Obtain for us grace, mercy, and courage,

and defend us from every evil. Amen.

Here is another prayer to St. Joseph written by Mark Marlett in the Countdown to the Kingdom website:

Beloved St. Joseph,

Custodian of Christ, Spouse of the Virgin Mary

Protector of the Church: I place myself beneath your paternal care.

As Jesus and Mary entrusted you to protect and guide,

to feed and safeguard them through

the Valley of the Shadow of Death,

I entrust myself to your sacred fatherhood. Gather me into your loving arms, as you gathered your Holy Family.

Press me to your heart as you pressed your Divine Child;

hold me tightly as you held your Virgin Bride;

intercede for me and my loved ones

as you prayed for your beloved Family. Take me, then, as your own child; protect me;

watch over me; never lose sight of me.

Should I go astray, find me as you did your Divine Son,

and place me again in your loving care that I may become strong,

filled with wisdom, and the favor of God rest upon me. Therefore, I consecrate all that I am and all that I am not

into your holy hands.

As you carved and whittled the wood of the earth,

mold, and shape my soul into a perfect reflection of Our Savior. As you rested in the Divine Will, so too, with fatherly love,

help me to rest and remain always in the Divine Will,

until we embrace at last in His Eternal Kingdom,

now and forever, Amen.

Ave Maria!
President Sheikh Khalifa calls for rain prayer across country’s mosques
By: Annie Pangilinan
Tags: Muslim, Mosque, Prayer

President Sheikh Khalifa has called for all Muslims in the country to take part in prayers for rain this week. This prayer, known in Arabic as Salaat Al Istisqaa, to be performed at all mosques and prayer areas across the UAE, ten minutes before the Friday prayer, 18th December.

Photo Credit to The National

Salaat Al Istisqaa is typically called for across the UAE once every few years and is not an uncommon practice across Gulf countries. President Khalifa called for supplicating God to send rain, mercy and abundance upon the country and its people.
Plea From a Loved One
Tags: Prayer, Love Letters, Poetry, Love, Practice

I miss you,

but I need time to heal.

I love you,

but I don’t know if now is the right time.

Please be patient.

Please be strong.

Please grow with me.
Devotion for Today
By: Jaswinder Gill
Tags: Gods Word, Daily Devotion, Daniel Fast, Prayer, Jesus Christ

******* GOD LOVES CHILDREN *******

Topic: DANIEL’S FAST

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way so the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetable instead.” Daniel 1:8–16. B arbara was a conscientious mother who was willing to do whatever was necessary to provide a good home for her husband and three boys. But they had problems at home and in school. Restless plagued her sons. Feeling that the Holy Spirit led her to search for answer in the Bible, she read again the story of Daniel as he was taken to Nebuchadnezzar’s court in Babylon. Daniel’s report of the wonderful results of the experiment with a vegetarian diet encouraged her. Maybe something similar would help her family.
A Change of focus
By: Linda Fode
Tags: Focus, Prayer, Advent, Christmas, Devotion

an Advent musing

Today I made a turn from focusing on the birth of Jesus to focusing on His return .

In these desperate days I look forward to his coming for us, his church . I am longing for that day when in an instant we will meet Him in the air.

It motivates me to a deeper level of prayer for others.

It motivates me to a deeper level of commitment to my writing .

In these days of COVID isolation, virtual communication is all we have.

What are your thoughts as we face the very real possibility that the second Advent of Jesus is very close?

What can I pray for you today?

Virtually yours

linda
A Lesson In Contemplation Pt 2
By: Contemplative Thoughts
Tags: Nonduality, Prayer, Spiritual Awakening, Contemplative, Contemplation

In this post I want to finish out this story by touching briefly on some more key points. I’ll go over the symbolic meaning of the man wrestling with Jacob, his subsequent wound, and finally the blessing given to him.

Wrestling —Perseverance and Determination:

“a man wrestled with him till daybreak” “the man saw that he could not overpower him”

Wrestling symbolizes the immovable determination and perseverance needed in the early stages of contemplation.

When we start on the contemplative path we will soon run into a problem — it’s hard and it doesn’t yeild its results quickly or easily. Not to mention it seems kind of boring or dull… and so the initial temptation can be to give up before we get very far or reap the rewards. The fruits of contemplation are far reaching, but they are subtle and not immediate.

The words that mark this part of our journey are the words of Christ, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Contemplative prayer, like any new effort, takes much practice before we get over the hump and move past the learning curve into practical experience. But for those who know how to continually ask, seek and knock, the path is well paved to God, and though it is a hard and narrow path, they know that it is well worth the effort.

Our ultimate goal with the practice is “contemplation without effort”, or in other words it’s to work hard at learning how to inwardly surrender and let go, how to give up and allow the grace of God to infuse our effort and make it light. It takes a special balance of grace and effort, until we reach a space where grace imbues our effort with a naturally quality of effortlessness.

When we keep putting forth fierce determination and effort, grace lifts us up beyond ourselves and into the lap of God. We prove to God that we desire Him above all, and being free of attachment to all else He then appears.

After a season of consistent practice and discipline there comes finally an easing of our hearts and minds into presence & spaciousness within us. We sink deeply into Divine communion and drown over and over again in an endless sea of love, each time dying yet always running back for more of this death and more of this love.

If we keep wrestling, eventually like Jacob we will reach daybreak and the once terrifying darkness of contemplation will become light and love within us.
Devotion for Today
By: Jaswinder Gill
Tags: Daily Devotion, Prayer, Christian Living, Bible Verse, Jesus Christ

******* GOD LOVES CHILDREN *******

Topic: DANIEL’S FAST “

“But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way so the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetable instead.” Daniel 1:8–16.

Barbara was a conscientious mother who was willing to do whatever was necessary to provide a good home for her husband and three boys. But they had problems at home and in school. Restless plagued her sons. Feeling that the Holy Spirit led her to search for answer in the Bible, she read again the story of Daniel as he was taken to Nebuchadnezzar’s court in Babylon. Daniel’s report of the wonderful results of the experiment with a vegetarian diet encouraged her. Maybe something similar would help her family.
The only prayer your whole life — Day 13 of Simplicity
By: Mike Rusert
Tags: Simplicity, Prayer, Spirituality, Advent, Gratitude

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My prayers as such
By: Tom Driscoll
Tags: Poetry On Medium, Prayer, Poetry, Poem, Poems On Medium

I send along my prayers, as such,

wishing and apology for what all

not done, not said, the years;



and I worry, friend; we’ve become ideas

of each other, this my kind gesture

might, as much, mean to be overheard



as actually offer comfort, solace.

Sweet brother, how we suffer and age

in our different circumstances. Think…



That stone bridge — eight arches — night

comes to mind, what once was promised us



and we took — what more could we ever add,

not knowing the science of stars but sensing

the magic in the music of their names?
The Food Prayer
By: Novice Vedantin
Tags: Bhagavad Gita, Prayer, Food

Back in 1999, I lived with a friend Ram during my Polytechnic-college days. We used to cook food ourselves. Ram had a habit of doing a prayer before his meals. While I never enquired what he was praying and its meaning, I only had some courtesy to wait for him to finish. Since then when I used to go home for holidays, I started noticing even my parents do an informal but brief prayer before they eat. Between 2002 and 2005, during my engineering graduation, there was a Telugu comedy movie Nuvvu Naaku Nachav released which has a funny scene over a dinner. Back in those days, for many people like me, it’s a mere comedy scene. My first experience was a cultural shock and the movie one was a fun one but I never interested to enquire further.

Years went by until I met a colleague at work in 2017 where things changed. I started attending satsangs at Chinmaya Mission and learnt a lot from my colleague’s family. In the next section, I talk about the beauty of Food Prayer per Hindu tradition.
God, Teach Us to Pray for the Things That Are Important to You
By: Mishael Witty
Tags: Christianity, Prayer, Poetry, Relationships, Bible

Lord,

Teach us to pray,

“God’s kingdom come,

Your will be done,”

for forgiveness for us to extend to others.

Teach us to pray,

to keep asking,

to not give up

until You answer.

Teach us to pray,

to look for open doors,

to knock them down if need be,

to get to Your heart.

Teach us to pray for what we need,

for what we want,

for what You want to give us.

Because You want to give us more than we could ever ask.

Teach us to pray for unity,

unity with You and with others.

Fill us with Your love,

so there’s no room for anything else.

Teach us to pray,

for Your light to shine out through us,

onto others,

into their hearts and lives.

Teach us to pray,

for You to clean us up, inside and out.

Thank You knowing our hearts,

and loving us anyway.

Teach us to pray,

prayers of thanks to You,

for making a way,

for us to be who You want us to be.
Thunder Meditation
By: Paul H. Harder Ii
Tags: Prayer, Poetry, Thunderstorm

Out on the porch at end of day,

hear the thunder, feel the spray,

Lightning ripples across the sky.

Sniffing ozone, here sit I

to watch the show.

Know the great power of wind and cloud.

Hear the thunder, awfully loud.

See the wind blowing things around.

Watch the hail and hear it pound

its wicked blows.

Still, it’s pleasant to sit down here.

Why no elemental fear,

hailstones falling, the size of dimes,

resting here and crafting rhymes?

Only God knows.

________________

Copyright ©2020, Paul H. Harder II

This poem is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0 License.
Daily devotion
By: Jaswinder Gill
Tags: Prayer, God, Bible Verse, Jesus Christ, Christian

******* GOD LOVES CHILDREN *******

Topic: THE PERFECT PRAYER

“And it come to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples. And he said unto them, when ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven.” — Luke11:1–2

“One who prays surrounds his house with a wall stronger than iron,” the Jews say. The Jews also believe that while, “Penitence can do something, prayer can do everything.” The Bible speaks of the necessity of prayer both for our spiritual growth as well as to connect with the grace and power available to each seeker.

Jesus was in constant prayer with His father in heaven. It was the center of His life. He often withdrew to lonely place and prayed. He spent time alone with God. Sometimes He would spend a whole night in prayer, talking with His heavenly Father. His disciple saw and heard Him pray. They too wished to pray like Him. And so, they asked Jesus to teach them to pray.

Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.” From the first word to the last, our thought are directed to heaven, and we are made to think of God, His holiness, His kingdom, His power, His glory. It asks to give us our daily bread, a forgive spirit and strength to overcome evil.



James 5:16 says, “ Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.”

We have been asked to pray for one another. Our Christian concern for the welfare of the whole humanity includes the duty of prayer for those who need divine assistance with their problems. Many a time a person has been surrounded by circumstances hostile to the individual’s well-being, but someone lifted him in prayer and pleaded for God’s intervention and protection. The Person witnessed that at the very hour of prayer, he received the help.



What a privilege it is to pray for others! We assume responsibility and show real concern when we take time to plead with God to help our brothers in overcoming their problems. we may not be approached directly for prayer, but may notice someone struggling with a problem. Rather then pointing to weaknesses, we can lift the person before the throne of God and have the joy of watching God’s power being made available.

Prayer is the means by which we approach God.

The prayer helps us remember that God’s kingdom, power and Glory will be the only one that will last forever.

Jesus shows us the perfect way to pray. with all the problems and difficulties we face in life we should not forget to pray.

Prayer:

“Lord, thank you for teaching us what to pray for.” Amen.
Can I dissolve in your heart?
By: Ruchi Thalwal
Tags: Prayer, Spirituality, Heart, Poetry, Love

My beloved, I love you from the depths of my being

such love exudes that sometimes it baffles me

I love you not only as my partner

But as my child, bestie, parent, and sibling

My life revolves around you

My heart beats for you

I lay my humble heart at your feet

You are my lord, my everything

I know, you know the innocence of this love

Like a baby, it is pristine and pure

It demands nothing

Just wish to love you with my every beat

My beloved, you are the seed

You are the tree

You are within my heart

You are in my every breath

I don’t know what name should I prefix it

This love engulfs me completely

My every breath dedicated to you

My heart at your service

Love makes one vulnerable

Soft and squishy

It is not a weakness if tears flow

But this vulnerability catches me somehow

Can I vanish within your breath?

Can I die never to resurrect?

Can I lay my breath at your feet?

Can I love you with all my being?

Can I place all my love?

Can I pour all my trust?

Can I bare my soul naked and dance?

Can I completely dissolve in your heart?
Modern Challenges and Ancient Wisdom
Tags: Meditation, Modernchallenges, Ancientwisdom, Ancient Scriptures, Prayers

Could ancient wisdom and practices of scripture, meditation and prayer help with modern challenges stemming from pandemic, partisanship, prejudice and poverty?

A new resource from Towel & Basin says “yes.” Watch the video here

Don’t forget to get your complimentary copy of Scripture, Meditation and Prayer for Sound Government, Servant-Leaders and Our Common Life Together.

Just go to: www.TowelandBasin.org/ancientwisdom

And thank you for sharing this post with anyone you feel might be encouraged and blessed by applying ancient wisdom to our modern challenges.
A Salvation Prayer
Tags: Pray, Salvation, Pray To God, Prayer, Salvation Of God

A prayer to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

My Father who is in heaven, I come to You in the Name of Jesus. Your Word says, “Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved” and If thou shalt confess with thy mouth that Jesus is Lord, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved(Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9). You said my salvation would be the result of Your Holy Spirit giving me new birth by coming to live in me (John 3:5–6, 15–16; Romans 8:9–11) and that if I would ask, You would fill me with Your Spirit and give me the ability to speak with other tongues (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:4).

I take You at Your Word. I confess that Jesus is Lord. I believe in my heart that You raised Him from the dead. Thank You for coming into my heart, for giving me Your Holy Spirit as You have promised, and for being Lord over my life. Amen.

If you just prayed this prayer, please let us know of your decision at the forum on the website in the bio.
For Casey Goodson
By: Made For Pax
Tags: Jesus, Lament, Prayer, Justice

by Drew Jackson

This poem first appeared on Instagram @d.jacksonpoetics.

Drew Jackson is the President of Pax. He is also the co-founding pastor of Hope East Village in New York City, where he currently serves. He is deeply engaged in anti-racism work, primarily in church contexts, and is actively involved with the work of peacemaking and multi-faith coalition building for the common good, both nationally and internationally. Drew and his wife, Genay, have twin daughters, Zora and Suhaila, and they currently live in Lower Manhattan. Follow Drew’s poetry at @d.jacksonpoetics on Instagram.

For those who want to continue to process the death of Casey Goodson and grieve with the Pax community, join Spiritual Director, Osheta Moore, today on Pax IG Live for a time of prayer at 8AM CST today (Friday, Dec. 11).
Prayer for December 11, 2020 -
By: Pastor Matthew Best
Tags: Christianity, Prayer

Prayer for December 11, 2020: Please pray with me. God of vision, you are amazing. You gift us with opportunities to go all in on your vision. We get scared of that Lord. Although it is puzzling as to why. We claim you are all in all, yet we struggle with actually believing it. Forgive us Lord. Besides, you even have shown us what being all in means — you’ve done that for us. And maybe that’s what scares us — what being all in means. It usually means something has to die. It could mean our literal lives. But more often than not what needs to die is our ideas, our beliefs, our desire to be in control. When we are all in on your vision, it is just that — your vision. We are not in control at that point. Not that we really ever had control. You give us everything we need Lord to be all in. Help us to see the courage you give us and to truly go all in. Amen.
Surface
By: Minda Corso
Tags: Miracles, Prayer

In 2008, I saved up money and bought myself an iPod. It was red. And it made me so happy. I spent a LOT of time deciding which model, which color, and even if an iPod was the right thing to spend my money on. After purchasing it, I was SO proud.

And a few months later, it went missing. And I was crushed.

I called my dad to tell him what happened and he reminded me of a passage in 2 Kings.

A group of prophets were cutting down trees using a borrowed iron axe.

“As one of them was cutting down a tree, the iron axhead fell into the water. “Oh no, my lord!” he cried out. “It was borrowed!” The man of God asked, “Where did it fall?” When he showed him the place, Elisha cut a stick and threw it there, and made the iron float.” (2 Kings‬ ‭6:5–6)

Dad said “let’s pray it surfaces just like the iron axe.” Wouldn’t you know it- the iPod appeared shortly after.

Seven verses. This story is only 7 verses in the entire Bible but is one I refer back to whenever I misplace something of value. Maybe you’ve lost something recently? Maybe it’s as unimportant as an iPod. (Although, at the time, that iPod was SO important to me). Maybe it’s something of greater or less value. It’s still of value to you and it still matters to God. Give this story a read and watch your faith grow just a bit. Pray for the iron axe to surface.
Daily Spiritual Message from Jupiter
Tags: Prayer, Tammeron, Jupiter, Astrology

Daily Spiritual Message from Jupiter

Do you have a sound that triggers a personal wish or a prayer?

If not, would you be interested in creating one?

Each time I hear the sound of these chimes creating angelic sounding music, I hear a prayer.

Because I know my angels are speaking to me and reminding me of a simple concept.

And that is to just pay attention.

Wishes do come true.

It is also a reminder for me to send out more prayers to others.

Asking for hope, good health and emotional strength.

To all.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=3633651783340502&id=100000871480811
Prayer for December 10, 2020 -
By: Pastor Matthew Best
Tags: Christianity, Prayer

Prayer for December 10, 2020: Please pray with me. God of light, you overcome the darkness. Your light lets us see clearly what and who is around us. Your light opens our eyes to see actions and how people are treated. You shed light on systems and beliefs and how they impact people. Shine your light on our hearts. Let it be a cleansing light — cleanse us belief systems that are abusive. Open our eyes to see that these systems don’t actually benefit us, but actually hurt us, along with hurting others. Amen.
Sometimes, All You Need to Do Is Pray
By: Tochukwu Okoro E.
Tags: Christianity, Prayer, Faith, Spirituality, Mindset

Freelancing has exposed me to a new level of mental stress. For those who don’t know, freelancing is entrepreneurship. And Entrepreneurship comes with lots of stress.

Personally, one thing that gets me thinking is when a client goes MIA. I find it stressful after leaving several messages, and I don’t hear anything for weeks.

What’s worse is if the client hasn’t paid your balance. You’ll start to think about all the worst possible scenarios, which would definitely affect your peace.

Or is it when you haven’t gotten a new job for weeks, and you’re starting to get worried. You’ve applied for jobs here and there, but nothing is forthcoming. And now you’re worried, what will you do next?

Or is it when a client is proving difficult? All the things you send to them don’t meet up to their standards even after you’ve followed their directions to the letter.
Faith-in-a-Box Resurrection Prayer: A Summoning Spell for Faith
By: Matt Leclair
Tags: Prayer, Faith, Spells, Poetry, Photography

Faith-in-a-Box Resurrection Prayer:

A Summoning Spell for Faith

© Matt LeClair 2020

Big-Bang-God, my chosen friend,

avail today with a lens

with which I’ll watch you

fill my heart with love again.

I have faith you’ll forgive and understand me.

I have faith you’ll go away and then come back

or never to return, my friend,

yet still remain within this metaverse with me,

still to love me as only you may do,

as I love you, for all eternity.

Such is natural law, a curiosity.

From this beggar comes a chooser.

Unite my playmates of your choosing,

come to me to share your clarity of sight.

Beneath your kindness light my path

with magic, mystery, and delight,

I thank you for my life.
FREE TO OBEY
By: Jaswinder Gill
Tags: Gods Word, Daily Devotion, Prayer, Bible Verse, Jesus Christ

“I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.” — Psalm 86:12

As Steve drove home after his encounter with the policeman, you can be sure that he didn’t see how many stop signs he could run through or how fast his car would go. Being pardoned by the officer didn’t mean he had permission to go out and break the law again. In fact, Steve was so appreciative that the policeman had forgiven him that he did his best to drive carefully.

Steve’s story has a spiritual lesson in it. And it has to do with keeping God’s law. When we do break the commandment, all we have to do is ask God to forgive us. And as long as we are truly sorry for what we have done, He’ll remove our sins from our record. But does that give us the right to turn around and sin all over again?

In class, one day, we were talking about temptation and sin. I asked my students what they do when they’re tempted to do something wrong. “well, I just go ahead and do it,” said one boy, “God has forgiven me before. He’ll forgive again. In fact, I sometimes ask God for forgiveness as I’m getting ready to sin.”

This student had a wrong attitude about forgiveness. When we’re really sorry about what we have done, we won’t be eager to do it all over again. We’ll be so appreciative of God’s pardon that we won’t to obey God’s pardon that we won’t to let Him down. We’ll want to do what’s right. We’ll want to obey God’s law because we’ve learned from experience that it’s the only way to freedom and happiness.

Our salvation is not determined by our actions.

Salvation is a free gift that Jesus offers to each of us. We can never be good enough to earn it. What really matters is whether or not we have given Him control of our lives.

The more we get to know Jesus, the less we’ll want to sin. We’ll find out that obeying God’s law is much more enjoyable than breaking it.

“ Lord of the universe, help me to keep Your holy Law and enjoy my life.” — Amen
My Beloved, All I Can Gift Is Love
By: Ruchi Thalwal
Tags: Prayer, Blue Insights, Poetry, Self, Love

Can’t understand the need to hide

Can’t get what is there to run from

My heart embraces you

Loves you even when you far

Love wants to share

All that is inside

to open the floodgates

of hugs, kisses, laughter, and joy

Like a child jumping on a trampoline

My heart pumps love every second

All I can give is an outlet to this overflowing love

Not to hinder its course in any fashion

To let it fly in the vast sky

To let it dive into an unfathomable ocean

What is this? I don’t understand

Love so vast, ever accepting and inviting

Love is the only language I understand

Love is the only communication I do

Love is the only life I live

Love is the only prayer

My chanting beads

are my heartbeats

where love pumps out the whole of me

Love is openness, with no barrier

without hiding behind any curtain

Even if I am naked and vulnerable

I surrender it all at your lotus feet

My beloved, all I can gift is love

Because I am that

with no masks, no makeup on

Love is a sacred temple

I offer myself at its altar

Such open-heartedness

paves a path so clear and smooth

One step here equals a thousand-mile glide

One heartbeat in pure love

is the entire life lived fully

No closed paths, nothing to hide

Baring every beautiful and ugly spot

A loving hug or candid conversation

As you are no Other, but my extension

Can’t understand the need to hide

Can’t get what is there to run from

My heart embraces you

Loves you even when you far

No doors latched,

All windows unlocked

My heart is an open residence

Whensoever you want to visit

You are forever welcomed

with a hug and a smiling heart!
Prayer for December 8, 2020 -
By: Pastor Matthew Best
Tags: Christian, Prayer

Prayer for December 8, 2020: Please pray with me. God whose image we bear, what an awesome privilege that is. We are your creation. We are broken. And yet, you bless us as your image bearers. We don’t live up to that very well though. Often we have distorted vision where we choose not to see your image in others. It’s easier to hate and scapegoat when we choose not to see your image in others. Forgive us. Wipe our eyes and give us proper sight. Yes, seeing the image of God in our enemy is not pleasant. But how else are we to live into the faith you give us if we willingly choose not to see you in others, not to honor the faith you bless us with? Soften our hearts to receive you through others. Amen.
To be Known and To Be Loved
Tags: Prayer

“To be loved but not known is comforting but superficial. To be known and not loved is our greatest fear. But to be fully known and truly loved is, well, a lot like being loved by God. It is what we need more than anything. It liberates us from pretense, humbles us out of our self-righteousness, and fortifies us for any difficulty life can throw at us.”

Today is 4/24. 4 months into the year 2020, and although i told myself that my only goal was to sow seeds this year, why do I feel like I am harvesting more than I have in the past 3 years?

I feel that My God has helped guide my feet and during the past 3 years, has taken so much out of my life that could have easily overcome me and taken me completely away from Him. I do admit that I did make these things idols, though, and they did consume me. It says in the bible that we can expect our soul to rot when we put our lives in the hands of this world. I’m afraid that my soul didn’t just rot, but the very things the very demons that guided me to sin and find purpose and pleasure in those things soon convinced me to kill myself.

Now, God saved me. And He called me by name. He called me His and I feel His presence in my life. I rest assured knowing that my hope is in Him and not in myself. BUT this does not mean that the devil will stop. He will keep attacking and He will keep testing me. His temptations will continue to try and attract me and then he will try again to have a hold on my life.

So I pray, that my God Who so faithfully stood by my side, the One I treasure in my heart. That I may know Him and Him alone and have nothing to do with those evil spirits any longer. Those evil spirits had me suffering and wasted 3 years of my life.

At the beginning of this year I decided to walk into a covenant with God. It did not feel like me who wrote about it earlier, but I knew that if I wanted saving, then I needed to do it. I wasn’t sure if it was being saved by my shining knight or if it was salvation exactly that I was expecting, but turns out it was both. It was Jesus who revealed to me that He was the one I have been looking for all along and thorugh Him I gain salvation. I have been saved by the very man who claims me to be His and that is that. So if the devil wants to try, he can, but in trial and triumph I will know that my Jesus is there. Just as He was every other time.

It’s just before I didn’t care if He was or not. I was so delusional! but now, I know that not only do I have Him. That He is the greatest gift I could ever recieve. I just need to recieve Him.

I pray and praise Him every night, but that is my only goal. to recieve Him fully. I want to be blameless in His eyes so that when the day comes I can be judged good and go spend eternity with Him, and I want to spend the time I have on this earth just growing my faith. Praying humbly and earnestly and then rejoicing because I KNOW that it is done.

My God, how you have changed me. I pray that I may always seek your word and your guidance in everything that I do. And if You find it good, please let me grow my faith.
My First Love Just got Engaged
Tags: Romance, Love, Prayer, God

December 8th, 2020. I have been praying for this man for as long as I could remember. I recollected memories of him, pieced together stories, and dreamt dreams in deep fondness sprinkled with a chemistry-like magic. I knew I was always one degree too far removed from him to know whether this was real love, or just a kamikaze of lust, idolization, and delirium but today I found out. Because the bomb finally combusted, and all of the shrapnel is in my body. I feel like the way I’m writing sounds overdramatic. If you knew just how little I knew of this guy, just how short our lives intersected, maybe you would agree. But, it still hurts.

I don’t think it hurts because it was Michael. I think it really hurts because I believed he was my future husband. I had prayed, and hoped that God would make something of this desire and when that didn’t work, I prayed that God would take the desire away altogether. And when that didn’t work, I was convinced that it was a God-given desire.

More than anything I am shocked to find out that he was never God’s intended for me. This opens up so many opportunities, so much white space, so much possibility, so much left unsaid, unwritten, and unknown. It all makes me excited and so deeply afraid.

Michael was safe because I already knew him. I felt like since I knew him, and he knew me. We could then just know each other the way God knows us. Easy. It makes sense, but its still unexpected. Perfect. It was something I could see happening and at the same time something that would impress and amaze my friends and family, and hopefully allow them all to witness the great mystery and wonder of the Great I am.

How could I think that my idea fantastic is the same as my God’s? How could I think that something I could expect would equate to God’s mystery and wonder?

Truth is, there is no mystery, no wonder. And the way I see it, no way this was something that was God glorifying in my life. If anything it took attention away from Him and placed it on a man.

How could I think that something that was never God-glorifying would all of a sudden be God-approved? Maybe I thought that because He turned my situation with my job around. My job was never God-glorifying, but when I wanted to walk away. He made a miracle.

As I am nearing the end of my covenant devoted to God, I feel both ready and not ready to “get back out there”. I feel God’s support and I definitely feel like this was His loving nudge to let me know its OK, I can let go and go out there now. But at the same time, I don’t want to. If anything this makes me want to just stay nearer to God and love the things I love harder, and hold them tighter than before. But now with Michael gone, my heart is big and empty and ready to love. And I guess I can even say its ready to love someone without compromising my love for God, because my love for God rests in another heart, a bigger one. I don’t really know if I will go back out there and start dating again, or if I should try or if I should really do anything. I don’t know.

So I guess that leaves one last question. My dear husband, who are you?
I feel there is so much hard work here to detach yourself.
By: Dr Tushar Agrawal Orthopaedic Surgeon
Tags: Surrender, Detachment, Prayer, Consistently

I feel there is so much hard work here to detach yourself.

Anything which is hard and not spontaneous will never happen with consistency.

Just surrender to GOD and PRAY

Leave the rest… ..

Far easier

More consistent outcomes… .
Many More Miles To Memphis
Tags: Voices, Crossroads, Prayer, Poetry, Writing

“By the Time

I Get To Phoenix”

Played on the radio.

Soulsville is just ‘round the corner.

& my life

Is at

Another crossroads

With so many more crosses

To bear. The voices in my head

Just say

“This too

Shall pass, so just

Keep on livin’.” it is

Hard times for dreamers, yet & still

I dream –

Because

I am the nova

Of all the beautiful

Hues of you beaming in between.

& we

Wrapped in

The sheath of our own

Hopes & dreams affect change

With our words so simple & plain.

So, I pray

To God

(Since we have so

Many miles to go)

That time permits our words not to die

In vain.

2013/2020 MDSHall
Groaning Prayers
By: Sarah Keith
Tags: Christianity, Praying, Prayers, Difficult Times, Jesus

Our Messages to God | by Sarah A. Keith

Read Romans 8:18–38

Have you ever sent a text message and then read it after clicking send, only to discover that your fingers or auto-correct changed the meaning of what you intended to write? Those quick texts can be funny, but they can also be misunderstood. As I thought about this, today’s Bible passage came to mind. I was reminded that for God’s children, our messages to him are never misinterpreted. Yet, during difficult times in our lives, God may seem silent, and we might think he doesn’t hear our groaning prayers. Romans 8 reminds us this isn’t true. There are three kinds of groans mentioned in this passage (from the Greek word , meaning to sigh with grief, an audible expression of anguish, an inward, unexpressed feeling of sorrow):

1) All creation groans, creation was cursed as a result of Adam and Eve’s original sin; it longs to be set free from its corrupting force. (Genesis 3: 17–18; Romans 8:22) We see evidence of this corruption in hostile weather patterns, deadly viruses, famines, and the decay of things, plants, animals, and people.

2) All people groan, sin has left its mark on the human race; we are separated from God and there is division and hostility among people because of it. Our minds and bodies suffer from sickness, disease, and death. Jesus died to pay the penalty for our sins, and to restore our relationship to God. Even so, God’s children are not immune to deep despair; we groan inwardly, longing for the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23)

3) The Holy Spirit groans. This is the greatest news! The Holy Spirit doesn’t groan out of despair or grief, he groans to send our messages to God! We have an Advocate who understands our painful and helpless state. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” Romans 8:26–27 (ESV).

How comforting to know that the Holy Spirit always sends the right message to God for his children. The next time you don’t know what to pray or even how to pray, sit in silence and trust the Holy Spirit to intercede for you with groaning prayers that are never misconstrued.

Prayer

Thank you, Father, for the promise that through Jesus Christ, nothing can separate me from your love. Thank you for that coming day when you will restore all of creation! Come, Lord Jesus, come! Amen.

Originally published at https://www.sundayschoolnetwork.com.
Prayer for December 7, 2020 -
By: Pastor Matthew Best
Tags: Christianity, Prayer

Prayer for December 7, 2020: Please pray with me. God who journeys, God who travels, be our guide in life. You prepare a way in the wilderness. The way is not for us, but for you. We are in the wilderness in many ways Lord. And we think that you prepare a path for us, but that’s not what you have been doing. It’s always been about preparing a path for yourself — so that you can get to us. It’s always about getting to us, coming to us. You do that so that you can encounter us and transform us. Thank you. Amen.