Image via WikipediaDo you pray to be silly? Sounds odd, doesn't it? But this is my prayer this week. I love words. I enjoy learning their histories, their hidden meanings, their stories.I learned new things about the word “SILLY” this week.In my view, my perspective, silly means shallow, impractical, childish, and harebrained. Not quite the desirable characteristic to pray for, though being more childlike is Biblical.But words evolve in their meanings over time.Silly used to be the opposite of what it means now.The word derives from the old English word seely, meaning happy, blissful, lucky, or blessed. From there it came to mean innocent, or deserving of compassion, only later mutating this sense of naive childishness. The related German selig retains its original meaning ‘happy, blessed’.So I am praying to be silly:Lord help me to be silly in its old definition. Sprinkle me with joyous laughter and Godly giggles.Thank you for pure moments that lighten my day.Give me childlike eyes to … [Read more...]
Prayer – Quote of the Week
Image by DerrickT via Flickr “Prayer is to be in God’s presence with open hands and an open heart. There are many things in my life to which I cling as with a clinched fist – my possessions for sure but the immaterial things as well–the work I do, the position I hold, the friends I have, my ideas, my principles, my image. If I should open my fist, they still remain. Nothing drops out. But my hands are open. And that is what prayer is. After a while, if I am willing to remain long enough with open hands, the Lord will come. He will have a look and roam through my hands to see what I have. He may be surprised—so many things! Then he will look at me and ask:‘Would you mind if I take out this little bit?’“And I answer, ‘Of course you may take it out. That’s why am here with open hands.’“And perhaps the Lord will look another time at me and ask:‘Would you mind if I put something else in your hands?’“And I answer, ‘Of course you may.’“That is the heart of prayer. The Lord may take … [Read more...]
National Day of Prayer – Thinking about Prayer
May 5 is the National Day of Prayer. Its mission is to mobilize prayer in America and to encourage personal repentance and righteousness in the culture.Many communities will host local celebrations and ecumenical services praying together for peace, guidance, and wisdom to live in today’s world.Ever think how we learn to pray reflects how humans learn language?First others speak for us, modeling the words so our brains and mouths can begin to comprehend how to work.Then we learn prayers written by others and possibly recited down throughout history: Now I lay me down to sleep, the Lord’s Prayer and a favorite grace to say at dinner time.Then we venture out on our own, trying to tell God what we want and what we think we need. “Me-me-me. It’s mine,” says the toddler. Or “Life’s not fair and I want it now,” says the teen.Later we learn to say please and thank you with prayers of gratitude and praise.Do we ever fully learn to surrender all of our hopes and dreams and release them into … [Read more...]
Prayer – Thomas A Kempis – Quote of the Week
Grant me, O Lord, to know what I ought to know, to love what I ought to love, to praise what delights you most, to value what is precious in your sight, to hate what is offensive to you. Do not allow me to judge according to the sight of my eyes, nor to pass sentence according to the hearing of my ears; but to discern with a true judgment between things visible and spiritual, and above all things, always to inquire what is the good pleasure of your will.Thomas a Kempis … [Read more...]
Ten Simple Prayers
Too often we complicate prayer. We stop and think hard, forcing ourselves to find just the right words, only to stammer because we can’t utter any words. Or are our ordinary words not big or magnificent enough to use for God? “Pray as you can, not as you can’t” – Dom ChapmanSimple prayer is simply telling God whatever is on your heart – the frustration with a family member, whining about the church music, quietly crying over a heartache or jumping up and down with joy and celebration.“Simple prayer involves ordinary people bringing ordinary concerns to a loving and compassionate Father.” Richard FosterThe Bible contains many rich examples of prayer. I will pray some of the shorter, simpler ones when I don’t really know how or what to pray. May these ten simple prayers from the Bible bless your prayer time:1. I do believe, help my unbelief. Mark 9:242. Give light to my eyes Psalm 13:33. O Lord; in the morning I will direct my prayer to You, and I will look up. Psalm … [Read more...]
Sleepless Nights – God Nudges
I couldn’t sleep last night.Moving to the front room, I snuggled under the afghan and tried to pray. My scattered mind drifted from the Lord over and over again, a result of crazy schedules and unexpected events this week. Ok, Lord, at least I can thank You for this week.At midnight I rise to give you thanks Psalms 119:62Thank You for my kids’ good news at work…for a safe drive home tonight….for willing friends who stopped by to help move a piece of heavy furniture…Oh, look there is my IPod Touch. Let’s play…. Yes, I lost focus once again.Turning it on, I clicked on the Facebook icon. Last message, just five minutes earlier was from my second daughter, Katie:“Can't sleep again! Really wishes she could talk with her mommy!”I wrote back. I am up too.Immediately, she called.Overwhelmed by fears of the unknown, out of control emotions, and a jumble of excitement, joy, and “oh, no, what have we done?” – Katie told me she is expecting twins.Twins!Twice blessed!Dramatic change in … [Read more...]
In Constant Prayer – Book Review
Pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:17Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2Prayer is the foundation for our spiritual walk. I like what Oswald Chambers wrote, “Prayer does not fit us for the greater work, prayer is the greater work.” In Constant Prayer is the newest book by Robert Benson and I am happy to add it my bookshelf next to other books I have by him: Venite and A Good Life.In Constant Prayer explains the pattern of prayer and worship called the Daily Office. This ancient practice is also known as the liturgy of the hours, fixed hour prayer, the divine office, the divine hours and daily prayer. It is the discipline of praying at fixed times throughout the day and night. Though its structure may not appeal to everyone, we are all called to deeper communion with God and this is certainly one way to open our hearts to hear God better.Benson writes in a warm friendly style like you are having a cup of coffee with him discussing ways to pray. He … [Read more...]
Teach Me to Listen, Lord – John Veltri – Quote of the Week
Teach me to listen, O God, to those nearest me, my family, my friends, my co-workers.Help me to be aware that no matter what words I hear, the message is, “Accept the person I am. Listen to me.”Teach me to listen, my caring God, to those far from me– the whisper of the hopeless, the plea of the forgotten, the cry of the anguished.Teach me to listen, O God my Mother, to myself. Help me to be less afraid to trust the voice inside — in the deepest part of me.Teach me to listen, Holy Spirit, for your voice — in busyness and in boredom, in certainty and doubt, in noise and in silence.Teach me, Lord, to listen. Amen.This prayer was composed by John Veltri, S.J., a Canadian spiritual director and expert guide for those presenting the Spiritual Exercises. … [Read more...]