Today’s Reflection
SOMETIMES WE ARE NOT SURE how to pray, or even what to pray for. We can pray for ourselves, for others, for the world. We can pray in lots of different ways, silently or aloud; while moving or still; with others or alone. Many excellent resources are available to help us develop meaningful prayer lives, and those resources often call the activities associated with prayer practices.
Prayer is a way that we practice our faith, and we can practice many different ways of praying in order to discover what is most meaningful for us. Prayer centers us on our relationship with God, brings into focus the joys and sorrows on our minds, and can even be a way to be present in the lives of our friends and enemies.
– Chris Wilterdink
Everyday Disciples
From page 53 of Everyday Disciples: Covenant Discipleship with Youth by Chris Wilterdink. Copyright © 2016 Discipleship Resources. All rights reserved. Used by permission. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question
Describe your prayer practice. What is going well What are the challenges? Share your thoughts.
Today’s Scripture
He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
Mark 3:5, NRSV
This Week: pray for persons who are making life-changing decisions. Submit your prayer to The Upper Room Living Prayer Center or share it in the comment section.
Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
This week we remember: Joan of Arc (May 30).
Lectionary Readings
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
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5 Comments
My morning time in my blue chair sets the tone for my day. This time can still be erratic, but it seems to be more consistent than it has been in the past. Reading and praying through Scripture, meditating…gives me a still place from which to enter the day. This school year, likely due to the circumstances in my life, I have found myself in prayer quite often during any down time at school. A very good thing.
A friend from church gave me a few books a couple of weeks ago. I just finished “A Loving Life” and now I am beginning “A Praying Life” – both by Paul E. Miller. I was not familiar with this author, and initially had a hard time getting into the first one. But, I went back to it, and found it rich in many things. I am excited to read this one – and should have a lot of time this week at school to get into it.
Yesterday was full of activities…spreading mulch, my god son’s baseball game, a graduation party for one of my students and a vocal recital for one of my students. This young lady is extremely talented and realistically has her sights set on Broadway. The school I teach at is a magnet school for performing arts and we have had a few graduates, who if I said their names, you would likely recognize. I believe she will be the next one. She is off to BoCo – Boston Conservatory of Music in the Fall. And the best part is – she is a lovely young lady, very humble and she loves Jesus!
What’s going well with my prayer life? From my side of prayer I think prayers here on the UR are going ok, but the real and only judge of how well prayer is going is God. Only God truly knows our minds, hearts, and souls.
Some of what I hoped for this weekend has happened so far: a walk, shopping at the greenhouse, garden planting, and a meal out with my son. Church today and food shopping are planned.
Thankful for cooler less humid weather, news from Anneliese, she’s recovering from the pain management procedure, lost feeling for 2 hours in her right leg due to the anesthetics, but is getting better. Should know soon if the procedure will provide some relief. Thankful for church today, communion, and the return of our pastor who has been on paternity leave.
Thankful for the progress Erich is making at work, prayers that it continues.
Sad for the fox kit that ran in front of my car and was killed.
Was able to do more research for the Henschel built, Bismarck type, steam locomotive. The six wheel T3 locomotive, upon which the Bismarck is an improvement, is available as a model in HO scale, the Bismarck is not. It will take some modifications of a T3 to produce a Bismarck. Thankfully I have drawings and many photos of Bismarck engines both from long ago and today. Finding the ones that most closely show the Bismarck engines that operated on the Hersfeld District Railroad is the goal. That will help decide what can be done.
Prayers for people we miss, Marcy and Rusty come to mind, but there are others. Prayers for God’s peace and comfort to those with health concerns, Gloria, Julie, Marcy, Rusty’s K, Richard White, Arnolds Vilcins, Anneliese, and the young man with a heart valve transplant, and the many whose names I do not know. Prayers of joy for graduation celebrations, Betsy’s niece, Andrea’s grandson, and this time of year thousands of people, mostly young, but also of many different ages. Thankful for safe travel, a successful move, new beginnings, outings/events with family and friends (Jill’s golf and tennis, Mary’s parents’ communion). It’s a new month, already the third day, may you all have a blessed day, joyous Sunday. Thank You, Lord.
Currently, my prayers are constant, both day and night. I pray for the knowledge of what will be the right mix of both words and attitude to change my “husband’s” heart. I pray for God to soften his heart and to change his mind. I lie awake at night and cry to the Lord for strength and protection.
I am so sorry to keep relating these thoughts. My deepest apologizies. I am distraught and sleep deprived.
Blessings and prayers for and THANK YOU to all of the UR family
Strive not to be a success, but to be of value.
Albert Einstein
Prayers for you, your daughter, and your “husband”. Yes, may what is needed come to you and God’s wisdom and peace be yours.
Grateful for the joy of being in God’s presence every morning, praying and committing family members and friends into God’s hands.
Blessings to all and may the peace of God be with each and everyone!
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