PRAYING

Yes, I know.  I have written on this before, but, as the song says, “here we go again.” 

Am I Praying? is a children’s book written by Jeannie St. John Taylor.  The book is about Erik going to the zoo. 

“I jump out of bed in the morning thinking, “It’s going to be a great day, God!  I can’t wait to go to the zoo.”

If I just think it while I’m staring into the mirror brushing my teeth with both eyes wide open…am I praying?

The illustrations are fantastic.

Erik’s day does not go as planned.  His mother dropped him off and he left his lunch in the car.  A kid made fun of him.  He got lost at the zoo.  All day he wondered:  Am I praying:  

• when I just think it and do not say it out loud?
• when I am just waiting for God?
• when I whisper?
• when I am talking really quietly to God?
• when I’m too scared to totally trust Jesus?

Erik had a bad day, but the story ended on a happy note.  His mother brought his lunch.  The class found him.  The kid apologized for making fun of him.  Too tired to say a prayer, he closed his eyes as his mother tucked him and his last thought was, “Even if I drift off to sleep and don’t hear the last part of her prayer…I prayed, didn’t I?”

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When I was a kid, we were taught the proper way to pray:  head bowed, hands in the approved prayer position, and full concentration.  Hate to tell you, but my prayers are more like Erik’s.  I often wonder, “Am I praying?”

Is there a proper prayer format?  Matthew 6:5-14 tells us not to be like the hypocrites.  It seems we are to go into a room and pray unseen.  We are not to babble.  We should pray the “Our Father….”

Would I pass the “What Is The Proper Way To Pray” test?  I doubt it. 

I pray while driving.  God and I have had many good conversations, while going down the road.  Is a conversation a prayer?  Sometimes.  Other times it is just a conversation.

I pray while working around the house.  The prayer is usually proceeded by this question:  “Honestly God!  Dust?  Exactly what purpose does dust serve?”  That question leads to a prayer.  “Thank you God that I have a house to clean.  A house filled with love.  Thank you for food in the pantry and a washer and dryer.  Thank you that we have food to eat and clothes to wear.”

Many people say they pray when mowing the yard.  I would love to say I pray when mowing, but I hate to mow.  My prayer is, “Thank you God that hubby likes to mow!”

I pray when my heart hurts and when I have no control over a situation.  During those times, I ask, “How do I pray now?  Lord, I have no more words.  Lord, my mind is a jumble.”  Often, when my heart hurts and when I have no control over a situation, the only prayer I have is “Lord.  Lord.”

Is there a proper way to pray?  Want my opinion?  Yes and no.

NO:  There is no proper physical position to be in.  You can pray with your head bowed and hands in the acceptable position or you can pray with your head turned to the heavens and your hands lifted high.  You can pray in the car, in the recliner, in the kitchen, or on your knees.  You can pray with others or you can go into that room, with the door shut, and pray by yourself.  There is no proper physical position to pray.

YES:  The prayer must be honest.  The prayer must come from your heart.  From your very soul.  The prayer can be shouted or whispered.  The prayer can be so beautiful it is copied and shared on Facebook or it can be spoken between sobs.  Is there a proper way to pray?  Oh, yes!  The prayer must be honest.

BUT – God is open to all forms of prayer.  He will take them short or long.  He will take them in every language.  He will take them from each of his children.  How do you begin?  Bow your head…just kidding.  How do you begin?  Simple!

Hey God.  It’s me, Mary.  Do you have a minute?

“Of course it is you.  I know your voice.  Do I have a minute?  My child, I have eternity.”

 

A RATTLE, PUT IT IN PARK, and AN ALL RED DASHBOARD

I know how to drive.  Although hubby fills my car up more than I do, I know how to use the gas pump.  I know how to… Nope.  That pretty much covers it.  Maybe one more.  I do know when my car is not following my commands properly.

“What is that noise?” became a frequent comment.  It was not there all the time.  It was not even there every time I hit a hole, but my car had a noise problem.  A noise problem that was driving me bonkers, but refused to make its appearance known when the nice mechanic drove it.  I do believe they were humoring the “little lady” when they told me they would put it on a special machine which would find the noise.  Ah ha!  The machine pointed out a slight suspension problem.  Problem fixed!  Or so we thought.  The noise still comes and goes.  What I want to understand is how a “noise” knows I am driving. 

When I turned the car off, the red light on the instrument panel read, “Put the car in park, please.”  “IT IS IN PARK,” I shouted.  I turned the car back on.  I took the car out of park.  I put the car in park.  I turned the car off.  The red light did not come on.  Until a few days later.  My friendly mechanic, who still thinks I hear noises, made an appointment and explained this is a common problem.  We took the car to visit the mechanic.

The car was all happy and ready to come home.  The truck, on the other hand, decided to test our patience.  Hubby started the truck and ---- red lights everywhere!  The instrument panel said we had --- nothing!  No fuel.  No speedometer.  And it showed four flat tires.  Those lights stayed on all the way to the coffee shop.  Of course, coffee first!  Hubby called our friendly mechanic who said drop the truck off when you pick up the car.  True to form, the truck started and all gauges worked.  The truck received a physical and the cause of the problem was surgically removed.  The nice mechanic did not ask about my “noise.”

I bet you are wondering what I will find inspirational in all this.  Not sure.  Maybe nothing.  There is one thing I would like to point out which might save your life.

When we went to trade vehicles with the nice mechanic, it was very foggy.  Very foggy!!  There were also so many drivers who did not have their lights on.  Men are the worst!  One time a man told me, “I can see.  I don’t need them on.”  I use my lights because I WANT OTHERS TO SEE ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, the next time it is foggy, pretend I am the red light, on your dashboard, flashing TURN YOUR LIGHTS ON! 

I guess there is something inspirational in all this.  Jesus is the light that clears away the fog so we can stay on the path. 

Today I am saving your human body by telling you to use your lights when it is foggy and your spiritual body by telling you to see the light of Jesus.

 

OUR MARY

Have you ever had someone say something that just took your breath away....in a good way? I had one of those moments a couple weeks ago.

Larry Wade, pastor of the Urbana Yoke Parish, also writes a blog.  (http://larry-fromthepastorsdesk.blogspot.com)  On Friday mornings, he sends an email to people in our church, friends, people in churches he pastored before coming here, and, I swear, to anyone he has ever said hi to.  This email lets them know the blogs — his and mine — are posted on the church website.

We never discuss what the other one is writing, but it is amazing how often they will be on the same subject.  In the email, Pastor Larry will give a hint as to what each blog is about.  He will warn people that I am having another conversation with God.  Or he will tell them, if they only have time to read one, they need to read mine.  Or he might remind them my mind works a bit differently than most.  That is how it goes each week....until a couple weeks ago.

I was reading the email and right there were the words: our Mary.  OUR Mary.  Our.  What a powerful word.  Our: that which belongs to us ....  I belong.  I am included. 

Hubby and I started attending Urbana Yoke Parish four years ago.  Some of my husband’s friends found out we were looking for a new church (We are not church hoppers!  We left a church we had attended 39 years.)  They invited us to Urbana Yoke Parish.  From the moment we walked in the door, I felt at home.  People came up to me and asked my name and said they were glad to have us visit.  They hoped we would return.  Return we did. 

Unlike some churches, I was immediately included.  Instead of being sent to the sidelines, I was invited to Sunday School and the Women’s Guild.  I was asked to fix food for the funeral dinners.  I was trusted to take money at the pancake breakfast.  Included is another powerful word. 

I love to hear people’s stories and they were happy to share.  I learned about being a twin and how a new bride did not know what to do with the baby chickens delivered to her door.  I laughed at the image of a man shoveling snow away from a fence so the cows could not walk over it.  I heard how a very sweet lady had been married in the parsonage.  I heard about weddings and baptisms and funerals.  People included me in their lives.

But to get an email that called me “our Mary” was unexpected. 

I told Pastor Larry how much that meant to me.  He looked shocked and said, “Well, you are our Mary.”

Words can be powerful.  Pastor Larry had no idea I would read those words and feel blessed. 

 

I told this to a friend and she understood.  A few days later, she told me that, when she thinks of this, she smiles. 

A weekly email.  Words written without thinking.  Words read.  A heart touched.  Smiles.  Words are powerful. 

Bless someone with your words this week.

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PS 

We are very thankful to attend a church where individuals are cherished. 

If someone would ask, “Who is that?” 

I am sure the answer would be, “Oh, that is our Steve.  And that is our Jolene.  And over there is our McKenzie.  She is standing beside our Carol and our John.  You must meet our Helen and our Aaron.  And this is our Bill.  This is our ___every person affiliated with UYP____

We are very thankful to attend a church where the pastor values each person and calls them “ours.”

TOMORROW

KIDS SAY THE DARNEDEST THINGS

The Sunday School teacher asks, “Now, Johnny, tell me frankly; do you say prayers before eating?”    ”No sir,” little Johnny replies, “I don’t have to.  My Mom is a good cook.”

Pastor Larry told me how a mother with a fidgety seven-year-old boy finally got her son to sit still and be quiet. About halfway through the sermon, she leaned over and whispered, ‘If you don’t be quiet, Pastor Larry is going to lose his place and will have to start his sermon all over again!”

A little boy was overheard praying:  "Lord, if you can't make me a better boy, don't worry about it.  I'm having a real good time like I am."

ADULTS BELIEVE THE DARNEDEST THINGS

Although I hate the phrase, there does seem to be a “new normal.”  It is a feeling of it can wait, I can get to it later, and that will give me something to do tomorrow.

Tomorrow: on or for the day after today, the day after the present, time that is to come, eventually

I recently attended the play, Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames.  Obviously, this show is about going to heaven or hell.  Various scenes portray people in day to day activities until their life ends.  Their life ends unexpectedly.  They had no tomorrow.

During the play, there were three phrases that struck me as extremely important.

GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH

In a number of the scenes, people would tell the angel holding the Book of Life, “I have helped others.  I have been good.  I am sure my name is in there.”

Adults say, “Good is good enough.”

Newsflash:  That is not Biblical!   

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.”    John 3:3

(John speaking)  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.  John 3:36

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Being good?  That is what we all are to do.  BUT…being good will not earn you eternal life.

EVERYONE GETS INTO HEAVEN

A couple of people were surprised they were going to hell.  They shouted, “There is no judgment.  Everyone gets into heaven.”

Adults say, “Everyone gets into heaven.”

Newsflash:  This is not Biblical!

(John the Baptist speaking)  “I baptize you with water for repentance.  But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worth to carry.  He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.  His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”  Matthew 3:11-12

The Parable of the Net:  “This is how it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Matthew 13:49-50

Everyone DOES NOT get into heaven.  Many churches no longer preach heaven and hell.  I think they do not want to scare people and that is too bad.  Heaven is real.  So is hell.

                           PEOPLE BELIEVE IN JESUS, THEY JUST DO NOT BELIEVE IN ME                                    (spoken by Satan during the play)

Adults say, “Satan is not real.”

Newsflash:  This is not Biblical!

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  Ephesians 6:10-11

 

Be alert and of sober mind.  Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  1 Peter 5:8-9

 

And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown.  They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.  Revelation 20:10

Satan, the devil, is real.  He is a liar.  A deceiver.  A tempter.  He is after your soul.

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Good is not good enough.

There is a judgment.

Satan is real.

Tomorrow is too late.

If you have not made a decision.. if you have not confessed your sins.. if you have not accepted Jesus as your Savior – with a true heart -- .. do not be part of the “new normal” of putting it off because you will have time tomorrow.  Do it today.  Do it now.

Which do you want?

Heaven’s Gates and Hell’s Flames?

 

THE TAPE MEASURE

Last Sunday a very unique lady gave the children’s story.  Why is she unique?  Oh, you would have to know Carla.  She freezes her chocolate!  She collects rocks.  Big rocks.  She gives our minister a rough time, but someone has to do it and she has a doctorate in “giving the minister a rough time.”  I think she practices on her husband.  Back to the children’s story.

Her goal was to measure God’s love.  Silly woman brought a tape measure.  A long, metal one.  After telling a young man that he volunteered to hold the other end, she backed up.  “Is God’s love this long?”  She backed up a bit more.  “Is God’s love this long?”  She backed up and had to stop.  She was at the end of the tape. 

Then she asked, “Can I measure God’s love with this?”  Being very bright kids, they answered, “NO!”

I do not know how to measure God’s love, but I do know where you can find it.

For our church’s Facebook page, I do a Wednesday’s Song.  I look for traditional hymns and contemporary hymns.  Then it happens.  Up pops an old favorite being sung by a choir in Japan or in a small country I would have to google to find on a map.  Up pops a contemporary hymn being offered in sign language.  Or played on a piano sitting on top of a mountain.  Or played by a symphony orchestra in a royal hall.  Or sung in small congregations.  Or played by professional praise bands in mega churches.  Or in languages I cannot understand.  Or offered in a one-of-a-kind concert by the children’s choir.

Wow! God’s love spreads from people in Japan way over to that small county.  God’s love must be in small churches and mega churches.  God’s love shines in those who speak with their hands and those that sing in great halls.  God’s love is shared in languages around the world.  God’s love glows on the faces of the children. 

I do not know how to measure God’s love, but I do know where you can find it.

God’s love is personal, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is local, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is in our country, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is found around the world, but it is bigger than that.

God’s love is everywhere!