GRADUATION: KINDERGARTEN STYLE!

KDG GRADS----SO MUCH STILL TO LEARN! Yet, so fun to watch the event---when it's one of your grands!  

Invitations were digital but appreciated.

Kids' sensibilities were respected! When names were called by the teacher to receive one's diploma, they could be last in line and choose to give a hug or a "high five" to principal/teacher. 

Guess who fit all aspects of those choices?

May we, Lord, as loving family of our young ones, share your steadfast love. May we also show gratitude for the teachers who care for and spend hours of planning for the individual lessons needed per child.

Father God, You know the plans You have for them. "Grace plans" from tears to shed and struggles to experience in order to trust you more and serve others well. We might have to keep our knees-bent for many years ahead to keep our over-controlling hands off.....choosing to embrace and encourage instead. 

Today's graduation bulletin had more than only the schedule for the service!

It had an eye-opening salute to the next graduation for these kids. 

A reminder to embrace our moments with our youngsters as many of us are in a season of life that might hinder our attendance in 12 years!

WORD PLAY!

The Ripley Tomato Lady at the Agri-Center's shirt says it all. 

7 Days 

without PRAYER

 makes us 

WEAK

She (Blessed Girl) was proud to show it off!

In other words, to find strength in today's crazy world, "pray without ceasing." 

(1 Thessalonians 5:17)

CHOOSE: PRAYER

Prayer is always a perfect choice! Even when we feel as if we can't pray---"We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans." (Romans 8:26)

Anytime Prayers. (Psalm 55:17)
Arrow Prayers. Those quick ones shot straight to the Lord. (Psalm 4:1, HELP!)

Breath prayers. (Exhale....Jesus)
Evening prayers. ( of confession, Ezra 9:5)
Familiar prayers. (Matthew 6:9-13, Lord's Prayer)

Singing prayers. (Many Psalms are songs.)

Intercessory prayer. (Isaiah 62: 6-7, my Saturday prayer since 11/1995). 

Long prayers. Short Prayers.

Mindful prayers. (1 Corinthians 14:15)
Morning prayers. (Psalm 5:3)

Prayer from Psalms (Psalm 17, a prayer of David)

Prayers from Scripture. (Ephesians 1:15-17 & Colossians 1:9-14)

Prayers of Petition. (James 1:5)

1 Thessalonians 5:17

Choosing to "pray from the heart" is always a good idea. Writing down those prayers isn't a bad idea either.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.(1 Timothy 2:1-2)

Choose prayer with me or for me----I would certainly appreciate them.

Prayer Protocol

Prayer Protocol. There isn't really one! Not a "serves all, every time" method.

Prayer prods. Prayer prompts. Prayer walks. Prayer circles.

Desperate prayers. Fasting prayers. Arrow prayers. Breath prayers. Silent prayers. Loud prayers.

For me prayer can be journaling. Even blogging becomes my praying with a keyboard.

Some THOTS (Trusting Him On This Subject) that "work for me" are:

• SEEK HIM who is the Answer not just an "answer" to a request/petition.
• There is NO one size fits all prayer method---it's not a "magic" approach.
• Revival begins one heart--one prayer at a time. Start with self!
• Sometimes when discouraged just "keep on keeping on" as Kay Arthur says. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• Prayer is communication with God---anytime, any place..........Though sometimes a designated space can help.
• My visible prayer chair calls to me. 
• Praying friend, Bernie's visual prayer closet calls to her. (Matthew 6:6) 

My favorite prayer story is about DTS. In 1929, Dallas Theological was near closing due to lack of funds. On commencement day the faculty gathered in President Lewis Sperry Chafer's office in a prayer circle. When it was Harry Ironside's turn, he simply prayed from Psalm 50:10---Lord, we know you own the cattle on a thousand hills. Please sell some of them, and send us money." A knock at the door interrupted the prayer meeting and the president's sec'y handed him a $10,000 note. After reading it, he turned to his colleague, Dr. Ironside and said, "Harry, God sold the cattle." 

High school English teachers remind us that commas are for pauses, but in the spiritual realm they are providential. "My" Wednesday Wordsmith's always love a grammarian type quote so here's one for their own unique "prayer protocol."

Never put a comma where God puts a period, and never put a period where God puts a comma. (unknown)

Connectivi-TEA : a cuppa prayer

Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV)

Prayer connects us to God. 

Continual prayer is bookended by an attitude of constant joy (v.16) and a heart of thanksgiving regardless of circumstances. (v.18)

Prayer connects us to each other.

The apostle Paul modeled praying for others and reciprocal prayer. Pray also for me,” Paul states in Ephesians 6:19. "Pray for us..." Colossians 4:3. 

In 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 he writes, “We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."

Connectivity is the beauty of prayer. Prayer knows no exclusions; it's an equal-opportunity method, available to all in the household of faith. Every believer, rich or poor, young or old, famous or unknown, can move the hand of God to bring about His purposes for time and eternity. As we connect to God and to one another, through prayer, we can make an eternal difference.

Prayer is how connection gets nurtured and developed.

Prayerful connection---it doesn't even require an APP. It doesn't require kneeling. Prayer can be done standing. Prayer can be done with eyes open or closed. One's modus operandi of praying can vary. 
Prayer is simply heartfelt conversation with God.

Breath prayers, arrow prayers, group prayers, individual prayers. All prayers of faith soar heavenward connecting us to God and to our fellow prayer warriors.

Sip a cuppa connectivi-TEA as you "pray without ceasing!"

*The cup pictured is a connector to my praying friend Margie Hornor, who taught me the power of breath prayers. Exhaling in God's Presence.

elemen-TEA-ry

He has told you, O man, what is good;

    and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

    and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8, ESV)

Hubby and I are both Sherlock Holmes fans. We don't belong to the Baker Street Irregulars nor do we don deerstalker hats to celebrate His possible birthday of January 6. After all he is a fictional character. But....we appreciates both the written and television works based on his detection skills. BBC/PBS is filmed in London. The locale is familiar. The acting incredible. Even the CBS contemporary update, set primarily in NYC is enjoyable. Plus, Watson is a female. A novel approach.
Film and TV productions have used the Holmes line, which he uttered to Watson, that is recognized by anyone over 60. "Elementary, my dear Watson." 

Elementary. The obvious. The basics. Simple truths. Recognizable by those truly seeking. Foundational for deduction and spiritual understanding.

All this to say, that in the Christian faith, there are some elementary truths that all denominations hang their hats on.

My favorite "BASIC" verses (emphasis, mine):

• You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. (Deuteronomy 6:5-7)
• Serve the Lord with gladness. (Psalm 100:2)
• You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and (love) your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)
• Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (John 6:47)
• Serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:3)
• Pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
• In everything give thanks....(1 Thessalonians 5:18)
• All scripture is given by inspiration of God...(2 Timothy 3:16)

Just the basics---elementary truths. A cuppa elemen-TEA-ry sweetened with God's truths which Christians should sip every day.

Aerobic Intercession

2/27/13 Winter 2012's Anglican Digest article "Aerobic Intercession" was sent to me by my friend Margie H. It "hit my prayer concern spot" as I have several friends in some very hard places physically and I am burdened to pray "without ceasing" for them. But...how do I pray continually? 

Rev. Harrelson's article offered some prayer points to ponder. As the spiritual seeker in The Way of the Pilgrim prayed along his journey by repeating simple prayers, Harrelson too realized that he could pray for others by synchronizing his prayers words with his physical movements while exercising on his treadmill.

Though the writer's choice of prayer words were very specific, I considered the value of his practice. I desire time for prayer and meditation and am often frustrated when my "urgent" schedule tends to interfere. Physical therapy has taken up a good deal of my allotted weekly hours both at the clinic and also at home when practicing my assigned exercises. 

Why not use this time as a reminder to practice ceaseless inner prayer and communion with God with a focus on prayers for those others for whom I am so concerned. 

Thus, my own brand of aerobic intercessory prayer. I begin in cadence with my inhaling and exhaling, using their names with my very breath, whether spoken or thought.  With my physical movements, I add my thankfulness for my relationship with them and this privileged time of prayer. 

Desires and petitions.....Mercy for _____. Diminished pain for______. Miracle for ______. No side effects for_______. Loving comfort for_______. Extra grace for_______. Healing from surgery for_______. 

Handaches. Headaches. Cancer pain. Heartaches. Barrenness. Ankles, shoulders, hips and knees. All placed at the throne of grace.

Ending with praising God for His love and mercy and thanking Him for His best in each situation.

It doesn't look like a prayer position but I sense that God "hears" my aerobic intercessions and will answer in His good and perfect will for each individual life.

Prayer Help

2/4/13 Scripture teaches much about prayer:

...it's effective (James 5:16)

...needs to be continual (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

...all kinds of prayer (Ephesians 6:18)

...include thanksgiving when you pray (Philippians 4:6)

We're even given examples of prayers from the Bible but.....sometimes words don't seem to come. What then? I've often heard to pray til you feel like praying. Sometimes I've felt like praying but words don't seem to be adequate to express the yearnings of my heart. Then what?

This quote, often ascribed to John Bunyan and sometimes to Gandhi, has helped me.

In prayer, it is better to have a heart without words, than words without a heart.

And in the same way the Spirit is a help to our feeble hearts: for we are not able to make prayer to God in the right way; but the Spirit puts our desires into words which are not in our power to say; (Romans 8:26, BBE--Bible in Basic English) 

A great verse to meditate on for God's answer to "prayer help."

SNOW DAY---MUSIC to ears of school kids & a few teachers

1/29/10 Lying in bed on this "snow day," (of sorts) I didn't see one single flake or hear any pelting of sleet but Channel 5 news announced it at 5 am. Even though Shelby County Schools was not included on the scrolling at the bottom of the screen, I took them at their word and went back to bed and snuggled down.

Too tired (or just plain lazy) to get up and too awake to sleep, I began to pray for my Friday folks and Clarence, Sally P., Keith, Gail, Gurner, Kim and others with “hospital” needs as they came to mind. Since I didn’t want to leave the warmth of my pile of covers and go to my prayer chair, I began to attempt to pray without request list or scripture---what a rambling attempt that was. (Can A.D.D. be a prayer diagnosis?)

My prayers were certainly not of the “foxhole” variety. I had no focus and no sense of urgency. After all, it was a “snow day” so I had all day to pray. Yet, in reality, I knew that once my feet hit the cold floor, I would be into my “to do” mode. “Be still and know that I am God” came to mind.

To “be” ---if you ever want to be confused look up that definition in the dictionary. (I didn’t need thoughts like transitive or intransitive or subjunctive or indicative mood floating in my mind.) I needed Him. “To be or not to be--that is the question” or so says Prince Hamlet in the Shakespearean play. But…..to pray or not to pray is not the question. Certainly not. One can’t ever question that! Pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

So…I allowed my intransitive be to become transitive as I quit just being and began to be in prayer with Him as my object/focus.* I began my bumbling attempts at prayer. So bumbling, in fact, that in the midst of praising the Lord for His attributes, my mind would flit to options for my morning oatmeal----cranberries...walnuts or both. But....I kept at it. Have you ever heard the old adage, “Pray ‘til you feel like praying”?

Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. (Psalm 4:4) I didn’t exactly stand in the vertical sense but I did “stand” in my mind as God took over----and that’s awesome!

At 6am the phone rang. I got up. It was Shelby County Schools informing me that schools were closed. How timely. I open the library a 6 am each day----glad I listened to news at 5. But God now had me on my feet so I went forth with a prayer in my heart---that today I would be all that He would have me to be.

*Apologies to my English teaching friends if this grammar lesson is all mixed up---just hope you get the point.