Archive for the ‘Prayer’ Category

A New Year

Wednesday, September 1st, 2010

It is odd there there seems to be three  starts to a year.  (The “real” New Year.  The beginning of the Church Year with the first Sunday of Advent; The beginning of the school year)

Today, we saw our kids off to their first day back to school.  The start of a new school year means a new beginning for families and also for congregations.  With the start of the new school year, we begin new learning opportunities, new events, new worship schedules, etc.  It’s like a brand new start.

I’ve been praying with a great deal more passion this last week for my kids and their upcoming school experience.  I’ve been praying with a great deal more passion for our congregation as we begin this next new season of growth and ministry.  Please join me in these prayers.

It’s a new day.  NOW is the time of God’s favor. NOW is the day of his salvation.  Let’s leave the old ways behind and walk in the fresh ways of His Spirit.  Let’s look ahead with eagerness, joy and anticipation to see what God will do in these next days, weeks and months.  In what ways will he change us, personally?  In what ways will he expand his kingdom?

Lord God, Holy Father, fill us anew with your Holy Spirit, that we may live as your people in this broken world, serving our neighbors and sharing Jesus with them.  Amen.

Praying With My Wife

Tuesday, July 20th, 2010

We prayed together last night before bed, and I’m sad to say that this warrants a blog post.  It should be so common, so regular that it wouldn’t be “news.”  But lately….well, lately it hasn’t happened like this much.  I mean, we pray together all the time: meals, bed-times, car-trips, etc.  But we hadn’t prayed like this for a while.  I began the time of prayer with confession, saying I was sorry to God that this hadn’t happened for a while.  This is on my shoulders as the one who should be “the head,” and I’ve not been leading well of late.

Any way.  Prayer was (is!) good.  We prayed for each of our kids in detail, asking specifically for wisdom and discernment about how better to parent each one, bringing their own personal struggles before the throne of God.  We prayed for each other.  We prayed for our marriage.  It was great.

I just wish it wasn’t news-worthy.

Final Prayer Walk

Saturday, May 8th, 2010

The final prayer walk yesterday was great as well.  Four of us walked through the neighborhood around the church building lifting up the people around us.  There’s something special about hearing other believers pray our loud, and adding to one another’s prayers.  What a blessing!

All in all it was a great day!

Federal Judge On NDP

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

OK.  So here’s an article on the Federal Judge’s ruling against the National Day of Prayer, citing the so-called establishment clause in the Constitution barring the Fed. Government from endorsing any one religion.

On the one hand, this is patently absurd.  The Federal Government, by calling for a National Day of Prayer is not endorsing any one religion.  Nor does it mandate participation of any kind.  It simply calls on people of faith to pray.  The Constitution protects people from being compelled to support any certain religion, but does not at all disallow such practices.  I would hope that appeals will prevail and that this ruling will be over-turned.  This is a large topic and I should take some time in days ahead to address this.

However, and on the other hand.   Do we really need a government call to pray?  Really?  Is not the clear Voice of God, his command and invitation to call on Him sufficient reason to dedicate significant portions of our time to prayer?  Is not the painful and obvious brokenness in the world around us enough of a motivation to cry out to God for his mercy, intervention and wholeness?  I should think so.

So, whatever the outcome of this, I pray that the church will continue to be faithful in prayer.  Not merely once a day–but frequently.  Daily. Even moment by moment. Continually.  I also pray that we will not be grumblers and complainers if this ruling is upheld.   Would it be sad? Surely.  But our God is bigger than any of these debates, special days, court rulings etc.  He will receive the glory due his name apart from a formal National Day of Prayer.  He is holy, indeed (as Luther teaches in his catechsim) “without our prayers.”

Pray Walk # 2–The Mall

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Just got back from “Prayer-Walking” the Mall with three others from OSL. How wonderful!  God even had a preordained meeting planned for us with old and dear friends!  How wonderful are your works, Oh, God!

Pray Walking

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

I’m participating in three “Prayer Walks” today.  We will simply walk through an area and pray for the people, businesses and activities of the area.

The first one was in the neighborhood around Zion Lutheran Church in Manchester.  Just a little over six miles from us!  It was a wonderful time with two brothers in the Lord.  One other from OSL and the Pastor of Zion.  Here’s a picture after we prayed together at the end.  I’ll try to most more reflections later.  For now….off to the Mall (Prayer walking the mall!)

Jesus On Prayer

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “‘Father, {2 Some manuscripts Our Father in heaven} hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. {2 Some manuscripts come. May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.} 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. {4 Greek everyone who is indebted to us} And lead us not into temptation. {4 Some manuscripts temptation but deliver us from the evil one} ‘” 5 Then he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and he goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6 because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7 “Then the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him the bread because he is his friend, yet because of the man’s boldness {8 Or persistence} he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for {11 Some manuscripts for bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for} a fish, will give him a snake instead? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:1-13

Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 6th, 2010

Today we are observing a day of prayer.  I’m not sure if it’s still the “National Day of Prayer,” but many of us will be praying today.  Praying for one another, our community, our state, our nation, our world.  There are so many needs.  But we have a Great God who loves to hear our prayers.  He is a loving Father who responds to each request according to His wisdom and love doing what is ultimately best. (see Luke 11:9-13)

National Day of Prayer

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

I’m getting things ready for our observation of the National Day of Prayer a week from today. (5/6.)  Attached is a schedule of events people can participate in.  I’m challenging everyone to do at least ONE thing on that day, setting aside at least a half hour for prayer.

National Day of Prayer Opportunities.2010

You can sign up through the church office, or when you come for worship on Sunday.

The Blessing of the Body of Christ

Saturday, April 17th, 2010

I experienced today, once again, the sweet blessing of being a part of the Body of Christ.  I’m nearing the end of a four year leadership training process in which I’ve been matched with six other pastors to learn and grow and share in the process.  We’ve gotten close.  Today, one our our brothers learned that he has cancer.  He was miles from home and family as he got the news.    But he was with us, and we were able to surround him with love and cover him and his wife in prayer.  It’s a painful and uncertain time, but the love of Christ was tangible in the midst of it as we cared for one another.