Tag: pray

Lent 2020: We Need Him a Lot

...the people God uses don’t have to know a lot of things, or have a lot of things--they just have to need him a lot. Jesus called out to them, “Let’s go!” My creative collaborator and I created a day-by-day prayer card to guide our church and unify our prayers during Lent. Of course we … Continue reading Lent 2020: We Need Him a Lot

Ponder

I read today’s one word writing prompt yesterday—ponder—and woke in the wee hours pondering the word, chewing it, twisting it this way and that. It reminds me of wonder, only one letter different, and the comparison delights me as word play often does. I see ponder in neon flashing through the dark night, leading me to … Continue reading Ponder

Thankful Thursday – Fall Blooms

About this time six years ago, a few weeks into Tween's second grade year, his teacher found me admiring bulletin boards in the breezeway. She said, "Hey, can you give me a tip? Tween doesn't seem to realize he's in school." I immediately replied, "Oh, give him some time. He'll realize it's no longer summer … Continue reading Thankful Thursday – Fall Blooms

How Do We Pray?

As we walked the trail, my friends talked about dealing with stress: exercise, meditation, therapy, hypnosis… I said, “Or you could pray.” They expected that from me, but I didn’t expect their response: “Well, you know how to do that. We don’t know how to pray. Maybe you need to pray for us every morning.” … Continue reading How Do We Pray?

Don’t Give Up

Persistent defines Teen well, one of his stronger personality traits. We have snakes in our house because of Teen’s persistence. I said yes to geckos but NO to snakes. For years, Teen argued, researched, debated, cajoled, prayed – and believe me, we had long conversations about how God answers prayer: yes, no, or not now. … Continue reading Don’t Give Up

Advent 4 – Knowing Peace

Around the time Teen hit middle school I began encouraging him each time he walked away: "Be your best you," meaning make good choices and do your best and stay true to yourself. You can be yourself, but it takes intentionality to be your best version of yourself. So maybe it shouldn't have surprised me … Continue reading Advent 4 – Knowing Peace

Advent 2 – Finding Peace

Ironically, during a week in which I've intentionally focused on expecting peace, I've found distress more often. The same hour I learned about the mass shooting in San Bernardino, I also heard that a neighbor, husband of an acquaintance, was in a suicidal stand-off with police. He alternately pointed a pistol at his temple and his mouth and, after hours of … Continue reading Advent 2 – Finding Peace

Help. Thanks. Wow.

Anne Lamott, or as others call her, St. Anne, claims that the Essential Prayers sound this simple: Help. Thanks. Wow. I have prayed many, many words over many, many years, but I’m not sure I could come up with a prayer, petition, or praise that wouldn’t fit those three categories: help, thanks, wow. Other than … Continue reading Help. Thanks. Wow.

Gratitude Check

Some days are more difficult than others, living in this messy, broken world. Just before heading to bed last night, Guy turned on the evening news and heard that the little girl, missing for days in his hometown, had been found dead. The suspect? A 15-year-old neighbor. Tragedy times two, two broken childhoods. Quietly, I slipped into … Continue reading Gratitude Check