Prayer with Friends, for Friends

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, August 28, 2016

 

Prayer with Friends, for Friends

Ever run away and play? Even, for a little while? Yeah, that was just the other day. I told my husband I was going away with several people for an overnight. On top of that, I had some marvelous meals, thanks to my good friend and two new acquaintances.  (And, I even was invited to pray.)

Unstructured, absolutely free time. We had fun. Girls’ day away. Seriously! I have not done anything like that for months and months.

Upon reflection, I find I get so stuffy and sensible—I wonder how that happened? Something to amend in the future, for sure.

Dear God, thank You for my good friend. I pray for her. I ask You to bless her in the midst of her busy-ness, and especially as she has a great number of things to take care of in the next few weeks. I thank You for the time we had away, resting. Having serious fun. Help us all to remember how we did that, and try to repeat it again, soon. God, thanks for reminding me that it is okay to rest and relax. Really. Lord, in Your mercy, hear my earnest prayers.

@chaplaineliza

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Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.  #PursuePEACE. My Facebook page, Pursuing Peace – Thanks! And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

PEACE: A Tranquil Moment for Me

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, March 12, 2016

PEACE: A Tranquil Moment for Me

Another definition from the North Shore Assembly of God in Skokie. I was introduced to a woman who is blessed with the gifts of helps, caring and mercy. I had the opportunity to ask her about her personal definition of PEACE.

Maria thought out loud as she constructed a wonderful definition, followed by a heartfelt explanation. Maria Evans’s personal definition of PEACE is: “a tranquil moment when I can be alone with my thoughts and prayers.”

As we talked further, she explained that she seldom had time to gather her thoughts. She has a good deal of busy-ness in her life. “My husband—I love him dearly—is often talking to me. I seldom have time to myself and my thoughts and prayers.” Maria has a great deal going on in her life. She wishes she could have more tranquil moments. However, she is so grateful what she and her husband have received from God. She is blessed.

Maria, I can relate! I am sometimes infected with that same heart-sickness, that same disease of busy-ness. My life often seems like it’s going in double time, with everything in fast motion. Dear Lord, forgive me for getting so involved in the minutiae of my day-to-day life, and not making time for You. Give me the yearning and desire to always put You first in my life. On my calendar, and in my schedule, too.

In Your mercy, Lord, hear all of our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

Prayer for Those Who Are Exhausted

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, August 20, 2015

Prayer for Those Who Are Exhausted

I thank God for my job. Really, I do. I am doing what I love, working for people I care for, dearly. I know many people in the United States do not like their jobs, and I feel badly for them. I know. I was in that situation, and I spent several years in that purgatory. Now, thank God, it’s over, and I have the joy of doing something I really, truly enjoy.

I thought of that because of the Scripture passage included in Evening Prayer, tonight. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) All those who labor, and are heavy-laden? I learned that, when trying to understand a verse of Scripture more deeply, verbs are important. Verbs tell me a huge amount.

In the case of the first verb, “labor,” we are looking at an active verb. My goodness, just reading this verse I get exhausted. “Are heavy-laden?” This is a passive participle. One of the commentaries I looked at said “weighed down as with a heavy burden.” [1] Again, as I read this verse, I begin to feel the weight of the labor, the heaviness of the toil and busyness.

Some people I know, some people I’m acquainted with are among those who just work a job for a paycheck. Then there are some people I know who find a great deal of encouragement and support from their jobs. And yet, each of us has that God-shaped hole deep inside.

Jesus says He is going to give us rest. Again, Meyer’s Commentary says “to secure the true peace of your souls.” I want that true peace. I no longer want to function as semi-Christian, semi-pacifist. Semi-anything.

I’m grateful for the website www.dailyoffice.org tonight, too. The prayers for Morning and Evening faithfully appear each day. I’d like to lift up Vicar Josh and his friends who have gone to a retreat center in Indiana, as of this afternoon. Josh and a number of other friends will be on retreat for the weekend. God’s blessings and refreshment to all!

Dear Lord, gracious God, I pray for all those who indeed are heavy laden. Lighten their burdens. Assist them as they labor—work. Lord, please give me peace. Give all of us Your serenity. Let us rest in You. In Jesus’ powerful, mighty, and loving name I pray. Amen.

@chaplaineliza

Like what you read? Disagree? Share your thoughts with your loved ones and continue the conversation.

Visit the website http://dailyoffice.org/ to find out more about Morning and Evening Prayer!

Why not visit my sister blogs, “the best of” A Year of Being Kind.   @chaplaineliza And, read my sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er

[1] Meyer’s New Testament Commentary, http://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/11-28.htm