PEACE is Comfort (Repost)

I marvel at the gracious expression of peace. Thank God for showing us many ways to peace, coming from many different kinds of people–like right here, for example. Such a wonderful thing for the gift of peace that is available to us all.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, February 25, 2016

PEACE is Comfort

Another personal definition from the Bethesda Worship Center in Des Plaines. And, another day for me to apologize. There was a malfunction with my digital camera on Sunday. I’d like to express sadness that I have no photos of any of the dear people who were so kind to pose with their personal definitions of PEACE. Thanks to Pastor Chuck for being willing to offer his smart phone as a last-minute replacement camera! (Sadly, my advanced-beginner expertise with social media is showing … in that I couldn’t get the dratted thing to send photos!)

Thankfully, I have the sheets of paper on which these dear people wrote their definitions! So, for the next few days—and definitions—I will be posting the sheets by themselves.

The next personal definition comes from a lady who describes herself as “the shyest person around.” Terri Fields’s view: PEACE is comfort.

Terri was shy and hesitant to speak (at first). However, once I asked her what her idea of peace was, the words came quickly enough. “Peace is comfort,” she said. “That is such an interesting answer,” I responded. “Tell me what that means to you. Why comfort?”

That’s when she told me how shy she was. Now she sings on the worship team in the front of the sanctuary. However, she is still amazed she got up the courage to do such a brave thing. Terri told me that her view of peace means being comfortable; ease and relaxed feelings. Not what she usually feels, at all! When she prays and asks God to help her to be comfortable and relaxed, it is then she feels peaceful.

Dear Lord, thank You for Terri’s view on peace. Please empower other girls and young women to feel comfortable in their own skins. Help me to be understanding and open in listening to others—especially others who are feeling shy and even overwhelmed.

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

@chaplaineliza

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

Pray to Receive Forgiveness (Repost)

This repost is especially for the Facebook page Pursuing Peace. The giving and receiving of forgiveness can be an integral part of pursuing peace.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Saturday, February 6, 2016

 

Pray to Receive Forgiveness

That prolific author Anonymous penned tonight’s prayer. The prayer was powerful and moving, regardless. Somehow, I wish I knew who wrote such a masterful prayer. Although, it’s not necessary, since I was deeply moved by such a prayer.

This prayer from The Oxford Book of Prayer uses striking language, it is true. However, I was stunned by several phrases, including the first: “grant us grace and courage to give and to receive courage.” [1] Which is followed by the second: “the forgiveness which alone can heal today’s wounds.” [2]

Lord, what moving words. How can I even consider this when …

Dear God, help me to learn from the mistakes of the past. I rejoice that we have so many choices laid out before us. Lord, guide my steps as I walk with this intention. Guide my heart to love You, regardless of vaccilating preferences and so much to take my mind off You. Please, God, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.

 

@chaplaineliza

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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] The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton. (New York: Oxford University Press, reissued 2009), 79.

[2] Ibid.

Help Me to Have Fun, Lord!

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Help Me to Have Fun, Lord!

Have you ever met someone who was boring? Dull? I mean, no fun at all? I have, and I did not want to spend much time with this person. It was a few years ago, but I felt sorry for the person. Sad. Terribly sad.

What about when people enter a sober life? When they are choosing not to get drunk, or choosing not to take drugs?

Some people think it is fun, even glamorous, to drink and drug. It isn’t. Using substances is often a necessity, especially for addicts and alcoholics who are established in their using and drinking behavior.

I hope to encourage people to find their own Higher Power, and to contact the curtain that separates people who drink and use from the people who do not use, either.

What can we do to replace the idea of “fun?” I mean, a completely different kind of fun?

As our daily reading book Keep It Simple says, “… live it up! Try new things. Meet new friends. Try new foods. Taking risks and having adventures are a basic human need. So go for it! Sobriety is fun!” [1]

Dear Lord, gracious God, teach us all to play. Teach us all great ways to stay safe, too. All that is human, that is.

Lord, in Your mercy and grace, hear our prayers.

@chaplaineliza

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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] Keep It Simple: Daily Meditations for Twelve-Step Beginnings and Renewal. (Hazelden Meditation Series) (San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1989), November 18 reading.

Prayer, and Preparing for Bed

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Prayer, and Preparing for Bed

Evening Prayer is a comforting way to prepare for bed. Tonight, I had some situations on my mind. Some people who I am praying for. Just in case anyone is new here, I am a small church pastor. And, I love to lead others in prayer. I pray on prayer teams, too, as well as pray for myself. All of the above.

I love the fact that Evening Prayer (as well as Morning Prayer, too!) has some specific space in which to remember our friends and loved ones in prayer. Thanks, Vicar Josh, for providing us with such excellent prayers each day at www.dailyoffice.org !

The sentence in the Prayer that reached out to me today is: “Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night.” This part of the prayer comes near the close of the brief Compline service.

Yes, I could remember when I often worked through the night. As a chaplain in the hospital, the pager kept on paging. People kept dying. Traumas kept happening. Ambulances kept coming in to the Emergency Department. But, just because I was often awake through the night, I thought of all those who also work an overnight shift. Not only police, firefighters, and EMT’s, but just think of all of those in a hospital. Doctors, nurses, CNA’s, therapists. All of the support personnel, no matter where they work. (Including chaplains.)

Dear Lord, gracious God, bless all of those I just mentioned. Not only at the hospitals where I worked, but also at care centers throughout Chicago. In all fifty states. Gracious God, guide their hands, guard their hearts, protect them, their loved ones and families. Dear Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers. Amen!

@chaplaineliza

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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

Praying for Better Times

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Thursday, August 13, 2015

Praying for Better Times

I read in the news today of horrible things. Of fires, and murders, and stabbings, and of even worse things than those. (In all seriousness.)

I’m afraid it is a little difficult for me to be cheery and chipper. Miss Suzy Sunshine I am not, today. Not after reading such terrible news, today.

Tonight, I guess I particularly needed to read the Evening Prayers from www.dailyoffice.org. That’s my set routine for the month of August, anyhow.

The Psalm reading for tonight was Psalm 4. It is more hopeful and helpful than not. One verse in particular went straight to my heart today:

“Many are saying, “Oh, that we might see better times!” *
Lift up the light of your countenance upon us, O LORD. “

Dear God, You are with us, in better times and in worse. You help ease us through difficult times or sad times. And, when times are particularly grim, we can always depend on You. On Your presence with us, in the darkest valley.

It doesn’t matter whether dark valleys are physical (like two people with brain tumors I know) or economical (like a friend’s loss of a job), or emotional (like an acquaintance’s divorce—which I am praying may finalize soon!). Lord, in Your mercy, hear all of our prayers.

@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 .

As God Is My Witness

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, July 29, 2015

As God Is My Witness

For those who are following along at home, I just went to the New Wilmington Mission Conference last week. I had a marvelous time! I had been waiting to see what speakers would be there, but I think—on the whole—that another round of  belief in Jesus, too, can prove to be life-changing. Sending each other out, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the book Praying the New Testament as Psalms, I noticed several excellent verses in the modern psalm. My current favorite comes from John 5: “Thank You, God, for the gift of the Scriptures,/testifying to Jesus and giving me life.” [1] Wow. Powerful!

I not only testify about my Lord Jesus, but I also have the gift of the Scriptures! Not to mention the ability to read the Scriptures, which many women today do not have. Many women—many people in general today—are either functionally illiterate, or totally illiterate. God, thank You so much for the gift of being able to read! Thank You so much about the blessing of being able to read Your word.

Dear Lord, I praise Your name. Dear Lord, in Your mercy, 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 .

(also published at www.matterofprayer.net

[1] Praying the New Testament as Psalms, Desmond O’Donnell, OMI, and Maureen Mohen, RSM, (United States of America: ACTA Publications, 2002.), 203.

Cry for Help? Assistance in Prayer from Fr. Nouwen.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, April 12, 2015

Cry for Help? Assistance in Prayer from Fr. Nouwen.

I love Fr. Nouwen’s writings. All of them. I have never read a single page of his that I have dismissed as trivial or unnecessary. So, I was more than excited today when I saw that one of the liturgical daily lectionary texts and readings included several paragraphs from A Cry for Mercy, by Henri Nouwen.

So many sentences and phrases of Fr. Nouwen’s caught my attention. However, I will focus on two particular sentences: “Why . . . do I keep expecting happiness and satisfaction outside of You? Why do I keep relating to You as one of my many relationships, instead of my only relationship, in which all other ones are grounded?”

These words make me want to hide under a blanket, or under my bed. Hide myself away from the sight of the Lord, and hide my whole self in shame. And fear, and deep sadness.

I can see where several of the big sins, the Seven Deadly Sins, are trying to horn in here. Overweening pride at being arrogantly self-sufficient, apart from You. Green-eyed envy while trying to juggle many surface or vacuous relationships outside of You. Sloth, that lazy, take-one’s-time disease, which keeps me from honest effort lest I strive to grow closer to You.

Lord, forgive me for neglecting You, Your love, support and encouragement. Help me in developing a closer walk with You. And as Fr. Nouwen says, help me to become Your trusting friend. Please, dear Lord. In Your grace and mercy, 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 #40acts sermons from Pastor, Preacher Pray-er .