Poor. Powerless. Emptied of God-ness.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Poor. Powerless. Emptied of God-ness.

All-powerful, mighty, wielding authority. (One might be tempted to think that this was God Almighty!) But, no! What a juxtaposition. Poor, powerless. Just as the Apostle Paul states in the second chapter of Philippians, the Eternal Son (soon to be called Jesus) empties Himself willingly. He becomes a helpless baby born to a virgin in the small town of Bethlehem.

That power dynamic can be so tempting, so seductive. I have seen individuals get drunk on power. Have their heads swell with the bare thought of power and authority, not even the actuality of it. Dear Lord, preserve me from this insidious malady!

Over the centuries, the followers of Jesus have certainly come to grief over such a radical character flaw. Too bad that the quote (from Lord Acton) sprang to my mind so readily: “Power corrupts; and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

All I need do to see this demonstrated is look without doing much digging at all. Looking at the leaders of the Early Church, you would think that everyone—no matter their national origin, slave or free, color or creed—would live together in peace and harmony. But, no! The Gnostic and Arian controversies divided the Church (and believers) for several centuries. And that was just the beginning. Males gradually got more and more power and authority in the church. Over Adventpeople, places and things.

A quote from Henri Nouwen seems appropriate for us to consider. “What makes the temptation of power so seemingly irresistible? Maybe it is that power offers an easy substitute for the hard task of love. It seems easier to be God than to love God, easier to control people than to love people, easier to own life than to love life.”

Dear Lord, gracious God, help me love You more and more. The more I love God, the more I will come to see how much God wants me to be loving to others. So, help me, God. Please.

@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

Be the Best Me I Can Be

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Friday, November 6, 2015

Be the Best Me I Can Be

Oh, I can relate to the topic of today’s reading. Dear God, how incredibly strong is the temptation to “fit in!”

Different people crave different things. Some want to “fit in” by wearing the “right clothes” thinking the “right ideas” or driving the “right car.” As our meditation book Keep It Simple says, “Many of us used to care so much what other people thought about us.” [1] (Some still do care.)

But, how shallow is that? How important is it for me to want to “fit in” with my shallow, self-centered peer group? Or, do I have the firm foundation and self-confidence to march to the beat of a different drummer? My Higher Power’s drummer?

Instead, I am encouraged to stay in touch with my Higher Power (vertically) as well as my fellows (horizontally). Yes, I can be easily influenced by a group of peers. Not always the most positive thing. And yes, I need to be following my Higher Power (God as I understand God).

Can I follow God in my own way, today? And, every day? Can I be okay with being different, with being “me?”

The prayer at the end of the reading today is short, moving, and humbling: “Higher Power, help me be the best me I can be today.” [2]

@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

[1] Keep It Simple: Daily Meditations for Twelve-Step Beginnings and Renewal. (Hazelden Meditation Series) (San Francisco: Harper & Row Publishers, 1989), November 6 reading.

[2] Ibid.

Earnest Prayer of a Soldier

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Wednesday, October 21, 2015

A relief showing Confederate soldiers heading off to war, part of the Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Earnest Prayer of a Soldier

The October days roll by, and the sections of the Lord’s Prayer pass me by, as well. The prayer I chose for today from The Oxford Book of Prayer concerns “Lead Us Not into Temptation.” (Prayer 395, page 119) [1] The prayer is in a section entitled Right Living.

O, Lord, I need all the help I can get.

The subtitle on this specific prayer is “Prayer of an unknown Confederate soldier.” I quote it in its entirety.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve.
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.
I asked for health, that I might do greater things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy.
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men.
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life.
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.
I got nothing that I asked for – but everything that I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoiled prayers were answered.
I am among all men, most richly blessed.

Poignant. Moving. Heart-breaking. All of these descriptive words, and so many more. Strength, contrasted with weakness. Health and infirmity, riches and poverty. Weakness as opposed to power? Life, and that abundantly. Truly, this earnest and worthy man was indeed richly blessed. May I be one quarter as blessed as this man.

A brief postscript: the Book of Prayer describes the author of this prayer as a Confederate soldier. Yes, that is a descriptor. However, it does not tell me what I really want to know. Was the man young? Old? Did he smile often, or was he serious? Was he married? Did he have children? What did he do before the war? Did he have a sense of humor? Was he scared at the thought of going into battle? Did he miss his hometown? What about brothers and sisters, other family members, friends, comrades?

In other words, who was this man? I know he was someone’s son. I suspect he was a faithful believer in God, since these words were probably not penned by a skeptic.

Like all others in this Book of Prayer, the author of this prayer was a child of God. Dear Lord, just as You heard this dear one’s prayer, written one hundred fifty years ago, hear mine. Hear me—hear others as we repeat his words. Lord, in Your mercy, hear 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

[1] The Oxford Book of Prayer, edited by George Appleton. (New York: Oxford University Press, reissued 2009), 119.

Tempted? The Hour of Trial.

Matterofprayer: A Year of Everyday Prayers – Sunday, July 26, 2015

Tempted? The Hour of Trial.

I am tempted, regularly. It almost doesn’t matter what the temptation is. I don’t think temptation ever goes away, completely.

As I have been doing for loads of interactions, for many months, I have been striving to answer the difficult questions. Or, at least, help people, come alongside of people who have a problem with temptation. Just as much as I am able to, Lord. And, just as much as I have difficulty, too.

“Preserve me, God, from the hour of trial./May I keep Your word of patient endurance.” [1]

God, sometimes it’s just You and me against the world. At least, that’s what it feels like! I need to be encouraged and strengthened against temptation, regularly. Thanks, God, for being there for me, and with me.

@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 .

[1] Praying the New Testament as Psalms, Desmond O’Donnell, OMI, and Maureen Mohen, RSM, (United States of America: ACTA Publications, 2002.), 187.