prayers

So, it has been over a year since I last wrote anything! I've thought about writing. I've had several ideas in my head but I haven't been able to wrap my head around the things going on in this world! Who would have thought we would be living through a pandemic? Who would have thought that we would not only be "divided" by political party but that we would spew hate at each other? 

Anyway, like many folks I have cleaned out some things over the last 6 months. I was digging through some books in the bottom of a closet today and I came across this little notebook.

As an aside for folks with dust allergies, our masks that keep others safe from our germs work great when digging through dusty boxes!

While sitting on a tiny stool on the floor of an upstairs closet, I flipped through the prayer journal and found something that I had written and I just wanted to put those words into a more "permanent" location than a piece of paper in the bottom of a closet.

At the time (2008), I was facilitating a study on prayer and we weren't just studying about prayer, we were actually praying in various ways over the weeks of the study.

One of the prayer "practices/exercises" was to escort each of my loved ones and friends right to the HUG of Jesus.

Here are the words:

This is one of my favorite (if not THE favorite) exercises of the whole study. . .to escort each of my loved ones and friends right to the HUG of Jesus -- my family, our supper club, those who need healing in my mind's eye. I had to restrain myself to not run into his arms FIRST -- an act of love to take everyone else first. I felt as if each person was receiving exactly what they needed. I also imagined the response of each person as we were approaching Jesus - was there fear? joy? nervousness? Did each person experience peace? calm? were they made fully whole and fully healed? At the end, when it was finally my turn, I wanted to HOLD ON to Jesus. I did NOT want to let go.

It is now 2020 -- that was 12 years ago -- 12 YEARS AGO -- I've been rereading the different prayers I prayed and for those still among us, I have prayed again today!!! For those who have died, I gave thanks for them and what they meant to me.  For one couple that was dating at the time (and we all prayed about their relationship), they are now married and have twin girls and a little boy!

God is amazing, y'all. Things may not be right in our world today but God is still God and I am grateful! (oh goodness, my writing is rusty -- I need to work on it!!)

Where are you? Yoo Hoo . . .Where are you?

I've been in a dry place lately.  Since we moved into this house, I have not been able to get my morning prayer routine going.  I've been walking in the mornings and I've talked to God sporadically during that time - in between planning my wardrobe purchases and thinking about what else I need to do to finish decorating the house.  (no, I haven't asked God's opinion about my wardrobe!!)   I've thanked God for the amazing stars and awesome moon and for the sunrises that I've seen.  I've been to Mouat Chapel several times to get on my knees.  I've pulled the chair cushion off the chair in the living room and knelt there to pray.  I've walked around our house and laid hands on the door frame and dining room table and sofa and prayed for our Tuesday night group.  BUT I haven't had that regular time with God everyday.  I've even said, "Where are you?  Are you there?" several times . . .and then I always remember the old saying, "God is still there, you are the one who moved."  Pretty cliche but seems to be true in my life.

This Tuesday night, Julie - one of our wonderful young adults - talked about her journal in our discussion.  Actually, she doesn't know this, but GOD spoke through Julie.  I have always kept a prayer journal.  I have not been lately.

Last night, I stopped at the store and bought a composition notebook (I wanted a pretty hardbound book but they didn't have any and I was too tired to go anywhere else!)  I bought two new pens.  (I had to have the right supplies!!)

So this morning, I got up at 5:00 and got dressed and walked my 1.8 mile route (it was COLD!).  I even tried to cut my walk short by telling God that I needed time to pray - don't you think he chuckled over that one!  I finished my walk and came inside.  I opened my Bible and read a chapter from Matthew and then I began to pray (and write!).  Peace descended upon me as I thanked God for numerous things.  I poured out my heart onto a piece of notebook paper.

I thank God that he is always there . . .and that he patiently waits for us.