Different Ways to Pray – Many Verses!

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Different Ways to Pray – Many Verses!

Think of prayer as communication with the Divine Creator of the universe. You may find that concept equally terrifying and exciting. The great news is that God wants to communicate with us because, as an expression of His love for humanity, God wants to have a deeply personal, intimate relationship with each of us. With all of that in mind, any sincere prayer is a good prayer. Prayer is NOT a performance to be graded; it is a genuine point of connection.

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Palm Sunday – Our Faith in Dark Days

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Palm Sunday – Our Faith in Dark Days

The legendary stories of Jesus’ birth and death serve as mirrored bookends to Jesus’ unique life. Jesus’ birth story challenges us to look for God’s presence in unexpected places and people. Jesus’ death story reminds us that we are imperfect creatures, prone to fear and putting our own safety and comfort first.

May we always be open to God’s presence, and may we develop a faith so bold that the stones don’t have to shout praises to God.

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Psalm 25:1-10; 21 – The Advent of HOPE

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Psalm 25:1-10; 21 – The Advent of HOPE

Our loving God wants nothing more than for us to run into His arms with the love and trust of a little child. And that, that is the hope we have in our relationship with God. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Having hope requires effort and determination on our part.

No matter what we have done or what we have failed to do, God is always with us, always ready to forgive us, to mend our hearts and souls, and to teach us so that we don’t repeat the errors of our past, but instead, better follow God’s leading in our lives. In this season of Advent, we too expectantly wait for God, hoping and trusting that God will help us sense God’s life-giving presence in and among us.

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Psalm 4 – Passionate Prayers, Peaceful Sleep

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Psalm 4 – Passionate Prayers, Peaceful Sleep

We can and should be God’s compassionate, loving, caring presence to everyone – especially those in need. We can be shoulders to cry on. We can offer the psalmist’s advice to not let anger drive any of us to sin, but rather let God work on our anger and worries overnight. We can remind ourselves and each other that the greatest joys come from our relationships with God and each other, not from our accumulations of material goods and wealth.

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Let Me Tell You What God’s Done! – Psalm 40:1-11

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Let Me Tell You What God’s Done! – Psalm 40:1-11

The Good News is a gift, not a burden. It is the gift of hope, not blame. The gift of joy, not shame. The gift of love, not disdain. And we can share these gifts by telling others how God has saved us. I encourage you to share a time or some way, big or small, that God has saved (or blessed) you. Share this gift with someone, anyone, because we need to share our joy about God’s love with those who would not otherwise see, hear, or feel it.

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