Praying Without Ceasing ?

Pastor Hawkin’s sermon yesterday got me started thinking about praying without ceasing (the text was in Ephesians 1:16).

He talked especially about those moments in the day when my thoughts are my own, especially wait times—doctor’s offices, grocery lines, trains… for me, that might include time in front of the copier at school (I’m a teacher).

Which got me thinking about where and why I pray.

I guess I’ve known for a long time that there are parts of my life where I’m less likely to present moments to God in prayer—and I think the school setting is one of them.
It’s not that I don’t consider myself a Christian at school, just that it doesn’t occur to me as often to pray before a staff meeting, or about a student’s difficulty with reading, or as I’m planning lessons for the next week. I tend to think of those as areas I’m supposed to be handling—I am a professional, after all!

But I’m thinking that for me, praying without ceasing may mean developing a greater awareness of God at my elbow (and in my head and heart) in every moment.
It would mean losing the sense of going into any task or setting on my own powers, and instead knowing I’m always part of a team (and I’m NOT the coach!).
Naturally, as a team begins a task they discuss it.
The more often I’m mindful of God’s presence—God, in all His power, goodness, love, and wisdom—the more often I’ll be running things by Him, thanking Him, and especially listening to Him!

So I’d like to grow in this, and I’d like to hear back from anyone who might be working on the same thing.
Are there any corners of your life that you’ve recently invited God into? Times in your day when you’ve newly realized God’s there with you, too?

Am I the only one who’s so full of herself that she forgets God is always there, in every moment?!

Blessings—

Lisa Owen

CHRISTIAN MESSENGERS IN DAILY LIFE...

CHRISTIAN MESSENGERS IN DAILY LIFE... By Sue Schoech

Sharing the Good News in today's world includes caring, sharing, & giving the gifts of hope & peace when we talk & listen to folks & build relationships in daily life. God has opened the door for every Christian to reach out & share their faith stories. Everyone who has been baptized is a walking talking role model. Each of us has a lot of control of how that plays out in real life!

As we walk on our faith journeys together, what can we do to enable ourselves to walk & talk a more Christ-centered life in a noisy culture where Christian messages could make huge differences, if our voices were heard & listeners could be encouraged, empowered, equipped to act in positive ways.

Taking positive action in today's world to make differences can be rather overwhelming - even with the Bible as a guide & Christ-centered believers around us. Then The Holy Spirit seems to lead us on "Faith Adventures" that provide hope. Adventures come in lots of forms. This time I discovered books that provided "AH HA" moments. Lots of things made sense recently when I read Biblical Equipping: God's Word in Your World. Then I read the book Me, an Evangelist? The clues & cues of "Evangelism" have come slowly while I've been serving on the NW Indiana Conference Outreach Team. It was a real joy to receive several insights reinforced by examples & ideas. Insights from the book Me, an Evangelist? provided a reality checklist of "What We Can Do" & "What only God Can Do" (pages 45-46).. .Now I say the Serenity Prayer with more wisdom!

What Only God Can Do

As evangelists, it is important for us to remember the distinction between what only God can do and what we are able to do. Only God can:

• convince people of their sin and their need for a Savior (John 16:8-9);  give people faith (John 1:12-13; Eph. 2:8-9);

• defeat death and give eternal life (John 10:27-29; John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:51-57);

• forgive sin and free people from guilt (Ps. 51:7; Isa. 1:18; Ps. 130:7; Ps. 32:5; 1 John 1:9);

• bring people to conversion and repentance (John 16:7-11; John 14:6; Acts 11:17-18; 2 Tim. 2:25);

• give people real peace (Ps. 4:8; Isa. 9:6, 26:3; John 14:27, 16:33; Rom. 5:1-2; Phil. 4:6-7); and

• give people lasting hope (Rom. 15:13; 2 Thess. 2:16-17; 1 Pet. 1:3).


As evangelists, we can:

• listen with accepting love; • build a trusting, caring relationship;

• model Christ's love by helping others who are sad, lonely, depressed, or who have other needs;

• try to understand the feelings, needs, beliefs, ideas, and hopes of others;

• pray for others;

• witness assertively when others seem open to hearing; and

• invite others to attend church or to begin a relationship with Jesus when they are ready for such an invitation.

Realizing this can be very freeing. God doesn't hold us responsible for the results of our witness! It is our job to care, to witness, and to live the love of Christ for others as much as we can. It is God's job, not ours, to bring these people into a relationship with Jesus. What a relief to leave this responsibility in God's hands!

Another awesome book is:

Organic Outreach for Ordinary People – sharing good news naturally!

Children Live By Example Of Others !

Children live by example of others.

Parents pray that their children will follow the RIGHT examples and not the wrong ones.
When Jesus said, “Follow me,” he was inviting everyone to live by his example.

And so we pray for the strength to follow Jesus.
Nothing helps more to follow Jesus than the example of those others who are following Jesus. They set a good example, and they are setting that RIGHT example that is God’s own gift to us. They inspire us in the way that Hebrews 12:1 puts it, “we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,” and so we can follow Jesus—by their example.

In the Christian community, we are literally surrounded by many others who are following Jesus.
Sometimes YOU are the one who is inspired, and that is wonderful!

When you are inspired by persons of faith, thank God for their place in your life that you may live a committed life of faith.
At other times YOU are the one who is able TO BE AN INSPIRATION for someone else.

Thank God for that privilege.

Ask for God’s help that you will be up to the privilege.

Pastor Jerry Castleman
Christ Lutheran Church

Livin' on a Prayer

Livin' on a Prayer

I was relaxing the other day and studying the prophet Bon Jovi (Very New Testament:).
His most popular song is "Livin' on a Prayer".
As I sat listening to my iPod, I realized how little "quiet time" I allow myself.
My typical day (especially if I go back about a year) may have some similarities to your typical day. It starts with me getting up early and immediately turning on WGN News.
A) It is imperative to know what the weather is going to be. That way I know that when I put on a suit and tie, I'll be too warm, too cold, too wet, etc. (rarely is it Goldilocks' third option), and
B) how embarrassing would it be to not know something world-changing that happened over-night? "You're kidding? Lebron signed with Miami?" So, I get ready for work with Robbin Baumgarten giving me all the latest Chicago news in the background and then kiss my wife goodbye. She mumbles something resembling "iuvu2" - which professionals have interpreted as either "I love you too" or "that was a funny video on uTube".
I drive to work while eating a bowl of cereal, responding to an email message (only while at a red light if there are any law enforcement officers reading this), changing my out-going voicemail message, and listening to Mike and Mike in the Morning (ESPN Radio - crucial for staying up-to-date on any banking news).
My first audible exchange is generally in the McDonald's dive-thru - "medium black coffee, please"; "will that be all (cheapskate)?"; "yes, thank you".
I arrive at work and dive into whatever work-related meetings, issues, fires, appointments, and discussions the day has to offer.
I drive home listening to sports-talk radio, generally with work still on my mind. Lanie and I have dinner in front of the TV (with any luck, a re-run of The Office is playing), clean-up the kitchen, watch Piniella stammer though a post-game explanation of why the Cubs lost another one-run game, get ready for bed, and repeat of the cycle.

There are many things wrong with this typical day (besides the Cubs losing again), the biggest being, when am I talking to God? Is it that important to have something filling the space of every potential quiet moment?
I'll catch myself sometimes during the day.
For instance, I'll be in the car (you may be able to relate to this as well) and think, "this would be a good time to pray". I'll turn down the radio and attempt to clear my mind. "Dear Lord, please be with my brother-in-law as he struggles with his health. Wow it is a pretty nice day. Should I try and play nine after work? Please be with my nieces and nephew as they face important decisions in their lives. How can you POSSIBLY drive that slowly in the left lane?! Also, please be with OH BIRD POOP. Why is it always right in the middle of the window?" You get the picture. It is better than not praying, but it is nearly impossible to avoid the distractions.
I want to be able to blame someone or something, but mainly setting some time aside is within my control.
That presents a great opportunity, and I am trying to improve.
My favorite time to pray is first thing in the morning. I try to remove myself from as many distractions as I can so that I can have a real dialogue with God. Sometimes I jot bullet points so I do not forget to include something (Lanie has taught me to love lists).
My parents pray as a couple every morning. They are a great example.

The chorus of the song includes the line, "take my hand and we'll make it I swear". I don't think Bon Jovi visualizes the Lord's powerful hand reaching out towards us, but that is a great way to think about it.


- Livin' On a Prayer.

Scott Steinwart